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Chu X, Tian W, Ning J, Xiao G, Zhou Y, Wang Z, Zhai Z, Tanzhu G, Yang J, Zhou R. Cancer stem cells: advances in knowledge and implications for cancer therapy. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2024; 9:170. [PMID: 38965243 PMCID: PMC11224386 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-024-01851-y] [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: 10/02/2023] [Revised: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 04/28/2024] [Indexed: 07/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Cancer stem cells (CSCs), a small subset of cells in tumors that are characterized by self-renewal and continuous proliferation, lead to tumorigenesis, metastasis, and maintain tumor heterogeneity. Cancer continues to be a significant global disease burden. In the past, surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy were the main cancer treatments. The technology of cancer treatments continues to develop and advance, and the emergence of targeted therapy, and immunotherapy provides more options for patients to a certain extent. However, the limitations of efficacy and treatment resistance are still inevitable. Our review begins with a brief introduction of the historical discoveries, original hypotheses, and pathways that regulate CSCs, such as WNT/β-Catenin, hedgehog, Notch, NF-κB, JAK/STAT, TGF-β, PI3K/AKT, PPAR pathway, and their crosstalk. We focus on the role of CSCs in various therapeutic outcomes and resistance, including how the treatments affect the content of CSCs and the alteration of related molecules, CSCs-mediated therapeutic resistance, and the clinical value of targeting CSCs in patients with refractory, progressed or advanced tumors. In summary, CSCs affect therapeutic efficacy, and the treatment method of targeting CSCs is still difficult to determine. Clarifying regulatory mechanisms and targeting biomarkers of CSCs is currently the mainstream idea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xianjing Chu
- Department of Oncology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, China
| | - Wentao Tian
- Department of Oncology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, China
| | - Jiaoyang Ning
- Department of Oncology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, China
| | - Gang Xiao
- Department of Oncology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, China
| | - Yunqi Zhou
- Department of Oncology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, China
| | - Ziqi Wang
- Department of Oncology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, China
| | - Zhuofan Zhai
- Department of Oncology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, China
| | - Guilong Tanzhu
- Department of Oncology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, China.
| | - Jie Yang
- Department of Oncology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, China.
- Department of Dermatology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, China.
| | - Rongrong Zhou
- Department of Oncology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, China.
- Xiangya Lung Cancer Center, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, China.
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Province, 410008, China.
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2
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Fifield BA, Vusich J, Haberfellner E, Andrechek ER, Porter LA. Atypical cell cycle regulation promotes mammary stem cell expansion during mammary development and tumourigenesis. Breast Cancer Res 2024; 26:106. [PMID: 38943151 PMCID: PMC11212383 DOI: 10.1186/s13058-024-01862-1] [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: 03/25/2024] [Accepted: 06/20/2024] [Indexed: 07/01/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The cell cycle of mammary stem cells must be tightly regulated to ensure normal homeostasis of the mammary gland to prevent abnormal proliferation and susceptibility to tumorigenesis. The atypical cell cycle regulator, Spy1 can override cell cycle checkpoints, including those activated by the tumour suppressor p53 which mediates mammary stem cell homeostasis. Spy1 has also been shown to promote expansion of select stem cell populations in other developmental systems. Spy1 protein is elevated during proliferative stages of mammary gland development, is found at higher levels in human breast cancers, and promotes susceptibility to mammary tumourigenesis when combined with loss of p53. We hypothesized that Spy1 cooperates with loss of p53 to increase susceptibility to tumour initiation due to changes in susceptible mammary stem cell populations during development and drives the formation of more aggressive stem like tumours. METHODS Using a transgenic mouse model driving expression of Spy1 within the mammary gland, mammary development and stemness were assessed. These mice were intercrossed with p53 null mice to study the tumourigenic properties of Spy1 driven p53 null tumours, as well as global changes in signaling via RNA sequencing analysis. RESULTS We show that elevated levels of Spy1 leads to expansion of mammary stem cells, even in the presence of p53, and an increase in mammary tumour formation. Spy1-driven tumours have an increased cancer stem cell population, decreased checkpoint signaling, and demonstrate an increase in therapy resistance. Loss of Spy1 decreases tumor onset and reduces the cancer stem cell population. CONCLUSIONS This data demonstrates the potential of Spy1 to expand mammary stem cell populations and contribute to the initiation and progression of aggressive, breast cancers with increased cancer stem cell populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bre-Anne Fifield
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Windsor, Windsor, ON, N9B 3P4, Canada
- WE-SPARK Health Institute, University of Windsor, Windsor, ON, N9B 3P4, Canada
| | - John Vusich
- Department of Physiology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States of America
| | - Erika Haberfellner
- Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - Eran R Andrechek
- Department of Physiology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States of America
| | - Lisa A Porter
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Windsor, Windsor, ON, N9B 3P4, Canada.
- WE-SPARK Health Institute, University of Windsor, Windsor, ON, N9B 3P4, Canada.
- St. Joseph's Health Care London, Lawson Health Institute, London, ON, N6A 4V2, Canada.
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Xin Y, Hu B, Li K, Hu G, Zhang C, Chen X, Tang K, Du P, Tan Y. Circulating tumor cells with metastasis-initiating competence survive fluid shear stress during hematogenous dissemination through CXCR4-PI3K/AKT signaling. Cancer Lett 2024; 590:216870. [PMID: 38614386 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2024.216870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2024] [Revised: 03/28/2024] [Accepted: 04/06/2024] [Indexed: 04/15/2024]
Abstract
To seed lethal secondary lesions, circulating tumor cells (CTCs) must survive all rate-limiting factors during hematogenous dissemination, including fluid shear stress (FSS) that poses a grand challenge to their survival. We thus hypothesized that CTCs with the ability to survive FSS in vasculature might hold metastasis-initiating competence. This study reported that FSS of physiologic magnitude selected a small subpopulation of suspended tumor cells in vitro with the traits of metastasis-initiating cells, including stemness, migration/invasion potential, cellular plasticity, and biophysical properties. These shear-selected cells generated local and metastatic tumors at the primary and distal sites efficiently, implicating their metastasis competence. Mechanistically, FSS activated the mechanosensitive protein CXCR4 and the downstream PI3K/AKT signaling, which were essential in shear-mediated selection of metastasis-competent CTCs. In summary, these findings conclude that CTCs with metastasis-initiating competence survive FSS during hematogenous dissemination through CXCR4-PI3K/AKT signaling, which may provide new therapeutic targets for the early prevention of tumor metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Xin
- The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen, 518000, China; Research Institute of Smart Ageing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, 999077, China; Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, 999077, China
| | - Bing Hu
- The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen, 518000, China; Research Institute of Smart Ageing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, 999077, China; Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, 999077, China
| | - Keming Li
- The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen, 518000, China; Research Institute of Smart Ageing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, 999077, China
| | - Guanshuo Hu
- The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen, 518000, China; Research Institute of Smart Ageing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, 999077, China; Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, 999077, China
| | - Cunyu Zhang
- The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen, 518000, China; Research Institute of Smart Ageing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, 999077, China; Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, 999077, China
| | - Xi Chen
- The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen, 518000, China; Research Institute of Smart Ageing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, 999077, China
| | - Kai Tang
- The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen, 518000, China; Research Institute of Smart Ageing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, 999077, China
| | - Pengyu Du
- The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen, 518000, China; Research Institute of Smart Ageing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, 999077, China
| | - Youhua Tan
- The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen, 518000, China; Research Institute of Smart Ageing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, 999077, China; Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, 999077, China.
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4
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Bae T, Hallis SP, Kwak MK. Hypoxia, oxidative stress, and the interplay of HIFs and NRF2 signaling in cancer. Exp Mol Med 2024; 56:501-514. [PMID: 38424190 PMCID: PMC10985007 DOI: 10.1038/s12276-024-01180-8] [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: 11/14/2023] [Revised: 12/12/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Oxygen is crucial for life and acts as the final electron acceptor in mitochondrial energy production. Cells adapt to varying oxygen levels through intricate response systems. Hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs), including HIF-1α and HIF-2α, orchestrate the cellular hypoxic response, activating genes to increase the oxygen supply and reduce expenditure. Under conditions of excess oxygen and resulting oxidative stress, nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) activates hundreds of genes for oxidant removal and adaptive cell survival. Hypoxia and oxidative stress are core hallmarks of solid tumors and activated HIFs and NRF2 play pivotal roles in tumor growth and progression. The complex interplay between hypoxia and oxidative stress within the tumor microenvironment adds another layer of intricacy to the HIF and NRF2 signaling systems. This review aimed to elucidate the dynamic changes and functions of the HIF and NRF2 signaling pathways in response to conditions of hypoxia and oxidative stress, emphasizing their implications within the tumor milieu. Additionally, this review explored the elaborate interplay between HIFs and NRF2, providing insights into the significance of these interactions for the development of novel cancer treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taegeun Bae
- Integrated Research Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, The Catholic University of Korea, Bucheon, Gyeonggi‑do, 14662, Republic of Korea
| | - Steffanus Pranoto Hallis
- Department of Pharmacy, Graduate School of The Catholic University of Korea, Bucheon, Gyeonggi‑do, 14662, Republic of Korea
| | - Mi-Kyoung Kwak
- Integrated Research Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, The Catholic University of Korea, Bucheon, Gyeonggi‑do, 14662, Republic of Korea.
- Department of Pharmacy, Graduate School of The Catholic University of Korea, Bucheon, Gyeonggi‑do, 14662, Republic of Korea.
- College of Pharmacy, The Catholic University of Korea, Bucheon, Gyeonggi‑do, 14662, Republic of Korea.
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5
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Sinha S, Hembram KC, Chatterjee S. Targeting signaling pathways in cancer stem cells: A potential approach for developing novel anti-cancer therapeutics. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2024; 385:157-209. [PMID: 38663959 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ircmb.2024.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2024]
Abstract
Cancer stem cells (CSCs) have emerged as prime players in the intricate landscape of cancer development, progression, and resistance to traditional treatments. These unique cellular subpopulations own the remarkable capability of self-renewal and differentiation, giving rise to the diverse cellular makeup of tumors and fostering their recurrence following conventional therapies. In the quest for developing more effective cancer therapeutics, the focus has now shifted toward targeting the signaling pathways that govern CSCs behavior. This chapter underscores the significance of these signaling pathways in CSC biology and their potential as pivotal targets for the development of novel chemotherapy approaches. We delve into several key signaling pathways essential for maintaining the defining characteristics of CSCs, including the Wnt, Hedgehog, Notch, JAK-STAT, NF-κB pathways, among others, shedding light on their potential crosstalk. Furthermore, we highlight the latest advancements in CSC-targeted therapies, spanning from promising preclinical models to ongoing clinical trials. A comprehensive understanding of the intricate molecular aspects of CSC signaling pathways and their manipulation holds the prospective to revolutionize cancer treatment paradigms. This, in turn, could lead to more efficacious and personalized therapies with the ultimate goal of eradicating CSCs and enhancing overall patient outcomes. The exploration of CSC signaling pathways represents a key step towards a brighter future in the battle against cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saptarshi Sinha
- National Institute of Biomedical Genomics, Kalyani, West Bengal, India
| | | | - Subhajit Chatterjee
- Laboratory of Cellular Oncology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institute of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States.
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Abdullah AR, Gamal El-Din AM, El-Mahdy HA, Ismail Y, El-Husseiny AA. The crucial role of fascin-1 in the pathogenesis, metastasis, and chemotherapeutic resistance of breast cancer. Pathol Res Pract 2024; 254:155079. [PMID: 38219494 DOI: 10.1016/j.prp.2023.155079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2023] [Revised: 12/27/2023] [Accepted: 12/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/16/2024]
Abstract
Breast cancer (BC) is the most common type of cancer in women to be diagnosed, and it is also the second leading cause of cancer death in women globally. It is the disease that causes the most life years adjusted for disability lost among women, making it a serious worldwide health issue. Understanding and interpreting carcinogenesis and metastatic pathways is critical for curing malignancy. Fascin-1 was recognized as an actin-bundling protein with parallel, rigid bundles as a result of the cross-linking of F-actin microfilaments. Increasing levels of fascin-1 have been associated with bad prognostic profiles, aggressiveness of clinical courses, and poor survival outcomes in a variety of human malignancies. Cancer cells that overexpress fascin-1 have higher capabilities for proliferation, invasion, migration, and metastasis. Fascin-1 is being considered as a potential target for therapy as well as a potential biomarker for diagnostics in a variety of cancer types. This review aims to provide an overview of the FSCN1 gene and its protein structure, elucidate its physiological and pathological roles, and throw light on its involvement in the initiation, development, and chemotherapeutic resistance of BC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed R Abdullah
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department, Faculty of Pharmacy (Boys), Al-Azhar University, Nasr City 11231, Cairo, Egypt.
| | - Ayman M Gamal El-Din
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department, Faculty of Pharmacy (Boys), Al-Azhar University, Nasr City 11231, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Hesham A El-Mahdy
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department, Faculty of Pharmacy (Boys), Al-Azhar University, Nasr City 11231, Cairo, Egypt.
| | - Yahia Ismail
- Medical Oncology Department, National Cancer Institute (NCI), Cairo University, Cairo 11796, Egypt
| | - Ahmed A El-Husseiny
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department, Faculty of Pharmacy (Boys), Al-Azhar University, Nasr City 11231, Cairo, Egypt; Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Egyptian Russian University, Badr City 11829, Cairo, Egypt.
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7
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Yang F, Yang Y, Qiu Y, Tang L, Xie L, Guan X. Long Non-Coding RNAs as Regulators for Targeting Breast Cancer Stem Cells and Tumor Immune Microenvironment: Biological Properties and Therapeutic Potential. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:290. [PMID: 38254782 PMCID: PMC10814583 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16020290] [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: 11/22/2023] [Revised: 01/01/2024] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs) is a subpopulation of cancer cells with self-renewal and differentiation capacity, have been suggested to give rise to tumor heterogeneity and biologically aggressive behavior. Accumulating evidence has shown that BCSCs play a fundamental role in tumorigenesis, progression, and recurrence. The development of immunotherapy, primarily represented by programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1)/programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) inhibitors, has greatly changed the treatment landscape of multiple malignancies. Recent studies have identified pervasive negative associations between cancer stemness and anticancer immunity. Stemness seems to play a causative role in the formation of cold tumor immune microenvironment (TIME). The multiple functions of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in regulating stemness and immune responses has been recently highlighted in breast cancer. The review focus on lncRNAs and keys pathways involved in the regulation of BCSCs and TIME. Potential clinical applications using lncRNAs as biomarkers or therapies will be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fang Yang
- The Comprehensive Cancer Center of Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210008, China; (F.Y.); (Y.Y.); (Y.Q.)
- Clinical Cancer Institute, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Yiqi Yang
- The Comprehensive Cancer Center of Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210008, China; (F.Y.); (Y.Y.); (Y.Q.)
- Clinical Cancer Institute, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Yuling Qiu
- The Comprehensive Cancer Center of Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210008, China; (F.Y.); (Y.Y.); (Y.Q.)
- Clinical Cancer Institute, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Lin Tang
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Jinling Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210002, China;
| | - Li Xie
- The Comprehensive Cancer Center of Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210008, China; (F.Y.); (Y.Y.); (Y.Q.)
- Clinical Cancer Institute, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Xiaoxiang Guan
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, China
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8
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Anayyat U, Ahad F, Muluh TA, Zaidi SAA, Usmani F, Yang H, Li M, Hassan HA, Wang X. Immunotherapy: Constructive Approach for Breast Cancer Treatment. BREAST CANCER (DOVE MEDICAL PRESS) 2023; 15:925-951. [PMID: 38116189 PMCID: PMC10729681 DOI: 10.2147/bctt.s424624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
A novel and rapid therapeutic approach is the treatment of human breast cancer by enhancing the host's immune system. In initial findings, program death one (PD-1) and program cell death ligand one (PD-L1) showed positive results towards solid tumors, but tumor relapse and drug resistance are the major concerns. Breast cancer therapy has been transformed by the advent of immune checkpoint blockades (ICBs). Triple-negative breast cancers (TNBCs) have exhibited enduring responses to clinical usage of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICBs) like atezolizumab and pembrolizumab. Nonetheless, a notable proportion of individuals with TNBC do not experience advantages from these treatments, and there is limited comprehension of the resistance mechanisms. Another approach to overcome resistance is cancer stem cells (CSCs), as these cells are crucial for the initiation and growth of tumors in the body. Various cancer vaccines are created using stem cells (dendritic, whole cell, bacterial) and focus primarily on targeting tumor-related antigens. The ultimate objective of cancer vaccines is to immunize the patients by active artificial immunity against cancer, though. In this review, we primarily focused on existing immunotherapeutic options, immune checkpoint blockers, the latest progress in understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying resistance to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICBs), advanced strategies to overcome resistance to ICBs, cancer stem cell antigens and molecular markers, ongoing clinical trials for BCs and cancer vaccines for breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Umer Anayyat
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Health Sciences Center, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518055, People’s Republic of China
| | - Faiza Ahad
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Health Sciences Center, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518055, People’s Republic of China
| | - Tobias Achu Muluh
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Health Sciences Center, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518055, People’s Republic of China
| | - Syed Aqib Ali Zaidi
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Health Sciences Center, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518055, People’s Republic of China
| | - Faiza Usmani
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Hua Yang
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Health Sciences Center, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518055, People’s Republic of China
| | - Mengqing Li
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Health Sciences Center, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518055, People’s Republic of China
| | - Hammad Ali Hassan
- Department of Cell Developmental and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Xiaomei Wang
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Health Sciences Center, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518055, People’s Republic of China
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Uematsu H, Saito C, Kondo J, Onuma K, Coppo R, Mori Y, Muto M, Kikawa Y, Tada M, Sugie T, Inoue M. De-differentiation in cultures of organoids from luminal-type breast cancer is restored by inhibition of NOTCH signaling. Hum Cell 2023; 36:2099-2112. [PMID: 37634223 DOI: 10.1007/s13577-023-00975-7] [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: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/20/2023] [Indexed: 08/29/2023]
Abstract
Estrogen receptor (ER) expression in breast cancer can change during progression and the treatment, but the mechanism has not been well studied. In this study, we successfully prepared organoids from samples obtained from 33 luminal-type breast cancer patients and studied their ER expression. The expression status was well maintained in primary organoids, whereas it decreased after passaging in most of the cases. In fact, the studied organoid lines were classified into those that retained a high level of ER expression (9%), those that completely lost it (9%), and those that repressed it to varying degrees (82%). In some cases, the ER expression was suddenly and drastically decreased after passaging. Marker protein immunohistochemistry revealed that after passaging, the differentiation status shifted from a luminal- to a basal-like status. Differentially expressed genes suggested the activation of NOTCH signaling in the passaged organoids, wherein a NOTCH inhibitor was able to substantially rescue the decreased ER expression and alter the differentiation status. Our findings suggest that the differentiation status of luminal-type cancer cells is quite flexible, and that by inhibiting the NOTCH signaling we can preserve the differentiation status of luminal-type breast cancer organoids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroyuki Uematsu
- Department of Clinical Bio-Resource Research and Development, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, 46-29, Shimoadachi-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8304, Japan
- KBBM Inc, 46-29, Shimoadachi-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8304, Japan
| | - Chieko Saito
- Department of Clinical Bio-Resource Research and Development, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, 46-29, Shimoadachi-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8304, Japan
- KBBM Inc, 46-29, Shimoadachi-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8304, Japan
| | - Jumpei Kondo
- Department of Clinical Bio-Resource Research and Development, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, 46-29, Shimoadachi-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8304, Japan
- Division of Health Sciences, Department of Molecular Biology and Clinical Investigation, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Kunishige Onuma
- Department of Clinical Bio-Resource Research and Development, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, 46-29, Shimoadachi-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8304, Japan
| | - Roberto Coppo
- Department of Clinical Bio-Resource Research and Development, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, 46-29, Shimoadachi-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8304, Japan
| | - Yukiko Mori
- Department of Therapeutic Oncology, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, 54 Shogoin Kawahara-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8507, Japan
| | - Manabu Muto
- Department of Therapeutic Oncology, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, 54 Shogoin Kawahara-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8507, Japan
| | - Yuichiro Kikawa
- Department of Breast Surgery, Kansai Medical University, Hirakata, Osaka, 573-1191, Japan
| | - Manami Tada
- Department of Breast Surgery, Kansai Medical University, Hirakata, Osaka, 573-1191, Japan
| | - Tomoharu Sugie
- Department of Breast Surgery, Kansai Medical University, Hirakata, Osaka, 573-1191, Japan
| | - Masahiro Inoue
- Department of Clinical Bio-Resource Research and Development, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, 46-29, Shimoadachi-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8304, Japan.
- Department of Clinical Bio-Resource Research and Development, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Med-Pharm Collaboration Building 503, Shimoadachi-cho 46-29, Sakyou-ku, Kyoto, 606-8304, Japan.
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Huntoon K, Lee D, Dong S, Antony A, Kim BYS, Jiang W. Targeting phagocytosis to enhance antitumor immunity. Trends Cancer 2023; 9:650-665. [PMID: 37150626 DOI: 10.1016/j.trecan.2023.04.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2023] [Revised: 04/10/2023] [Accepted: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Many patients with metastatic or treatment-resistant cancer have experienced improved outcomes after immunotherapy that targets adaptive immune checkpoints. However, innate immune checkpoints, which can hinder the detection and clearance of malignant cells, are also crucial in tumor-mediated immune escape and may also serve as targets in cancer immunotherapy. In this review, we discuss the current understanding of immune evasion by cancer cells via disruption of phagocytic clearance, and the potential effects of blocking phagocytosis checkpoints on the activation of antitumor immune responses. We propose that a more effective combination immunotherapy strategy could be to exploit tumor-intrinsic processes that inhibit key innate immune surveillance processes, such as phagocytosis, and incorporate both innate and adaptive immune responses for treating patients with cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristin Huntoon
- Department of Neurosurgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - DaeYong Lee
- Department of Neurosurgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Shiyan Dong
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Abin Antony
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Betty Y S Kim
- Department of Neurosurgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
| | - Wen Jiang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
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Ponomarev AS, Gilazieva ZE, Solovyova VV, Rizvanov AA. Molecular Mechanisms of Tumor Cell Stemness Modulation during Formation of Spheroids. BIOCHEMISTRY. BIOKHIMIIA 2023; 88:979-994. [PMID: 37751868 DOI: 10.1134/s0006297923070106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Revised: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 06/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023]
Abstract
Cancer stem cells (CSCs), their properties and interaction with microenvironment are of interest in modern medicine and biology. There are many studies on the emergence of CSCs and their involvement in tumor pathogenesis. The most important property inherent to CSCs is their stemness. Stemness combines ability of the cell to maintain its pluripotency, give rise to differentiated cells, and interact with environment to maintain a balance between dormancy, proliferation, and regeneration. While adult stem cells exhibit these properties by participating in tissue homeostasis, CSCs behave as their malignant equivalents. High tumor resistance to therapy, ability to differentiate, activate angiogenesis and metastasis arise precisely due to the stemness of CSCs. These cells can be used as a target for therapy of different types of cancer. Laboratory models are needed to study cancer biology and find new therapeutic strategies. A promising direction is three-dimensional tumor models or spheroids. Such models exhibit properties resembling stemness in a natural tumor. By modifying spheroids, it becomes possible to investigate the effect of therapy on CSCs, thus contributing to the development of anti-tumor drug test systems. The review examines the niche of CSCs, the possibility of their study using three-dimensional spheroids, and existing markers for assessing stemness of CSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksei S Ponomarev
- Kazan (Volga Region) Federal University, Kazan, Republic of Tatarstan, 420008, Russia
| | - Zarema E Gilazieva
- Kazan (Volga Region) Federal University, Kazan, Republic of Tatarstan, 420008, Russia
| | - Valeriya V Solovyova
- Kazan (Volga Region) Federal University, Kazan, Republic of Tatarstan, 420008, Russia
| | - Albert A Rizvanov
- Kazan (Volga Region) Federal University, Kazan, Republic of Tatarstan, 420008, Russia.
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12
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Lučić I, Kurtović M, Mlinarić M, Piteša N, Čipak Gašparović A, Sabol M, Milković L. Deciphering Common Traits of Breast and Ovarian Cancer Stem Cells and Possible Therapeutic Approaches. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:10683. [PMID: 37445860 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241310683] [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: 05/06/2023] [Revised: 06/21/2023] [Accepted: 06/23/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer (BC) and ovarian cancer (OC) are among the most common and deadly cancers affecting women worldwide. Both are complex diseases with marked heterogeneity. Despite the induction of screening programs that increase the frequency of earlier diagnosis of BC, at a stage when the cancer is more likely to respond to therapy, which does not exist for OC, more than 50% of both cancers are diagnosed at an advanced stage. Initial therapy can put the cancer into remission. However, recurrences occur frequently in both BC and OC, which are highly cancer-subtype dependent. Therapy resistance is mainly attributed to a rare subpopulation of cells, named cancer stem cells (CSC) or tumor-initiating cells, as they are capable of self-renewal, tumor initiation, and regrowth of tumor bulk. In this review, we will discuss the distinctive markers and signaling pathways that characterize CSC, their interactions with the tumor microenvironment, and the strategies they employ to evade immune surveillance. Our focus will be on identifying the common features of breast cancer stem cells (BCSC) and ovarian cancer stem cells (OCSC) and suggesting potential therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivan Lučić
- Laboratory for Oxidative Stress, Division of Molecular Medicine, Ruđer Bošković Institute, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Matea Kurtović
- Laboratory for Hereditary Cancer, Division of Molecular Medicine, Ruđer Bošković Institute, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Monika Mlinarić
- Laboratory for Oxidative Stress, Division of Molecular Medicine, Ruđer Bošković Institute, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Nikolina Piteša
- Laboratory for Hereditary Cancer, Division of Molecular Medicine, Ruđer Bošković Institute, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Ana Čipak Gašparović
- Laboratory for Oxidative Stress, Division of Molecular Medicine, Ruđer Bošković Institute, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Maja Sabol
- Laboratory for Hereditary Cancer, Division of Molecular Medicine, Ruđer Bošković Institute, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Lidija Milković
- Laboratory for Oxidative Stress, Division of Molecular Medicine, Ruđer Bošković Institute, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
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13
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Gillespie MS, Ward CM, Davies CC. DNA Repair and Therapeutic Strategies in Cancer Stem Cells. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:1897. [PMID: 36980782 PMCID: PMC10047301 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15061897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2023] [Revised: 03/18/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
First-line cancer treatments successfully eradicate the differentiated tumour mass but are comparatively ineffective against cancer stem cells (CSCs), a self-renewing subpopulation thought to be responsible for tumour initiation, metastasis, heterogeneity, and recurrence. CSCs are thus presented as the principal target for elimination during cancer treatment. However, CSCs are challenging to drug target because of numerous intrinsic and extrinsic mechanisms of drug resistance. One such mechanism that remains relatively understudied is the DNA damage response (DDR). CSCs are presumed to possess properties that enable enhanced DNA repair efficiency relative to their highly proliferative bulk progeny, facilitating improved repair of double-strand breaks induced by radiotherapy and most chemotherapeutics. This can occur through multiple mechanisms, including increased expression and splicing fidelity of DNA repair genes, robust activation of cell cycle checkpoints, and elevated homologous recombination-mediated DNA repair. Herein, we summarise the current knowledge concerning improved genome integrity in non-transformed stem cells and CSCs, discuss therapeutic opportunities within the DDR for re-sensitising CSCs to genotoxic stressors, and consider the challenges posed regarding unbiased identification of novel DDR-directed strategies in CSCs. A better understanding of the DDR mediating chemo/radioresistance mechanisms in CSCs could lead to novel therapeutic approaches, thereby enhancing treatment efficacy in cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew S. Gillespie
- Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK; (M.S.G.)
- School of Cancer Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton SO16 6YD, UK
| | - Ciara M. Ward
- Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK; (M.S.G.)
| | - Clare C. Davies
- Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK; (M.S.G.)
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14
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Petersburg J, Vallera DA, Wagner CR. Eradication of Heterogeneous Tumors by T Cells Targeted with Combination Bispecific Chemically Self-assembled Nanorings. Mol Cancer Ther 2023; 22:371-380. [PMID: 36548194 PMCID: PMC9992298 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-22-0515] [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: 08/06/2022] [Revised: 11/02/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Cancer stem-like cells (CSCs) are often the root cause of refractive relapse due to their inherent resistance to most therapies and ability to rapidly self-propagate. Recently, the antigen CD133 has been identified as a CSC marker on several cancer types and αCD133 therapies have shown selective targeting against CSCs with minimal off-target toxicity. Theoretically, by selectively eliminating CSCs, the sensitivity to bulk tumor-targeting therapies should be enhanced. Previously, our laboratory has developed bispecific chemically self-assembled nanorings (CSANs) that successfully induced T-cell eradication of EpCAM-positive (EpCAM+) tumors. We reasoned that targeting both CSCs [CD133-positive (CD133+)] and the bulk tumor (EpCAM+) simultaneously using our CSAN platform should produce a synergistic effect. We evaluated αCD133/αCD3 CSANs as both a single agent and in combination with αEpCAM/αCD3 CSANs to treat triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells, which express a subpopulation of CD133+ cancer stem cells and EpCAM+ bulk tumor cells. Furthermore, an orthotopic breast cancer model validated the ability of αCD133 and αEpCAM targeting to combine synergistically in the elimination of TNBC MDA-MB-231 cells. Complete tumor eradication only occurred when EpCAM and CD133 were targeted simultaneously and lead to full remission in 80% of the test mice. Importantly, the depletion and enrichment of CD133 TNBCs highlighted the role of CD133+ cancer cells in regulating tumor growth and progression. Collectively, our results demonstrate that dual targeting with bispecific CSANs can be effective against heterogenous tumor cell populations and that elimination of primary and CD133+ CSCs may be necessary for eradication of at least a subset of TNBC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob Petersburg
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Daniel A Vallera
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Carston R Wagner
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
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15
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Bassey-Archibong BI, Rajendra Chokshi C, Aghaei N, Kieliszek AM, Tatari N, McKenna D, Singh M, Kalpana Subapanditha M, Parmar A, Mobilio D, Savage N, Lam F, Tokar T, Provias J, Lu Y, Chafe SC, Swanton C, Hynds RE, Venugopal C, Singh SK. An HLA-G/SPAG9/STAT3 axis promotes brain metastases. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2205247120. [PMID: 36780531 PMCID: PMC9974476 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2205247120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2022] [Accepted: 09/18/2022] [Indexed: 02/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Brain metastases (BM) are the most common brain neoplasm in adults. Current BM therapies still offer limited efficacy and reduced survival outcomes, emphasizing the need for a better understanding of the disease. Herein, we analyzed the transcriptional profile of brain metastasis initiating cells (BMICs) at two distinct stages of the brain metastatic cascade-the "premetastatic" or early stage when they first colonize the brain and the established macrometastatic stage. RNA sequencing was used to obtain the transcriptional profiles of premetastatic and macrometastatic (non-premetastatic) lung, breast, and melanoma BMICs. We identified that lung, breast, and melanoma premetastatic BMICs share a common transcriptomic signature that is distinct from their non-premetastatic counterparts. Importantly, we show that premetastatic BMICs exhibit increased expression of HLA-G, which we further demonstrate functions in an HLA-G/SPAG9/STAT3 axis to promote the establishment of brain metastatic lesions. Our findings suggest that unraveling the molecular landscape of premetastatic BMICs allows for the identification of clinically relevant targets that can possibly inform the development of preventive and/or more efficacious BM therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Chirayu Rajendra Chokshi
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4K1, Canada
| | - Nikoo Aghaei
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4K1, Canada
| | - Agata Monika Kieliszek
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4K1, Canada
| | - Nazanin Tatari
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4K1, Canada
| | - Dillon McKenna
- Department of Surgery, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4K1, Canada
| | - Mohini Singh
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4K1, Canada
| | | | - Arun Parmar
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4K1, Canada
| | - Daniel Mobilio
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4K1, Canada
| | - Neil Savage
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4K1, Canada
| | - Fred Lam
- Department of Surgery, Division of Neurosurgery, McMaster University Faculty of Health Sciences, Hamilton General Hospital, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4K1, Canada
| | - Tomas Tokar
- Osteoarthritis Research Program, Division of Orthopedic Surgery, Schroeder Arthritis Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, M5T 2S8, Canada
- Data Science Discovery Centre for Chronic Diseases, Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, M5T 2S8, Canada
| | - John Provias
- Department of Anatomical Pathology (Neuropathology), Hamilton General Hospital, Hamilton, ON, L8L 2X2, Canada
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4K1, Canada
| | - Yu Lu
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4K1, Canada
| | | | - Charles Swanton
- The Cancer Research UK (CRUK) Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, University College London (UCL) Cancer Institute, University College London, London, WC1E 6DD, United Kingdom
- Cancer Evolution and Genome Instability Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, NW1 1AT, United Kingdom
| | - Robert Edward Hynds
- The Cancer Research UK (CRUK) Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, University College London (UCL) Cancer Institute, University College London, London, WC1E 6DD, United Kingdom
- Cancer Evolution and Genome Instability Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, NW1 1AT, United Kingdom
| | - Chitra Venugopal
- Department of Surgery, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4K1, Canada
| | - Sheila Kumari Singh
- Department of Surgery, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4K1, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4K1, Canada
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16
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Bhavnagari H, Raval A, Shah F. Deciphering Potential Role of Hippo Signaling Pathway in Breast Cancer: A Comprehensive Review. Curr Pharm Des 2023; 29:3505-3518. [PMID: 38141194 DOI: 10.2174/0113816128274418231215054210] [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: 07/28/2023] [Revised: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/25/2023]
Abstract
Breast cancer is a heterogeneous disease and a leading malignancy around the world. It is a vital cause of untimely mortality among women. Drug resistance is the major challenge for effective cancer therapeutics. In contrast, cancer stem cells (CSCs) are one of the reasons for drug resistance, tumor progression, and metastasis. The small population of CSCs present in each tumor has the ability of self-renewal, differentiation, and tumorigenicity. CSCs are often identified and enriched using a variety of cell surface markers (CD44, CD24, CD133, ABCG2, CD49f, LGR5, SSEA-3, CD70) that exert their functions by different regulatory networks, i.e., Notch, Wnt/β-catenin, hedgehog (Hh), and Hippo signaling pathways. Particularly the Hippo signaling pathway is the emerging and very less explored cancer stem cell pathway. Here, in this review, the Hippo signaling molecules are elaborated with respect to their ability of stemness as epigenetic modulators and how these molecules can be targeted for better cancer treatment and to overcome drug resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hunayna Bhavnagari
- Molecular Diagnostic and Research Lab-3, Department of Cancer Biology, The Gujarat Cancer and Research Institute, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India
| | - Apexa Raval
- Molecular Diagnostic and Research Lab-3, Department of Cancer Biology, The Gujarat Cancer and Research Institute, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India
| | - Franky Shah
- Molecular Diagnostic and Research Lab-3, Department of Cancer Biology, The Gujarat Cancer and Research Institute, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India
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17
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Zhang L, Chen W, Liu S, Chen C. Targeting Breast Cancer Stem Cells. Int J Biol Sci 2023; 19:552-570. [PMID: 36632469 PMCID: PMC9830502 DOI: 10.7150/ijbs.76187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2022] [Accepted: 12/09/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The potential roles of breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs) in tumor initiation and recurrence have been recognized for many decades. Due to their strong capacity for self-renewal and differentiation, BCSCs are the major reasons for poor clinical outcomes and low therapeutic response. Several hypotheses on the origin of cancer stem cells have been proposed, including critical gene mutations in stem cells, dedifferentiation of somatic cells, and cell plasticity remodeling by epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and the tumor microenvironment. Moreover, the tumor microenvironment, including cellular components and cytokines, modulates the self-renewal and therapeutic resistance of BCSCs. Small molecules, antibodies, and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cells targeting BCSCs have been developed, and their applications in combination with conventional therapies are undergoing clinical trials. In this review, we focus on the features of BCSCs, emphasize the major factors and tumor environment that regulate the stemness of BCSCs, and discuss potential BCSC-targeting therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu Zhang
- Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center & Institutes of Biomedical Sciences; State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering; Cancer Institutes; Key Laboratory of Breast Cancer in Shanghai; The Shanghai paracrine Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology; The International Co-laboratory of Medical Epigenetics and Metabolism, Ministry of Science and Technology; Shanghai Medical College; Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Wenmin Chen
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Kunming 650201, China.,Kunming College of Life Sciences, the University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650201, China
| | - Suling Liu
- Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center & Institutes of Biomedical Sciences; State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering; Cancer Institutes; Key Laboratory of Breast Cancer in Shanghai; The Shanghai paracrine Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology; The International Co-laboratory of Medical Epigenetics and Metabolism, Ministry of Science and Technology; Shanghai Medical College; Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China.,Jiangsu Key Lab of Cancer Biomarkers, Prevention and Treatment, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China.,✉ Corresponding authors: Ceshi Chen, E-mail: or Suling Liu, E-mail:
| | - Ceshi Chen
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Kunming 650201, China.,Academy of Biomedical Engineering, Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650500, China.,The Third Affiliated Hospital, Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650118, China.,✉ Corresponding authors: Ceshi Chen, E-mail: or Suling Liu, E-mail:
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18
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Mishra A, Pathak Y, Mishra SK, Prakash H, Tripathi V. Natural compounds as a potential modifier of stem cells renewal: Comparative analysis. Eur J Pharmacol 2022; 938:175412. [PMID: 36427534 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2022.175412] [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: 06/16/2022] [Revised: 11/09/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are indispensable for development, progression, drug resistance, and tumor metastasis. Current cancer-directed interventions target targeting rapidly dividing cancer cells and slow dividing CSCs, which are the root cause of cancer origin and recurrence. The most promising targets include several self-renewal pathways involved in the maintenance and renewal of CSCs, such as the Wnt/β-Catenin, Sonic Hedgehog, Notch, Hippo, Autophagy, and Ferroptosis. In view of safety, natural compounds are coming to the front line of treatment modalities for modifying various signaling pathways simultaneously involved in maintaining CSCs. Therefore, targeting CSCs with natural compounds is a promising approach to treating various types of cancers. In view of this, here we provide a comprehensive update on the current status of natural compounds that effectively tune key self-renewal pathways of CSCs. In addition, we highlighted surface expression markers in several types of cancer. We also emphasize how natural compounds target these self-renewal pathways to reduce therapy resistance and cancer recurrence properties of CSCs, hence providing valuable cancer therapeutic strategies. The inclusion of nutraceuticals is believed to enhance the therapeutic efficacy of current cancer-directed interventions significantly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amaresh Mishra
- School of Biotechnology, Gautam Buddha University, Greater Noida, 201310, India
| | - Yamini Pathak
- School of Biotechnology, Gautam Buddha University, Greater Noida, 201310, India
| | | | - Hridayesh Prakash
- Amity Institute of Virology and Immunology, Amity University, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Vishwas Tripathi
- School of Biotechnology, Gautam Buddha University, Greater Noida, 201310, India.
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19
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Advances in Biomarkers and Endogenous Regulation of Breast Cancer Stem Cells. Cells 2022; 11:cells11192941. [PMID: 36230903 PMCID: PMC9562239 DOI: 10.3390/cells11192941] [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: 08/24/2022] [Revised: 09/13/2022] [Accepted: 09/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers. Even if breast cancer patients initially respond to treatment, developed resistance can lead to a poor prognosis. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are a group of undifferentiated cells with self-renewal and multipotent differentiation characteristics. Existing evidence has shown that CSCs are one of the determinants that contribute to the heterogeneity of primary tumors. The emergence of CSCs causes tumor recurrence, metastasis, and therapeutic resistance. Previous studies indicated that different stemness-associated surface markers can identify other breast cancer stem cell (BCSC) subpopulations. Deciphering the critical signaling networks that are involved in the induction and maintenance of stemness is essential to develop novel BCSC-targeting strategies. In this review, we reviewed the biomarkers of BCSCs, critical regulators of BCSCs, and the signaling networks that regulate the stemness of BCSCs.
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20
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Xu H, Zhang F, Gao X, Zhou Q, Zhu L. Fate decisions of breast cancer stem cells in cancer progression. Front Oncol 2022; 12:968306. [PMID: 36046046 PMCID: PMC9420991 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.968306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2022] [Accepted: 07/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer has a marked recurrence and metastatic trait and is one of the most prevalent malignancies affecting women’s health worldwide. Tumor initiation and progression begin after the cell goes from a quiescent to an activated state and requires different mechanisms to act in concert to regulate t a specific set of spectral genes for expression. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) have been proven to initiate and drive tumorigenesis due to their capability of self-renew and differentiate. In addition, CSCs are believed to be capable of causing resistance to anti-tumor drugs, recurrence and metastasis. Therefore, exploring the origin, regulatory mechanisms and ultimate fate decision of CSCs in breast cancer outcomes has far-reaching clinical implications for the development of breast cancer stem cell (BCSC)-targeted therapeutic strategies. In this review, we will highlight the contribution of BCSCs to breast cancer and explore the internal and external factors that regulate the fate of BCSCs.
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21
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Targeting Breast Cancer Stem Cells Using Naturally Occurring Phytoestrogens. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23126813. [PMID: 35743256 PMCID: PMC9224163 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23126813] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2022] [Revised: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 06/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer therapies have made significant strides in improving survival for patients over the past decades. However, recurrence and drug resistance continue to challenge long-term recurrence-free and overall survival rates. Mounting evidence supports the cancer stem cell model in which the existence of a small population of breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs) within the tumor enables these cells to evade conventional therapies and repopulate the tumor, giving rise to more aggressive, recurrent tumors. Thus, successful breast cancer therapy would need to target these BCSCs, as well the tumor bulk cells. Since the Women’s Health Initiative study reported an increased risk of breast cancer with the use of conventional hormone replacement therapy in postmenopausal women, many have turned their attention to phytoestrogens as a natural alternative. Phytoestrogens are plant compounds that share structural similarities with human estrogens and can bind to the estrogen receptors to alter the endocrine responses. Recent studies have found that phytoestrogens can also target BCSCs and have the potential to complement conventional therapy eradicating BCSCs. This review summarized the latest findings of different phytoestrogens and their effect on BCSCs, along with their mechanisms of action, including selective estrogen receptor binding and inhibition of molecular pathways used by BCSCs. The latest results of phytoestrogens in clinical trials are also discussed to further evaluate the use of phytoestrogen in the treatment and prevention of breast cancer.
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22
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Vascular mimicry: A potential therapeutic target in breast cancer. Pathol Res Pract 2022; 234:153922. [DOI: 10.1016/j.prp.2022.153922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2022] [Revised: 04/19/2022] [Accepted: 04/24/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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23
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Generation of Cancer Stem/Initiating Cells by Cell-Cell Fusion. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23094514. [PMID: 35562905 PMCID: PMC9101717 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23094514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2022] [Revised: 04/10/2022] [Accepted: 04/17/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
CS/ICs have raised great expectations in cancer research and therapy, as eradication of this key cancer cell type is expected to lead to a complete cure. Unfortunately, the biology of CS/ICs is rather complex, since no common CS/IC marker has yet been identified. Certain surface markers or ALDH1 expression can be used for detection, but some studies indicated that cancer cells exhibit a certain plasticity, so CS/ICs can also arise from non-CS/ICs. Another problem is intratumoral heterogeneity, from which it can be inferred that different CS/IC subclones must be present in the tumor. Cell–cell fusion between cancer cells and normal cells, such as macrophages and stem cells, has been associated with the generation of tumor hybrids that can exhibit novel properties, such as an enhanced metastatic capacity and even CS/IC properties. Moreover, cell–cell fusion is a complex process in which parental chromosomes are mixed and randomly distributed among daughter cells, resulting in multiple, unique tumor hybrids. These, if they have CS/IC properties, may contribute to the heterogeneity of the CS/IC pool. In this review, we will discuss whether cell–cell fusion could also lead to the origin of different CS/ICs that may expand the overall CS/IC pool in a primary tumor.
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24
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Salah M, Akasaka H, Shimizu Y, Morita K, Nishimura Y, Kubota H, Kawaguchi H, Sogawa T, Mukumoto N, Ogino C, Sasaki R. Reactive oxygen species-inducing titanium peroxide nanoparticles as promising radiosensitizers for eliminating pancreatic cancer stem cells. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2022; 41:146. [PMID: 35428310 PMCID: PMC9013114 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-022-02358-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2022] [Accepted: 04/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite recent advances in radiotherapy, radioresistance in patients with pancreatic cancer remains a crucial dilemma for clinical treatment. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) represent a major factor in radioresistance. Developing a potent radiosensitizer may be a novel candidate for the eradication of pancreatic CSCs. METHODS CSCs were isolated from MIA PaCa-2 and PANC1 human pancreatic cancer cell lines. Titanium peroxide nanoparticles (TiOxNPs) were synthesized from titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2NPs) and utilized as radiosensitizers when added one hour prior to radiation exposure. The antitumor activity of this novel therapeutic strategy was evaluated against well-established pancreatic CSCs model both in vitro and in vivo. RESULTS It is shown that TiOxNPs combined with ionizing radiation exhibit anti-cancer effects on radioresistant CSCs both in vitro and in vivo. TiOxNPs exhibited a synergistic effect with radiation on pancreatic CSC-enriched spheres by downregulating self-renewal regulatory factors and CSC surface markers. Moreover, combined treatment suppressed epithelial-mesenchymal transition, migration, and invasion properties in primary and aggressive pancreatic cancer cells by reducing the expression of proteins relevant to these processes. Notably, radiosensitizing TiOxNPs suppressed the growth of pancreatic xenografts following primary or dissociating sphere MIA PaCa-2 cell implantation. It is inferred that synergy is formed by generating intolerable levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and inactivating the AKT signaling pathway. CONCLUSIONS Our data suggested the use of TiOxNPs in combination with radiation may be considered an attractive therapeutic strategy to eliminate pancreatic CSCs.
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Grants
- 21K07594, 20KK0192, 20K21576, 20K08108 Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology of Japan
- 19K08121 Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology of Japan
- 20K08134 Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology of Japan
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammed Salah
- Division of Radiation Oncology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Hyogo, 650-0017, Japan.
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, South Valley University, Qena, 83522, Egypt.
| | - Hiroaki Akasaka
- Division of Radiation Oncology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Hyogo, 650-0017, Japan
| | - Yasuyuki Shimizu
- Division of Radiation Oncology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Hyogo, 650-0017, Japan
| | - Kenta Morita
- Department of Chemical Science and Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Kobe University, Kobe, Hyogo, 650-0017, Japan
| | - Yuya Nishimura
- Department of Chemical Science and Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Kobe University, Kobe, Hyogo, 650-0017, Japan
| | - Hikaru Kubota
- Division of Radiation Oncology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Hyogo, 650-0017, Japan
| | - Hiroki Kawaguchi
- Division of Radiation Oncology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Hyogo, 650-0017, Japan
| | - Tomomi Sogawa
- Division of Radiation Oncology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Hyogo, 650-0017, Japan
| | - Naritoshi Mukumoto
- Division of Radiation Oncology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Hyogo, 650-0017, Japan
| | - Chiaki Ogino
- Department of Chemical Science and Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Kobe University, Kobe, Hyogo, 650-0017, Japan
| | - Ryohei Sasaki
- Division of Radiation Oncology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Hyogo, 650-0017, Japan.
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Saha T, Lukong KE. Breast Cancer Stem-Like Cells in Drug Resistance: A Review of Mechanisms and Novel Therapeutic Strategies to Overcome Drug Resistance. Front Oncol 2022; 12:856974. [PMID: 35392236 PMCID: PMC8979779 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.856974] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2022] [Accepted: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer is the most frequent type of malignancy in women worldwide, and drug resistance to the available systemic therapies remains a major challenge. At the molecular level, breast cancer is heterogeneous, where the cancer-initiating stem-like cells (bCSCs) comprise a small yet distinct population of cells within the tumor microenvironment (TME) that can differentiate into cells of multiple lineages, displaying varying degrees of cellular differentiation, enhanced metastatic potential, invasiveness, and resistance to radio- and chemotherapy. Based on the expression of estrogen and progesterone hormone receptors, expression of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), and/or BRCA mutations, the breast cancer molecular subtypes are identified as TNBC, HER2 enriched, luminal A, and luminal B. Management of breast cancer primarily involves resection of the tumor, followed by radiotherapy, and systemic therapies including endocrine therapies for hormone-responsive breast cancers; HER2-targeted therapy for HER2-enriched breast cancers; chemotherapy and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors for TNBC, and the recent development of immunotherapy. However, the complex crosstalk between the malignant cells and stromal cells in the breast TME, rewiring of the many different signaling networks, and bCSC-mediated processes, all contribute to overall drug resistance in breast cancer. However, strategically targeting bCSCs to reverse chemoresistance and increase drug sensitivity is an underexplored stream in breast cancer research. The recent identification of dysregulated miRNAs/ncRNAs/mRNAs signatures in bCSCs and their crosstalk with many cellular signaling pathways has uncovered promising molecular leads to be used as potential therapeutic targets in drug-resistant situations. Moreover, therapies that can induce alternate forms of regulated cell death including ferroptosis, pyroptosis, and immunotherapy; drugs targeting bCSC metabolism; and nanoparticle therapy are the upcoming approaches to target the bCSCs overcome drug resistance. Thus, individualizing treatment strategies will eliminate the minimal residual disease, resulting in better pathological and complete response in drug-resistant scenarios. This review summarizes basic understanding of breast cancer subtypes, concept of bCSCs, molecular basis of drug resistance, dysregulated miRNAs/ncRNAs patterns in bCSCs, and future perspective of developing anticancer therapeutics to address breast cancer drug resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taniya Saha
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
| | - Kiven Erique Lukong
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
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Conde I, Ribeiro AS, Paredes J. Breast Cancer Stem Cell Membrane Biomarkers: Therapy Targeting and Clinical Implications. Cells 2022; 11:934. [PMID: 35326385 PMCID: PMC8946706 DOI: 10.3390/cells11060934] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2022] [Revised: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer is the most common malignancy affecting women worldwide. Importantly, there have been significant improvements in prevention, early diagnosis, and treatment options, which resulted in a significant decrease in breast cancer mortality rates. Nevertheless, the high rates of incidence combined with therapy resistance result in cancer relapse and metastasis, which still contributes to unacceptably high mortality of breast cancer patients. In this context, a small subpopulation of highly tumourigenic cancer cells within the tumour bulk, commonly designated as breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs), have been suggested as key elements in therapy resistance, which are responsible for breast cancer relapses and distant metastasis. Thus, improvements in BCSC-targeting therapies are crucial to tackling the metastatic progression and might allow therapy resistance to be overcome. However, the design of effective and specific BCSC-targeting therapies has been challenging since there is a lack of specific biomarkers for BCSCs, and the most common clinical approaches are designed for commonly altered BCSCs signalling pathways. Therefore, the search for a new class of BCSC biomarkers, such as the expression of membrane proteins with cancer stem cell potential, is an area of clinical relevance, once membrane proteins are accessible on the cell surface and easily recognized by specific antibodies. Here, we discuss the significance of BCSC membrane biomarkers as potential prognostic and therapeutic targets, reviewing the CSC-targeting therapies under clinical trials for breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inês Conde
- i3S, Institute of Investigation and Innovation in Health, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; (I.C.); (A.S.R.)
- Ipatimup, Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology, University of Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
| | - Ana Sofia Ribeiro
- i3S, Institute of Investigation and Innovation in Health, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; (I.C.); (A.S.R.)
- Ipatimup, Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology, University of Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
| | - Joana Paredes
- i3S, Institute of Investigation and Innovation in Health, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; (I.C.); (A.S.R.)
- Ipatimup, Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology, University of Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal
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Loss of function of BRCA1 promotes EMT in mammary tumors through activation of TGFβR2 signaling pathway. Cell Death Dis 2022; 13:195. [PMID: 35236825 PMCID: PMC8891277 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-022-04646-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2021] [Revised: 01/25/2022] [Accepted: 02/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
BRCA1 deficient breast cancers are aggressive and chemoresistant due, in part, to their enrichment of cancer stem cells that can be generated from carcinoma cells by an epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). We previously discovered that BRCA1 deficiency activates EMT in mammary tumorigenesis. How BRCA1 controls EMT and how to effectively target BRCA1-deficient cancers remain elusive. We analyzed murine and human tumors and identified a role for Tgfβr2 in governing the molecular aspects of EMT that occur with Brca1 loss. We utilized CRISPR to delete Tgfβr2 and specific inhibitors to block Tgfβr2 activity and followed up with the molecular analysis of assays for tumor growth and metastasis. We discovered that heterozygous germline deletion, or epithelia-specific deletion of Brca1 in mice, activates Tgfβr2 signaling pathways in mammary tumors. BRCA1 depletion promotes TGFβ-mediated EMT activation in cancer cells. BRCA1 binds to the TGFβR2 locus to repress its transcription. Targeted deletion or pharmaceutical inhibition of Tgfβr2 in Brca1-deficient tumor cells reduces EMT and suppresses tumorigenesis and metastasis. BRCA1 and TGFβR2 expression levels are inversely related in human breast cancers. This study reveals for the first time that a targetable TGFβR signaling pathway is directly activated by BRCA1-deficiency in the induction of EMT in breast cancer progression.
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The combination phenotype of B-cell specific Moloney murine leukaemia virus integration site 1 (BMI1) and CD44+/CD24−/low associates with poor clinicopathological features in African patients with breast cancer. GENE REPORTS 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.genrep.2021.101475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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29
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Proskurina AS, Kupina VV, Efremov YR, Dolgova EV, Ruzanova VS, Ritter GS, Potter EA, Kirikovich SS, Levites EV, Ostanin AA, Chernykh ER, Babaeva OG, Sidorov SV, Bogachev SS. Karanahan: A Potential New Treatment Option for Human Breast Cancer and Its Validation in a Clinical Setting. BREAST CANCER: BASIC AND CLINICAL RESEARCH 2022; 16:11782234211059931. [PMID: 35185333 PMCID: PMC8851498 DOI: 10.1177/11782234211059931] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2020] [Accepted: 10/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Karanahan, a cancer treatment technology aimed at eradicating tumor-initiating stem cells, has already proven effective in 7 tumor models. Karanahan comprises the following procedures: (1) collecting surgical specimens, (2) determining the duration of the DNA repair process in tumor cells exposed to a cross-linking cytostatic agent, and (3) determining the time point, when cells, including tumor-initiating stem cells, are synchronized in the certain phase of the cell cycle after triple exposure to the cytostatic, becoming vulnerable for the terminal treatment, which is supposed to completely eliminate the rest of survived tumor-initiating stem cells. Determining these basic tumor properties allows to design the schedule for the administration of a cross-linking cytostatic and a complex composite DNA preparation. Being conducted in accordance with the schedule designed, Karanahan results in the large-scale apoptosis of tumor cells with elimination of tumor-initiating stem cells. Methods: Breast tumor specimens were obtained from patients, and basic tumor properties essential for conducting Karanahan therapy were determined. Results: We report the first use of Karanahan in patients diagnosed with breast cancer. Technical details of handling surgical specimens for determining the essential Karanahan parameters (tumor volume, cell number, cell proliferation status, etc) have been worked out. The terminally ill patient, who was undergoing palliative treatment and whose tumor specimen matched the required criteria, received a complete course of Karanahan. Conclusions: The results of the treatment conducted indicate that Karanahan technology has a therapeutic potency and can be used as a breast cancer treatment option.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anastasia S Proskurina
- Institute of Cytology and Genetics of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | | | - Yaroslav R Efremov
- Institute of Cytology and Genetics of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia.,Novosibirsk National Research State University, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Evgenia V Dolgova
- Institute of Cytology and Genetics of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Vera S Ruzanova
- Institute of Cytology and Genetics of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia.,Novosibirsk National Research State University, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Genrikh S Ritter
- Institute of Cytology and Genetics of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Ekaterina A Potter
- Institute of Cytology and Genetics of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Svetlana S Kirikovich
- Institute of Cytology and Genetics of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Evgeniy V Levites
- Institute of Cytology and Genetics of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Alexandr A Ostanin
- Research Institute of Fundamental and Clinical Immunology, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Elena R Chernykh
- Research Institute of Fundamental and Clinical Immunology, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Oksana G Babaeva
- Oncology Department, Municipal Hospital No 1, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Sergey V Sidorov
- Novosibirsk National Research State University, Novosibirsk, Russia.,Oncology Department, Municipal Hospital No 1, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Sergey S Bogachev
- Institute of Cytology and Genetics of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia
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Proskurina AS, Ruzanova VS, Ostanin AA, Chernykh ER, Bogachev SS. Theoretical premises of a "three in one" therapeutic approach to treat immunogenic and nonimmunogenic cancers: a narrative review. Transl Cancer Res 2022; 10:4958-4972. [PMID: 35116346 PMCID: PMC8797664 DOI: 10.21037/tcr-21-919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2021] [Accepted: 10/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Objective We describe experimental and theoretical premises of a powerful cancer therapy based on the combination of three approaches. These include (I) in situ vaccination (intratumoral injections of CpG oligonucleotides and anti-OX40 antibody); (II) chronometric or metronomic low-dose cyclophosphamide (CMLD CP)-based chemotherapy; (III) cancer stem cell-eradicating therapy referred to as Karanahan (from the Sanskrit kāraṇa [“source”] + han [“to kill”]). Background In murine models, the first two approaches are particularly potent in targeting immunogenic tumors for destruction. In situ vaccination activates a fully fledged anticancer immune response via an intricate network of ligand–receptor–cytokine interactions. CMLD CP-based chemotherapy primarily targets the suppressive tumor microenvironment and activates tumor-infiltrating effectors. In contrast, Karanahan technology, being aimed at replicative machinery of tumor cells (both stem-like and committed), does not depend on tumor immunogenicity. With this technology, mice engrafted with ascites and/or solid tumors can be successfully cured. There is a significant degree of mechanistic and therapeutic overlap between these three approaches. For instance, the similarities shared between in situ vaccination and Karanahan technology include the therapeutic procedure, the cell target [antigen-presenting cells (APC) and dendritic cells (DC)], and the use of DNA-based preparations (CpG and DNAmix). Features shared between CMLD CP-based chemotherapy and Karanahan technology are the timing and the dose of the cytostatic drug administration, which lead to tumor regression. Methods The following keywords were used to search PubMed for the latest research reporting successful eradication of transplantable cancers in animal models that relied on approaches distinct from those used in the Karanahan technology: eradication of malignancy, cure cancer, complete tumor regression, permanently eradicating advanced mouse tumor, metronomic chemotherapy, in situ vaccination, immunotherapy, and others. Conclusion We hypothesize, therefore, that very potent anticancer activity can be achieved once these three therapeutic modalities are combined into a single approach. This multimodal approach is theoretically curative for any type of cancer that depends on the presence of tumor-inducing cancer stem cells, provided that the active therapeutic components are efficiently delivered into the tumor and the specific biological features of a given patient’s tumor are properly addressed. We expect this multimodal approach to be primarily applicable to late-stage or terminal cancer patients who have exhausted all treatment options as well as patients with inoperable tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anastasia S Proskurina
- Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Vera S Ruzanova
- Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia.,Novosibirsk State University, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Alexandr A Ostanin
- Research Institute of Fundamental and Clinical Immunology, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Elena R Chernykh
- Research Institute of Fundamental and Clinical Immunology, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Sergey S Bogachev
- Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia
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Targeted liposomal doxorubicin/ceramides combinations: the importance to assess the nature of drug interaction beyond bulk tumor cells. Eur J Pharm Biopharm 2022; 172:61-77. [PMID: 35104605 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejpb.2022.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2021] [Revised: 01/14/2022] [Accepted: 01/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
One of the major assets of anticancer nanomedicine is the ability to co-deliver drug combinations, as it enables targeting of different cellular populations and/or signaling pathways implicated in tumorigenesis and thus tackling tumor heterogeneity. Moreover, drug resistance can be circumvented, for example, upon co-encapsulation and delivery of doxorubicin and sphingolipids, as ceramides. Herein, the impact of short (C6) and long (C18) alkyl chain length ceramides on the nature of drug interaction, within the scope of combination with doxorubicin, was performed in bulk triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells, as well as on the density of putative cancer stem cells and phenotype, including live single-cell tracking. C6- or C18-ceramide enabled a synergistic drug interaction in all conditions and (bulk) cell lines tested. However, differentiation among these two ceramides was reflected on the migratory potential of cancer cells, particularly significant against the highly motile MDA-MB-231 cells. This effect was supported by the downregulation of the PI3K/Akt pathway enabled by C6-ceramide and in contrast with C18-ceramide. The decrease of the migratory potential enabled by the targeted liposomal combinations is of high relevance in the context of TNBC, due to the underlying metastatic potential. Surprisingly, the nature of the drug interaction assessed at the level of bulk cancer cells revealed to be insufficient to predict whether a drug combination enables a decrease in the percentage of the master regulators of tumor relapse as ALDH+/high putative TNBC cancer stem cells, suggesting, for the first time, that it should be extended further down to this level.
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Fang G, Lu H, Rodriguez de la Fuente L, Law AMK, Lin G, Jin D, Gallego‐Ortega D. Mammary Tumor Organoid Culture in Non-Adhesive Alginate for Luminal Mechanics and High-Throughput Drug Screening. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2021; 8:e2102418. [PMID: 34494727 PMCID: PMC8564453 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202102418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2021] [Revised: 07/25/2021] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Mammary tumor organoids have become a promising in vitro model for drug screening and personalized medicine. However, the dependency on the basement membrane extract (BME) as the growth matrices limits their comprehensive application. In this work, mouse mammary tumor organoids are established by encapsulating tumor pieces in non-adhesive alginate. High-throughput generation of organoids in alginate microbeads is achieved utilizing microfluidic droplet technology. Tumor pieces within the alginate microbeads developed both luminal- and solid-like structures and displayed a high similarity to the original fresh tumor in cellular phenotypes and lineages. The mechanical forces of the luminal organoids in the alginate capsules are analyzed with the theory of the thick-wall pressure vessel (TWPV) model. The luminal pressure of the organoids increase with the lumen growth and can reach 2 kPa after two weeks' culture. Finally, the mammary tumor organoids are treated with doxorubicin and latrunculin A to evaluate their application as a drug screening platform. It is found that the drug response is related to the luminal size and pressures of organoids. This high-throughput culture for mammary tumor organoids may present a promising tool for preclinical drug target validation and personalized medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guocheng Fang
- Institute for Biomedical Materials and DevicesSchool of Mathematical and Physical SciencesUniversity of Technology SydneyBroadway UltimoSydneyNew South Wales2007Australia
| | - Hongxu Lu
- Institute for Biomedical Materials and DevicesSchool of Mathematical and Physical SciencesUniversity of Technology SydneyBroadway UltimoSydneyNew South Wales2007Australia
| | - Laura Rodriguez de la Fuente
- St. Vincent's Clinical SchoolFaculty of MedicineUniversity of New South Wales SydneyDarlinghurstNew South Wales2010Australia
- Garvan Institute of Medical Research384 Victoria StreetDarlinghurstNew South Wales2010Australia
| | - Andrew M. K. Law
- St. Vincent's Clinical SchoolFaculty of MedicineUniversity of New South Wales SydneyDarlinghurstNew South Wales2010Australia
- Garvan Institute of Medical Research384 Victoria StreetDarlinghurstNew South Wales2010Australia
| | - Gungun Lin
- Institute for Biomedical Materials and DevicesSchool of Mathematical and Physical SciencesUniversity of Technology SydneyBroadway UltimoSydneyNew South Wales2007Australia
| | - Dayong Jin
- Institute for Biomedical Materials and DevicesSchool of Mathematical and Physical SciencesUniversity of Technology SydneyBroadway UltimoSydneyNew South Wales2007Australia
- UTS‐SUSTech Joint Research Centre for Biomedical Materials and DevicesDepartment of Biomedical EngineeringSouthern University of Science and TechnologyShenzhenGuangdong518055China
| | - David Gallego‐Ortega
- Institute for Biomedical Materials and DevicesSchool of Mathematical and Physical SciencesUniversity of Technology SydneyBroadway UltimoSydneyNew South Wales2007Australia
- St. Vincent's Clinical SchoolFaculty of MedicineUniversity of New South Wales SydneyDarlinghurstNew South Wales2010Australia
- Garvan Institute of Medical Research384 Victoria StreetDarlinghurstNew South Wales2010Australia
- School of Biomedical EngineeringFaculty of EngineeringUniversity of Technology SydneyBroadway UltimoSydneyNew South Wales2007Australia
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Gwili N, Jones SJ, Amri WA, Carr IM, Harris S, Hogan BV, Hughes WE, Kim B, Langlands FE, Millican-Slater RA, Pramanik A, Thorne JL, Verghese ET, Wells G, Hamza M, Younis L, El Deeb NMF, Hughes TA. Transcriptome profiles of stem-like cells from primary breast cancers allow identification of ITGA7 as a predictive marker of chemotherapy response. Br J Cancer 2021; 125:983-993. [PMID: 34253873 PMCID: PMC8476506 DOI: 10.1038/s41416-021-01484-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2021] [Revised: 06/07/2021] [Accepted: 06/30/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs) are drivers of therapy-resistance, therefore are responsible for poor survival. Molecular signatures of BCSCs from primary cancers remain undefined. Here, we identify the consistent transcriptome of primary BCSCs shared across breast cancer subtypes, and we examine the clinical relevance of ITGA7, one of the genes differentially expressed in BCSCs. METHODS Primary BCSCs were assessed using immunohistochemistry and fluorescently labelled using Aldefluor (n = 17). Transcriptomes of fluorescently sorted BCSCs and matched non-stem cancer cells were determined using RNA-seq (n = 6). ITGA7 expression was examined in breast cancers using immunohistochemistry (n = 305), and its functional role was tested using siRNA in breast cancer cells. RESULTS Proportions of BCSCs varied from 0 to 9.4%. 38 genes were significantly differentially expressed in BCSCs; genes were enriched for functions in vessel morphogenesis, motility, and metabolism. ITGA7 was found to be significantly downregulated in BCSCs, and low expression significantly correlated with reduced survival in patients treated with chemotherapy, and with chemoresistance in breast cancer cells in vitro. CONCLUSIONS This study is the first to define the molecular profile of BCSCs from a range of primary breast cancers. ITGA7 acts as a predictive marker for chemotherapy response, in accordance with its downregulation in BCSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noha Gwili
- grid.9909.90000 0004 1936 8403School of Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK ,grid.7155.60000 0001 2260 6941Pathology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt
| | - Stacey J. Jones
- grid.9909.90000 0004 1936 8403School of Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK ,grid.415967.80000 0000 9965 1030Department of Breast Surgery, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Leeds, UK
| | - Waleed Al Amri
- grid.416132.30000 0004 1772 5665Department of Histopathology and Cytopathology, The Royal Hospital, Muscat, Oman
| | - Ian M. Carr
- grid.9909.90000 0004 1936 8403School of Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - Sarah Harris
- grid.9909.90000 0004 1936 8403School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - Brian V. Hogan
- grid.415967.80000 0000 9965 1030Department of Breast Surgery, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Leeds, UK
| | - William E. Hughes
- grid.414235.50000 0004 0619 2154Children’s Medical Research Institute, Westmead, NSW Australia ,grid.1005.40000 0004 4902 0432St. Vincent’s Clinical School, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Baek Kim
- grid.415967.80000 0000 9965 1030Department of Breast Surgery, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Leeds, UK
| | - Fiona E. Langlands
- Department of Breast Surgery, Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Bradford, UK
| | | | - Arindam Pramanik
- grid.9909.90000 0004 1936 8403School of Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - James L. Thorne
- grid.9909.90000 0004 1936 8403School of Food Science and Nutrition, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - Eldo T. Verghese
- grid.443984.6Department of Histopathology, St. James’s University Hospital, Leeds, UK
| | - Geoff Wells
- grid.83440.3b0000000121901201School of Pharmacy, University College London, London, UK
| | - Mervat Hamza
- grid.7155.60000 0001 2260 6941Pathology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt
| | - Layla Younis
- grid.7155.60000 0001 2260 6941Pathology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt
| | - Nevine M. F. El Deeb
- grid.7155.60000 0001 2260 6941Pathology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt
| | - Thomas A. Hughes
- grid.9909.90000 0004 1936 8403School of Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
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Gaggianesi M, Di Franco S, Pantina VD, Porcelli G, D'Accardo C, Verona F, Veschi V, Colarossi L, Faldetta N, Pistone G, Bongiorno MR, Todaro M, Stassi G. Messing Up the Cancer Stem Cell Chemoresistance Mechanisms Supported by Tumor Microenvironment. Front Oncol 2021; 11:702642. [PMID: 34354950 PMCID: PMC8330815 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.702642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2021] [Accepted: 07/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite the recent advances in cancer patient management and in the development of targeted therapies, systemic chemotherapy is currently used as a first-line treatment for many cancer types. After an initial partial response, patients become refractory to standard therapy fostering rapid tumor progression. Compelling evidence highlights that the resistance to chemotherapeutic regimens is a peculiarity of a subpopulation of cancer cells within tumor mass, known as cancer stem cells (CSCs). This cellular compartment is endowed with tumor-initiating and metastasis formation capabilities. CSC chemoresistance is sustained by a plethora of grow factors and cytokines released by neighboring tumor microenvironment (TME), which is mainly composed by adipocytes, cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), immune and endothelial cells. TME strengthens CSC refractoriness to standard and targeted therapies by enhancing survival signaling pathways, DNA repair machinery, expression of drug efflux transporters and anti-apoptotic proteins. In the last years many efforts have been made to understand CSC-TME crosstalk and develop therapeutic strategy halting this interplay. Here, we report the combinatorial approaches, which perturb the interaction network between CSCs and the different component of TME.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miriam Gaggianesi
- Department of Surgical Oncological and Stomatological Sciences (DICHIRONS), University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Simone Di Franco
- Department of Surgical Oncological and Stomatological Sciences (DICHIRONS), University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Davide Pantina
- Department of Surgical Oncological and Stomatological Sciences (DICHIRONS), University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Gaetana Porcelli
- Department of Health Promotion Sciences, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties (PROMISE), University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Caterina D'Accardo
- Department of Health Promotion Sciences, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties (PROMISE), University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Francesco Verona
- Department of Health Promotion Sciences, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties (PROMISE), University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Veronica Veschi
- Department of Surgical Oncological and Stomatological Sciences (DICHIRONS), University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | | | - Naida Faldetta
- Department of Surgery, Villa Sofia-Cervello Hospital, Palermo, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Pistone
- Department of Health Promotion Sciences, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties (PROMISE), University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Maria Rita Bongiorno
- Department of Health Promotion Sciences, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties (PROMISE), University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Matilde Todaro
- Department of Health Promotion Sciences, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties (PROMISE), University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Giorgio Stassi
- Department of Surgical Oncological and Stomatological Sciences (DICHIRONS), University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
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35
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Khakbaz P, Panahizadeh R, Vatankhah MA, Najafzadeh N. Allicin Reduces 5-fluorouracil-resistance in Gastric Cancer Cells through Modulating MDR1, DKK1, and WNT5A Expression. Drug Res (Stuttg) 2021; 71:448-454. [PMID: 34261152 DOI: 10.1055/a-1525-1499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) is approved for the treatment of gastric carcinoma (GC), but chemo-resistance limits the application of it for GC. Thus, the combination of 5-FU with adjuvants such as allicin may overcome multidrug resistance (MDR). METHODS The anticancer effects of allicin, 5-FU, and allicin/5-FU on the 5-FU resistant MKN-45 cells were evaluated by MTT assay and DAPi staining. The expression of the P-glycoprotein (P-gp) and CD44 protein were determined using immunocytochemistry. We also quantified mRNA expression levels of WNT5A, Dickkopf-1 (DKK1), and MDR1 in the GC cells. RESULTS Here, we found that the combination of allicin with 5-FU significantly increased apoptosis compared to 5-FU alone (P<0.05). We showed that WNT5A, MDR1, and DKK1 mRNA expression levels were down-regulated in the allicin- and allicin/5-FU-treated cells. Indeed, the combination of allicin and 5-FU significantly decreased the expression of the P-gp and CD44 proteins (P<0.05). CONCLUSION Our findings indicate that the combination of allicin with 5-FU could reverse multidrug resistance in the GC cells by reducing the expression of WNT5A, DKK1, MDR1, P-gp, and CD44 levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Parya Khakbaz
- Student Research Committee, School of Medicine, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran.,Research Laboratory for Embryology and Stem Cells, Department of Anatomical Sciences, School of Medicine, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran
| | - Reza Panahizadeh
- Student Research Committee, School of Medicine, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran.,Research Laboratory for Embryology and Stem Cells, Department of Anatomical Sciences, School of Medicine, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran
| | - Mohammad Amin Vatankhah
- Student Research Committee, School of Medicine, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran.,Research Laboratory for Embryology and Stem Cells, Department of Anatomical Sciences, School of Medicine, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran
| | - Nowruz Najafzadeh
- Research Laboratory for Embryology and Stem Cells, Department of Anatomical Sciences, School of Medicine, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran
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36
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Morales-Guadarrama G, García-Becerra R, Méndez-Pérez EA, García-Quiroz J, Avila E, Díaz L. Vasculogenic Mimicry in Breast Cancer: Clinical Relevance and Drivers. Cells 2021; 10:cells10071758. [PMID: 34359928 PMCID: PMC8304745 DOI: 10.3390/cells10071758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2021] [Revised: 07/07/2021] [Accepted: 07/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
In solid tumors, vasculogenic mimicry (VM) is the formation of vascular structures by cancer cells, allowing to generate a channel-network able to transport blood and tumor cells. While angiogenesis is undertaken by endothelial cells, VM is assumed by cancer cells. Besides the participation of VM in tumor neovascularization, the clinical relevance of this process resides in its ability to favor metastasis and to drive resistance to antiangiogenic therapy. VM occurs in many tumor types, including breast cancer, where it has been associated with a more malignant phenotype, such as triple-negative and HER2-positive tumors. The latter may be explained by known drivers of VM, like hypoxia, TGFB, TWIST1, EPHA2, VEGF, matrix metalloproteinases, and other tumor microenvironment-derived factors, which altogether induce the transformation of tumor cells to a mesenchymal phenotype with a high expression rate of stemness markers. This review analyzes the current literature in the field, including the participation of some microRNAs and long noncoding RNAs in VM-regulation and tumorigenesis of breast cancer. Considering the clinical relevance of VM and its association with the tumor phenotype and clinicopathological parameters, further studies are granted to target VM in the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriela Morales-Guadarrama
- Departamento de Biología de la Reproducción, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Ciudad de México 14080, Mexico; (G.M.-G.); (E.A.M.-P.); (J.G.-Q.); (E.A.)
| | - Rocío García-Becerra
- Departamento de Biología Molecular y Biotecnología, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México 04510, Mexico;
| | - Edgar Armando Méndez-Pérez
- Departamento de Biología de la Reproducción, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Ciudad de México 14080, Mexico; (G.M.-G.); (E.A.M.-P.); (J.G.-Q.); (E.A.)
| | - Janice García-Quiroz
- Departamento de Biología de la Reproducción, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Ciudad de México 14080, Mexico; (G.M.-G.); (E.A.M.-P.); (J.G.-Q.); (E.A.)
| | - Euclides Avila
- Departamento de Biología de la Reproducción, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Ciudad de México 14080, Mexico; (G.M.-G.); (E.A.M.-P.); (J.G.-Q.); (E.A.)
| | - Lorenza Díaz
- Departamento de Biología de la Reproducción, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Ciudad de México 14080, Mexico; (G.M.-G.); (E.A.M.-P.); (J.G.-Q.); (E.A.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +52-(55)-5487-0900
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Turner KM, Yeo SK, Holm TM, Shaughnessy E, Guan JL. Heterogeneity within molecular subtypes of breast cancer. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 2021; 321:C343-C354. [PMID: 34191627 DOI: 10.1152/ajpcell.00109.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Breast cancer is the quintessential example of how molecular characterization of tumor biology guides therapeutic decisions. From the discovery of the estrogen receptor to current clinical molecular profiles to evolving single-cell analytics, the characterization and compartmentalization of breast cancer into divergent subtypes is clear. However, competing with this divergent model of breast cancer is the recognition of intratumoral heterogeneity, which acknowledges the possibility that multiple different subtypes exist within a single tumor. Intratumoral heterogeneity is driven by both intrinsic effects of the tumor cells themselves as well as extrinsic effects from the surrounding microenvironment. There is emerging evidence that these intratumoral molecular subtypes are not static; rather, plasticity between divergent subtypes is possible. Interconversion between seemingly different subtypes within a tumor drives tumor progression, metastases, and treatment resistance. Therapeutic strategies must, therefore, contend with changing phenotypes in an individual patient's tumor. Identifying targetable drivers of molecular heterogeneity may improve treatment durability and disease progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin M Turner
- Department of Cancer Biology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio.,Department of Surgery, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Syn Kok Yeo
- Department of Cancer Biology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Tammy M Holm
- Department of Surgery, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Elizabeth Shaughnessy
- Department of Surgery, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Jun-Lin Guan
- Department of Cancer Biology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio
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Theranostics for Breast Cancer Stem Cells. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2021; 1187:267-281. [PMID: 33983583 DOI: 10.1007/978-981-32-9620-6_13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Effectively targeting and treating breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs), which have been linked to tumor development and metastasis, and recurrence still remains a challenging issue in preclinic and clinic. Screening and identifying characteristic BCSC biomarkers is important for distinguishing BCSCs from differentiated tumor cells within the tumor mass. Molecular imaging and nanotechnology are evolving as new fields that have a potentially high research and clinical impact. Developing the biocompatible contrast agents conjugated with high-affinity biomarker to selectively target BCSCs and is one of the key prerequisites for image-guided diagnosis and monitoring therapy of BCSCs. Very recently, we documented the extra domain-B fibronectin (EDB-FN), which is considered as a new putative biomarker for BCSCs (NDY-1 cell) derived from human breast carcinosarcoma. We here review BCSC-targeted theranostics in vitro and in vivo by delivering siRNA or drug using the nanoparticles conjugated with a small peptide specific to EDB-FN.
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39
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Cermeño EA, O'Melia MJ, Han WM, Veith A, Barber G, Huang EH, Thomas SN, García AJ. Hydrodynamic shear-based purification of cancer cells with enhanced tumorigenic potential. Integr Biol (Camb) 2021; 12:1-11. [PMID: 31965190 DOI: 10.1093/intbio/zyz038] [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: 05/01/2019] [Revised: 11/01/2019] [Accepted: 11/05/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Tumor-initiating cells (TICs), a subpopulation of cancerous cells with high tumorigenic potential and stem-cell-like properties, drive tumor progression and are resistant to conventional therapies. Identification and isolation of TICs are limited by their low frequency and lack of robust markers. Here, we characterize the heterogeneous adhesive properties of a panel of human and murine cancer cells and demonstrate differences in adhesion strength among cells, which exhibit TIC properties and those that do not. These differences in adhesion strength were exploited to rapidly (~10 min) and efficiently isolate cancerous cells with increased tumorigenic potential in a label-free manner by use of a microfluidic technology. Isolated murine and human cancer cells gave rise to larger tumors with increased growth rate and higher frequency in both immunocompetent and immunocompromised mice, respectively. This rapid and label-free TIC isolation technology has the potential to be a valuable tool for facilitating research into TIC biology and the development of more efficient diagnostics and cancer therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Efraín A Cermeño
- Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA.,Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Meghan J O'Melia
- Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA.,Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Tech/Emory, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Woojin M Han
- Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA.,Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Austin Veith
- Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Graham Barber
- Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA.,Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Emina H Huang
- Lerner Research Institute, Department of Cancer Biology, Department of Colorectal Surgery, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Susan N Thomas
- Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA.,Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Andrés J García
- Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA.,Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA
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40
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Humphries B, Wang Z, Yang C. MicroRNA Regulation of Breast Cancer Stemness. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:3756. [PMID: 33916548 PMCID: PMC8038508 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22073756] [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: 03/07/2021] [Revised: 04/01/2021] [Accepted: 04/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent advances in our understanding of breast cancer have demonstrated that cancer stem-like cells (CSCs, also known as tumor-initiating cell (TICs)) are central for progression and recurrence. CSCs are a small subpopulation of cells present in breast tumors that contribute to growth, metastasis, therapy resistance, and recurrence, leading to poor clinical outcome. Data have shown that cancer cells can gain characteristics of CSCs, or stemness, through alterations in key signaling pathways. The dysregulation of miRNA expression and signaling have been well-documented in cancer, and recent studies have shown that miRNAs are associated with breast cancer initiation, progression, and recurrence through regulating CSC characteristics. More specifically, miRNAs directly target central signaling nodes within pathways that can drive the formation, maintenance, and even inhibition of the CSC population. This review aims to summarize these research findings specifically in the context of breast cancer. This review also discusses miRNAs as biomarkers and promising clinical therapeutics, and presents a comprehensive summary of currently validated targets involved in CSC-specific signaling pathways in breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brock Humphries
- Center for Molecular Imaging, Department of Radiology, University of Michigan, 109 Zina Pitcher Place, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Zhishan Wang
- Division of Cancer Biology, Department of Medicine, MetroHealth Medical Center, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, 2500 MetroHealth Drive, Cleveland, OH 44109, USA;
| | - Chengfeng Yang
- Division of Cancer Biology, Department of Medicine, MetroHealth Medical Center, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, 2500 MetroHealth Drive, Cleveland, OH 44109, USA;
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41
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Mayo V, Bowles AC, Wubker LE, Ortiz I, Cordoves AM, Cote RJ, Correa D, Agarwal A. Human-derived osteoblast-like cells and pericyte-like cells induce distinct metastatic phenotypes in primary breast cancer cells. Exp Biol Med (Maywood) 2021; 246:971-985. [PMID: 33210551 PMCID: PMC8024509 DOI: 10.1177/1535370220971599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2020] [Accepted: 10/15/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Approximately 70% of advanced breast cancer patients will develop bone metastases, which accounts for ∼90% of cancer-related mortality. Breast cancer circulating tumor cells (CTCs) establish metastatic tumors in the bone after a close interaction with local bone marrow cells including pericytes and osteoblasts, both related to resident mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (BM-MSCs) progenitors. In vitro recapitulation of the critical cellular players of the bone microenvironment and infiltrating CTCs could provide new insights into their cross-talk during the metastatic cascade, helping in the development of novel therapeutic strategies. Human BM-MSCs were isolated and fractionated according to CD146 presence. CD146+ cells were utilized as pericyte-like cells (PLCs) given the high expression of the marker in perivascular cells, while CD146- cells were induced into an osteogenic phenotype generating osteoblast-like cells (OLCs). Transwell migration assays were performed to establish whether primary breast cancer cells (3384T) were attracted to OLC. Furthermore, proliferation of 3384T breast cancer cells was assessed in the presence of PLC- and OLC-derived conditioned media. Additionally, conditioned media cultures as well as transwell co-cultures of each OLCs and PLCs were performed with 3384T breast cancer cells for gene expression interrogation assessing their induced transcriptional changes with an emphasis on metastatic potential. PLC as well as their conditioned media increased motility and invasion potential of 3384T breast cancer cells, while OLC induced a dormant phenotype, downregulating invasiveness markers related with migration and proliferation. Altogether, these results indicate that PLC distinctively drive 3384T cancer cells to an invasive and migratory phenotype, while OLC induce a quiescence state, thus recapitulating the different phases of the in vivo bone metastatic process. These data show that phenotypic responses from metastasizing cancer cells are influenced by neighboring cells at the bone metastatic niche during the establishment of secondary metastatic tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vera Mayo
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, DJTMF Biomedical Nanotechnology Institute, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33146, USA
| | - Annie C Bowles
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, DJTMF Biomedical Nanotechnology Institute, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33146, USA
- Department of Orthopedics, UHealth Sports Medicine Institute, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
- Diabetes Research Institute & Cell Transplant Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Laura E Wubker
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, DJTMF Biomedical Nanotechnology Institute, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33146, USA
| | - Ismael Ortiz
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, DJTMF Biomedical Nanotechnology Institute, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33146, USA
| | - Albert M Cordoves
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, DJTMF Biomedical Nanotechnology Institute, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33146, USA
| | - Richard J Cote
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Diego Correa
- Department of Orthopedics, UHealth Sports Medicine Institute, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
- Diabetes Research Institute & Cell Transplant Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Ashutosh Agarwal
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, DJTMF Biomedical Nanotechnology Institute, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33146, USA
- Diabetes Research Institute & Cell Transplant Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
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42
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Zhang R, Tu J, Liu S. Novel molecular regulators of breast cancer stem cell plasticity and heterogeneity. Semin Cancer Biol 2021; 82:11-25. [PMID: 33737107 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2021.03.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2020] [Revised: 11/19/2020] [Accepted: 03/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Tumors consist of heterogeneous cell populations, and tumor heterogeneity plays key roles in regulating tumorigenesis, metastasis, recurrence and resistance to anti-tumor therapies. More and more studies suggest that cancer stem cells (CSCs) promote tumorigenesis, metastasis, recurrence and drug resistance as well as are the major source for heterogeneity of cancer cells. CD24-CD44+ and ALDH+ are the most common markers for breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs). Previous studies showed that different BCSC markers label different BCSC populations, indicating the heterogeneity of BCSCs. Therefore, defining the regulation mechanisms of heterogeneous BCSCs is essential for precisely targeting BCSCs and treating breast cancer. In this review, we summarized the novel regulators existed in BCSCs and their niches for BCSC heterogeneity which has been discovered in recent years, and discussed their regulation mechanisms and the latest corresponding cancer treatments, which will extend our understanding on BCSC heterogeneity and plasticity, and provide better prognosis prediction and more efficient novel therapeutic strategies for breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Zhang
- Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center & Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Cancer Institutes, Key Laboratory of Breast Cancer in Shanghai, The Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, The International Co-laboratory of Medical Epigenetics and Metabolism, Ministry of Science and Technology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Juchuanli Tu
- Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center & Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Cancer Institutes, Key Laboratory of Breast Cancer in Shanghai, The Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, The International Co-laboratory of Medical Epigenetics and Metabolism, Ministry of Science and Technology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Suling Liu
- Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center & Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Cancer Institutes, Key Laboratory of Breast Cancer in Shanghai, The Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, The International Co-laboratory of Medical Epigenetics and Metabolism, Ministry of Science and Technology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
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43
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Rahmani G, Sameri S, Abbasi N, Abdi M, Najafi R. The clinical significance of histone deacetylase-8 in human breast cancer. Pathol Res Pract 2021; 220:153396. [PMID: 33691240 DOI: 10.1016/j.prp.2021.153396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2021] [Revised: 02/20/2021] [Accepted: 02/21/2021] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Recent studies have shown that the histone deacetylase-8 (HDAC8), as one of the HDACs, regulates the expression and activity of various genes involved in cancer initiation and progression. The HDAC8 plays an epigenetic role to dysregulate expressions or to interact with transcription factors. Most researchers had focused on the HDAC 1-3 and 6, but today the HDAC8 isotype is a promising target in cancer therapy. Different studies, on breast cancer (BC) cells, have recently shown the HDAC8 overexpression and suggested its oncogenic potential. It seems that the HDAC8 could be a novel and promising target in breast cancer treatment. Some studies on BC demonstrated therapeutic properties of the inhibitors of HDAC8 such as suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA), Trichostatin A, valproic acid, sodium butyrate, 1,3,4 oxadiazole with alanine hybrid [(R)-2-amino-N-((5-phenyl-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-yl) methyl) propanamide (10b)], N-(2-Hydroxyphenyl)-2propylpentanamide (compound 2) and PCI-34051. In this review, we highlight the role and existing inhibitors of HDAC8 in BC pathogenesis and therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Golebagh Rahmani
- Molecular Medicine Research Center, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
| | - Saba Sameri
- Molecular Medicine Research Center, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
| | - Nooshin Abbasi
- Molecular Medicine Research Center, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran; Department of Neurosciences- DNS, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Mohammad Abdi
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran.
| | - Rezvan Najafi
- Molecular Medicine Research Center, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran.
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44
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Li WJ, Wang Y, Liu R, Kasinski AL, Shen H, Slack FJ, Tang DG. MicroRNA-34a: Potent Tumor Suppressor, Cancer Stem Cell Inhibitor, and Potential Anticancer Therapeutic. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:640587. [PMID: 33763422 PMCID: PMC7982597 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.640587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2020] [Accepted: 02/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Overwhelming evidence indicates that virtually all treatment-naive tumors contain a subpopulation of cancer cells that possess some stem cell traits and properties and are operationally defined as cancer cell stem cells (CSCs). CSCs manifest inherent heterogeneity in that they may exist in an epithelial and proliferative state or a mesenchymal non-proliferative and invasive state. Spontaneous tumor progression, therapeutic treatments, and (epi)genetic mutations may also induce plasticity in non-CSCs and reprogram them into stem-like cancer cells. Intrinsic cancer cell heterogeneity and induced cancer cell plasticity, constantly and dynamically, generate a pool of CSC subpopulations with varying levels of epigenomic stability and stemness. Despite the dynamic and transient nature of CSCs, they play fundamental roles in mediating therapy resistance and tumor relapse. It is now clear that the stemness of CSCs is coordinately regulated by genetic factors and epigenetic mechanisms. Here, in this perspective, we first provide a brief updated overview of CSCs. We then focus on microRNA-34a (miR-34a), a tumor-suppressive microRNA (miRNA) devoid in many CSCs and advanced tumors. Being a member of the miR-34 family, miR-34a was identified as a p53 target in 2007. It is a bona fide tumor suppressor, and its expression is dysregulated and downregulated in various human cancers. By targeting stemness factors such as NOTCH, MYC, BCL-2, and CD44, miR-34a epigenetically and negatively regulates the functional properties of CSCs. We shall briefly discuss potential reasons behind the failure of the first-in-class clinical trial of MRX34, a liposomal miR-34a mimic. Finally, we offer several clinical settings where miR-34a can potentially be deployed to therapeutically target CSCs and advanced, therapy-resistant, and p53-mutant tumors in order to overcome therapy resistance and curb tumor relapse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen Jess Li
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY, United States.,Experimental Therapeutics Graduate Program, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY, United States
| | - Yunfei Wang
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY, United States.,Department of Gynecology, Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical University, Jining, China
| | - Ruifang Liu
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY, United States
| | - Andrea L Kasinski
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States
| | - Haifa Shen
- Department of Nanomedicine, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medical College, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Frank J Slack
- Department of Pathology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Dean G Tang
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY, United States.,Experimental Therapeutics Graduate Program, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY, United States
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LncRNAs and microRNAs as Essential Regulators of Stemness in Breast Cancer Stem Cells. Biomolecules 2021; 11:biom11030380. [PMID: 33802575 PMCID: PMC7998729 DOI: 10.3390/biom11030380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2020] [Revised: 02/13/2021] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer is an aggressive disease with a high incidence in women worldwide. Two decades ago, a controversial hypothesis was proposed that cancer arises from a subpopulation of “tumor initiating cells” or “cancer stem cells-like” (CSC). Today, CSC are defined as small subset of somatic cancer cells within a tumor with self-renewal properties driven by the aberrant expression of genes involved in the maintenance of a stemness-like phenotype. The understanding of the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in the maintenance of CSC subpopulation are fundamental in the development and persistence of breast cancer. Nowadays, the hypothesis suggests that genetic and epigenetic alterations give rise to breast cancer stem cells (bCSC), which are responsible for self-renewal, tumor growth, chemoresistance, poor prognosis and low survival in patients. However, the prominence of bCSC, as well as the molecular mechanisms that regulates and promotes the malignant phenotypes, are still poorly understood. The role of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), such as long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and microRNAs (miRNAs) acting as oncogenes or tumor suppressor genes has been recently highlighted by a plethora of studies in breast cancer. These ncRNAs positively or negatively impact on different signaling pathways that govern the cancer hallmarks associated with bCSC, making them attractive targets for therapy. In this review, we present a current summary of the studies on the pivotal roles of lncRNAs and microRNAs in the regulation of genes associated to stemness of bCSC.
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Targeting the purinergic pathway in breast cancer and its therapeutic applications. Purinergic Signal 2021; 17:179-200. [PMID: 33576905 PMCID: PMC7879595 DOI: 10.1007/s11302-020-09760-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2020] [Accepted: 12/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer (BC) is the most frequent cause of death among women, representing a global public health problem. Here, we aimed to discuss the correlation between the purinergic system and BC, recognizing therapeutic targets. For this, we analyzed the interaction of extracellular nucleotides and nucleosides with the purinergic receptors P1 and P2, as well as the influence of ectonucleotidase enzymes (CD39 and CD73) on tumor progression. A comprehensive bibliographic search was carried out. The relevant articles for this review were found in the PubMed, Scielo, Lilacs, and ScienceDirect databases. It was observed that among the P1 receptors, the A1, A2A, and A2B receptors are involved in the proliferation and invasion of BC, while the A3 receptor is related to the inhibition of tumor growth. Among the P2 receptors, the P2X7 has a dual function. When activated for a short time, it promotes metastasis, but when activated for long periods, it is related to BC cell death. P2Y2 and P2Y6 receptors are related to BC proliferation and invasiveness. Also, the high expression of CD39 and CD73 in BC is strongly related to a worse prognosis. The receptors and ectonucleotidases involved with BC become possible therapeutic targets. Several purinergic pathways have been found to be involved in BC cell survival and progression. In this review, in addition to analyzing the pathways involved, we reviewed the therapeutic interventions already studied for BC related to the purinergic system, as well as to other possible therapeutic targets.
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Liu TT, Li XF, Wang L, Yang JL. CD133 expressionand clinicopathologic significance in benign and malignant breast lesions. Cancer Biomark 2021; 28:293-299. [PMID: 32390595 DOI: 10.3233/cbm-190196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE CD133 is the molecular marker of normal stem cells and progenitor cells and also confirmed as a marker for cancer stem cells in various tumors. The aim of this study is to examine the expression of CD133 and assess its clinicopathologic significance in benign and malignant breast lesions. METHODS We analyzed the distribution of CD133 positive cells in breast usual ductal hyperplasia, atypical ductal hyperplasia (ADH), breast ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), and invasive breast carcinomas. We then explored the relationship between the CD133 expression and clinicopathologic features using immuno-histochemical staining. RESULTS We found that CD133 is not expressed in the cells of normal breast tissue, but the expression rate increased with progression of lesions from usual hyperplasia, through atypical ductal hyperplasia, ductal carcinoma in situ and invasive carcinoma. The positive expression rate of CD133 in breast invasive ductal carcinoma correlated to histological grade, cancer stage, nodal status, metastasis, recurrence, event-free survival and overall survival. There was no significant correlation between CD133 expression and factors such as age, postmenopausal status, histological type, tumor size, estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor and human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 expression. CONCLUSION CD133 may play an important role in the occurrence and development of breast cancer. CD133 positive breast cancer cells are closely related to invasiveness and its expression may predict a poor prognosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting Ting Liu
- Department of Pathology, Kunming General Hospital, Kunming, Yunnan, China.,Department of Internal Medicine, West China Medical Center, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Xue Feng Li
- Department of Pathology, Kunming General Hospital, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Li Wang
- Department of Pathology, Kunming General Hospital, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Ju Lun Yang
- Department of Pathology, Kunming General Hospital, Kunming, Yunnan, China
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48
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Zheng Q, Zhang M, Zhou F, Zhang L, Meng X. The Breast Cancer Stem Cells Traits and Drug Resistance. Front Pharmacol 2021; 11:599965. [PMID: 33584277 PMCID: PMC7876385 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2020.599965] [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: 08/28/2020] [Accepted: 11/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Drug resistance is a major challenge in breast cancer (BC) treatment at present. Accumulating studies indicate that breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs) are responsible for the BC drugs resistance, causing relapse and metastasis in BC patients. Thus, BCSCs elimination could reverse drug resistance and improve drug efficacy to benefit BC patients. Consequently, mastering the knowledge on the proliferation, resistance mechanisms, and separation of BCSCs in BC therapy is extremely helpful for BCSCs-targeted therapeutic strategies. Herein, we summarize the principal BCSCs surface markers and signaling pathways, and list the BCSCs-related drug resistance mechanisms in chemotherapy (CT), endocrine therapy (ET), and targeted therapy (TT), and display therapeutic strategies for targeting BCSCs to reverse drug resistance in BC. Even more importantly, more attention should be paid to studies on BCSC-targeted strategies to overcome the drug resistant dilemma of clinical therapies in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qinghui Zheng
- Department of Breast Surgery, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Hangzhou, China
| | - Mengdi Zhang
- MOE Laboratory of Biosystems Homeostasis and Protection and Innovation Center for Cell Signaling Network, Life Sciences Institute, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Fangfang Zhou
- Institutes of Biology and Medical Science, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Long Zhang
- MOE Laboratory of Biosystems Homeostasis and Protection and Innovation Center for Cell Signaling Network, Life Sciences Institute, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xuli Meng
- Department of Breast Surgery, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Hangzhou, China
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Bai F, Liu S, Liu X, Hollern DP, Scott A, Wang C, Zhang L, Fan C, Fu L, Perou CM, Zhu WG, Pei XH. PDGFRβ is an essential therapeutic target for BRCA1-deficient mammary tumors. Breast Cancer Res 2021; 23:10. [PMID: 33478572 PMCID: PMC7819225 DOI: 10.1186/s13058-021-01387-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2020] [Accepted: 01/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Basal-like breast cancers (BLBCs) are a leading cause of cancer death due to their capacity to metastasize and lack of effective therapies. More than half of BLBCs have a dysfunctional BRCA1. Although most BRCA1-deficient cancers respond to DNA-damaging agents, resistance and tumor recurrence remain a challenge to survival outcomes for BLBC patients. Additional therapies targeting the pathways aberrantly activated by BRCA1 deficiency are urgently needed. METHODS Most BRCA1-deficient BLBCs carry a dysfunctional INK4-RB pathway. Thus, we created genetically engineered mice with Brca1 loss and deletion of p16INK4A, or separately p18INK4C, to model the deficient INK4-RB signaling in human BLBC. By using these mutant mice and human BRCA1-deficient and proficient breast cancer tissues and cells, we tested if there exists a druggable target in BRCA1-deficient breast cancers. RESULTS Heterozygous germline or epithelium-specific deletion of Brca1 in p18INK4C- or p16INK4A-deficient mice activated Pdgfrβ signaling, induced epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, and led to BLBCs. Confirming this role, targeted deletion of Pdgfrβ in Brca1-deficient tumor cells promoted cell death, induced mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition, and suppressed tumorigenesis. Importantly, we also found that pharmaceutical inhibition of Pdgfrβ and its downstream target Pkcα suppressed Brca1-deficient tumor initiation and progression and effectively killed BRCA1-deficient cancer cells. CONCLUSIONS Our work offers the first genetic and biochemical evidence that PDGFRβ-PKCα signaling is repressed by BRCA1, which establishes PDGFRβ-PKCα signaling as a therapeutic target for BRCA1-deficient breast cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng Bai
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Regional Immunity and Diseases, International Cancer Center, Shenzhen University Health Science Center, Shenzhen, 518060, China
- Department of Pathology, Shenzhen University Health Science Center, Shenzhen, 518060, China
- Dewitt Daughtry Family Department of Surgery, University of Miami, Miami, FL, 33136, USA
| | - Shiqin Liu
- Dewitt Daughtry Family Department of Surgery, University of Miami, Miami, FL, 33136, USA
- Department of General Surgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Xiong Liu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Regional Immunity and Diseases, International Cancer Center, Shenzhen University Health Science Center, Shenzhen, 518060, China
- Department of Anatomy and Histology, Shenzhen University Health Science Center, Shenzhen, 518060, China
| | - Daniel P Hollern
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Alexandria Scott
- Dewitt Daughtry Family Department of Surgery, University of Miami, Miami, FL, 33136, USA
| | - Chuying Wang
- Dewitt Daughtry Family Department of Surgery, University of Miami, Miami, FL, 33136, USA
- The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710061, China
| | - Lihan Zhang
- Dewitt Daughtry Family Department of Surgery, University of Miami, Miami, FL, 33136, USA
- The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450008, China
| | - Cheng Fan
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Li Fu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Regional Immunity and Diseases, International Cancer Center, Shenzhen University Health Science Center, Shenzhen, 518060, China
- Department of Pharmacology, Shenzhen University Health Science Center, Shenzhen, 518039, China
| | - Charles M Perou
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Wei-Guo Zhu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, International Cancer Center, Shenzhen University Health Science Center, Shenzhen, 518060, China
| | - Xin-Hai Pei
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Regional Immunity and Diseases, International Cancer Center, Shenzhen University Health Science Center, Shenzhen, 518060, China.
- Dewitt Daughtry Family Department of Surgery, University of Miami, Miami, FL, 33136, USA.
- Department of Anatomy and Histology, Shenzhen University Health Science Center, Shenzhen, 518060, China.
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Shams A, Binothman N, Boudreault J, Wang N, Shams F, Hamam D, Tian J, Moamer A, Dai M, Lebrun JJ, Ali S. Prolactin receptor-driven combined luminal and epithelial differentiation in breast cancer restricts plasticity, stemness, tumorigenesis and metastasis. Oncogenesis 2021; 10:10. [PMID: 33446633 PMCID: PMC7809050 DOI: 10.1038/s41389-020-00297-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2020] [Revised: 12/09/2020] [Accepted: 12/11/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Dedifferentiation increased cellular plasticity and stemness are established derivers of tumor heterogeneity, metastasis and therapeutic failure resulting in incurable cancers. Therefore, it is essential to decipher pro/forward-differentiation mechanisms in cancer that may serve as therapeutic targets. We found that interfering with expression of the receptor for the lactogenic hormone prolactin (PRLR) in breast cancer cells representative of the luminal and epithelial breast cancer subtypes (hormone receptor positive (HR+) and HER2-enriched (HER2-E) resulted in loss of their differentiation state, enriched for stem-like cell subpopulations, and increased their tumorigenic capacity in a subtype-specific manner. Loss of PRLR expression in HR+ breast cancer cells caused their dedifferentiation generating a mesenchymal-basal-like phenotype enriched in CD44+ breast cancer stem-like cells (BCSCs) showing high tumorigenic and metastatic capacities and resistance to anti-hormonal therapy. Whereas loss of PRLR expression in HER2-E breast cancer cells resulted in loss of their luminal differentiation yet enriched for epithelial ALDH+ BCSC population showing elevated HER2-driven tumorigenic, multi-organ metastatic spread, and resistance to anti-HER2 therapy. Collectively, this study defines PRLR as a driver of precise luminal and epithelial differentiation limiting cellular plasticity, stemness, and tumorigenesis and emphasizing the function of pro/forward-differentiation pathways as a foundation for the discovery of anti-cancer therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anwar Shams
- grid.63984.300000 0000 9064 4811Department of Medicine, Cancer Research Program, The Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC Canada ,grid.412895.30000 0004 0419 5255Present Address: Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Taif University, Taif, Saudi Arabia
| | - Najat Binothman
- grid.63984.300000 0000 9064 4811Department of Medicine, Cancer Research Program, The Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC Canada ,grid.412125.10000 0001 0619 1117Present Address: Department of Chemistry, College of Science and Arts, King Abdulaziz University, P.O. Box 344, Rabigh, 21911 Saudi Arabia
| | - Julien Boudreault
- grid.63984.300000 0000 9064 4811Department of Medicine, Cancer Research Program, The Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC Canada
| | - Ni Wang
- grid.63984.300000 0000 9064 4811Department of Medicine, Cancer Research Program, The Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC Canada
| | - Fuad Shams
- grid.415252.5Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, King Abdulaziz Hospital, Mecca, Saudi Arabia
| | - Dana Hamam
- grid.63984.300000 0000 9064 4811Department of Medicine, Cancer Research Program, The Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC Canada
| | - Jun Tian
- grid.63984.300000 0000 9064 4811Department of Medicine, Cancer Research Program, The Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC Canada
| | - Alaa Moamer
- grid.63984.300000 0000 9064 4811Department of Medicine, Cancer Research Program, The Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC Canada
| | - Meiou Dai
- grid.63984.300000 0000 9064 4811Department of Medicine, Cancer Research Program, The Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC Canada
| | - Jean-Jacques Lebrun
- grid.63984.300000 0000 9064 4811Department of Medicine, Cancer Research Program, The Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC Canada
| | - Suhad Ali
- grid.63984.300000 0000 9064 4811Department of Medicine, Cancer Research Program, The Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC Canada
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