1
|
Malla R, Puvalachetty K, Vempati RK, Marni R, Merchant N, Nagaraju GP. Cancer Stem Cells and Circulatory Tumor Cells Promote Breast Cancer Metastasis. Clin Breast Cancer 2022; 22:507-514. [PMID: 35688785 DOI: 10.1016/j.clbc.2022.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2021] [Revised: 04/23/2022] [Accepted: 05/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Breast cancer (BC) is a highly metastatic, pathological cancer that significantly affects women worldwide. The mortality rate of BC is related to its heterogeneity, aggressive phenotype, and metastasis. Recent studies have highlighted that the tumor microenvironment (TME) is critical for the interplay between metastasis mediators in BC. BC stem cells, tumor-derived exosomes, circulatory tumor cells (CTCs), and signaling pathways dynamically remodel the TME and promote metastasis. This review examines the cellular and molecular mechanisms governing the epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) that facilitate metastasis. This review also discusses the role of cancer stem cells (CSCs), tumor-derived exosomes, and CTs in promoting BC metastasis. Furthermore, the review emphasizes major signaling pathways that mediate metastasis in BC. Finally, the interplay among CSCs, exosomes, and CTCs in mediating metastasis have been highlighted. Therefore, understanding the molecular cues that mediate the association of CSCs, exosomes, and CTCs in TME helps to optimize systemic therapy to target metastatic BC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- RamaRao Malla
- Cancer Biology Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry and Bioinformatics, GITAM School of Science, GITAM (Deemed to be University), Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India
| | - Kiran Puvalachetty
- Cancer Biology Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry and Bioinformatics, GITAM School of Science, GITAM (Deemed to be University), Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India
| | - Rahul K Vempati
- Cancer Biology Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry and Bioinformatics, GITAM School of Science, GITAM (Deemed to be University), Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India
| | - Rakshmitha Marni
- Cancer Biology Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry and Bioinformatics, GITAM School of Science, GITAM (Deemed to be University), Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India
| | - Neha Merchant
- Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Banasthali University, Vanasthali, Rajasthan, India
| | - Ganji Purnachandra Nagaraju
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, School of medicine, University of Alabama, Birmingham, Birmingham, AL.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Li M, Guo T, Lin J, Huang X, Ke Q, Wu Y, Fang C, Hu C. Curcumin inhibits the invasion and metastasis of triple negative breast cancer via Hedgehog/Gli1 signaling pathway. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2022; 283:114689. [PMID: 34592340 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2021.114689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2021] [Revised: 09/12/2021] [Accepted: 09/25/2021] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE In traditional Chinese medicine, there is a long history that curcuma longa L is used to treat distending pain of chest and belly, arthralgia of shoulder and arm aggravated by cold. Traditional Chinese medicine holds that breast cancer is caused by cold congelation, stagnation of qi and blood stasis. It is usually treated with some pungent and warm Chinese herbs, such as Curcuma longaL and Curcuma zedoaria (Christm.) Rosc, which are effective in promoting blood circulation for removing blood stasis, activating qi-flowing and relieving pain. Curcumin, a polyphenolic compound, is the main pharmacological component extracted from the rhizome of Curcuma longa L. Modern pharmacological studies have found that curcumin has many kinds of pharmacological activities of anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, anti-angiogenesis, anti-metastasis and anti-multidrug resistance. AIM OF THE STUDY To explore the mechanism of curcumin and Glioma-associated oncogene homolod-1 (Gli1) on invasion and metastasis of triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells through the Hedgehog (Hh)/Gli signaling pathway. MATERIAL AND METHODS The effect of curcumin on TNBC cells was detected by colony formation, wound healing and transwell assay. Breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs) were cultured in serum-free medium and its stemness was detected by flow cytometry and subcutaneous xenografted tumor assay. The formation of mammospheres was used to detect the effect of curcumin and GANT61 (Gli inhibitor)on the formation ability of BCSCs. Gli1 overexpressed was conducted in MDA-MB-231 cells by lentivirus vector HBLV-h-Gli1-3xflag-ZsGreen-PURO. RT-qPCR and Western blot were detected the mRNA and protein level of genes of Hh pathway, Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and stemness. The nuclear localization and expression of Gli1 was observed by laser confocal microscope scanning. Co-IP was investigated the key genes interacted with Gli1. RESULTS The abilities of proliferation, invasion, migration and the formation of mammospheres in TNBC cells were inhibited by curcumin. Furthermore, curcumin reduced the invasion and migration abilities in stable Gli1-overexpressing MDA-MB-231 cell. Moreover, curcumin down-regulated the expression of genes related Hh pathway, EMT and stemness in MDA-MB-231 mammospheres. Observation of laser confocal microscope showed that Gli1 were expressed mainly in nucleus in MDA-MB-231 adherent cells and completely in nucleus in BCSCs, which was significantly reduced in the nucleus and cytoplasm after curcumin treatment. Besides, our results suggested that vimentin was interacted with Gli1. CONCLUSIONS Curcumin can inhibit the proliferation and metastasis of TNBC cells, EMT and characteristics of BCSC by Hedgehog/Gli1 pathway.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mengjie Li
- School of Pharmaceutical Science, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, 510006, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
| | - Tingting Guo
- School of Pharmaceutical Science, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, 510006, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
| | - Jiayi Lin
- School of Pharmaceutical Science, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, 510006, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
| | - Xia Huang
- School of Pharmaceutical Science, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, 510006, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
| | - Qiaodan Ke
- School of Pharmaceutical Science, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, 510006, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
| | - Yujian Wu
- School of Pharmaceutical Science, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, 510006, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
| | - Chunping Fang
- School of Pharmaceutical Science, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, 510006, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
| | - Chenxia Hu
- School of Pharmaceutical Science, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, 510006, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Paracrine interleukin-8 affects mesenchymal stem cells through the Akt pathway and enhances human umbilical vein endothelial cell proliferation and migration. Biosci Rep 2021; 41:228273. [PMID: 33843989 PMCID: PMC8493446 DOI: 10.1042/bsr20210198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2021] [Revised: 04/06/2021] [Accepted: 04/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Interleukin-8 (IL-8) promotes cell homing and angiogenesis, but its effects on activating human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) and promoting angiogenesis are unclear. We used bioinformatics to predict these processes. In vitro, BMSCs were stimulated in a high-glucose (HG) environment with 50 or 100 μg/ml IL-8 was used as the IL-8 group. A total of 5 μmol/l Triciribine was added to the two IL-8 groups as the Akt inhibitor group. Cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were cultured in BMSCs conditioned medium (CM). The changes in proliferation, apoptosis, migration ability and levels of VEGF and IL-6 in HUVECs were observed in each group. Seventy processes and 26 pathways were involved in vascular development, through which IL-8 affected BMSCs. Compared with the HG control group, HUVEC proliferation absorbance value (A value), Gap closure rate, and Transwell cell migration rate in the IL-8 50 and IL-8 100 CM groups were significantly increased (P<0.01, n=30). However, HUVEC apoptosis was significantly decreased (P<0.01, n=30). Akt and phospho-Akt (P-Akt) protein contents in lysates of BMSCs treated with IL-8, as well as VEGF and IL-6 protein contents in the supernatant of BMSCs treated with IL-8, were all highly expressed (P<0.01, n=15). These analyses confirmed that IL-8 promoted the expression of 41 core proteins in BMSCs through the PI3K Akt pathway, which could promote the proliferation and migration of vascular endothelial cells. Therefore, in an HG environment, IL-8 activated the Akt signaling pathway, promoted paracrine mechanisms of BMSCs, and improved the proliferation and migration of HUVECs.
Collapse
|
4
|
Wang WJ, Wang H, Wang MS, Huang YQ, Ma YY, Qi J, Shi JP, Li W. Assessing the prognostic value of stemness-related genes in breast cancer patients. Sci Rep 2020; 10:18325. [PMID: 33110086 PMCID: PMC7591576 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-73164-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2019] [Accepted: 08/14/2020] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer (BC) is currently one of the deadliest tumors worldwide. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are a small group of tumor cells with self-renewal and differentiation abilities and high treatment resistance. One of the reasons for treatment failures is the inability to completely eliminate tumor stem cells. By using the edgeR package, we identified stemness-related differentially expressed genes in GSE69280. Via Lasso-penalized Cox regression analysis and univariate Cox regression analysis, survival genes were screened out to construct a prognostic model. Via nomograms and ROC curves, we verified the accuracy of the prognostic model. We selected 4 genes (PSMB9, CXCL13, NPR3, and CDKN2C) to establish a prognostic model from TCGA data and a validation model from GSE24450 data. We found that the low-risk score group had better OS than the high-risk score group, whether using TCGA or GSE24450 data. A prognostic model including four stemness-related genes was constructed in our study to determine targets of breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs) and improve the treatment effect.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Jie Wang
- Department of Radio-Oncology, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 26 Daoqian Street, Suzhou, 215001, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Han Wang
- Department of Oncology, Jining Tumor Hospital, Jining, 272000, Shandong, People's Republic of China
| | - Meng-Sen Wang
- Department of Oncology, Jining No. 1 People's Hospital, Jining, 272011, Shandong, People's Republic of China
| | - Yue-Qing Huang
- Department of General Practice, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, 215001, People's Republic of China
| | - Yu-Yuan Ma
- Department of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, 215001, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Jie Qi
- Department of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, 215001, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Jian-Ping Shi
- Department of Radio-Oncology, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 26 Daoqian Street, Suzhou, 215001, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China.
| | - Wei Li
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, 188 Shizi Street, Suzhou, 215006, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Samuel SM, Varghese E, Koklesová L, Líšková A, Kubatka P, Büsselberg D. Counteracting Chemoresistance with Metformin in Breast Cancers: Targeting Cancer Stem Cells. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:E2482. [PMID: 32883003 PMCID: PMC7565921 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12092482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2020] [Revised: 08/19/2020] [Accepted: 08/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite the leaps and bounds in achieving success in the management and treatment of breast cancers through surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy, breast cancer remains the most frequently occurring cancer in women and the most common cause of cancer-related deaths among women. Systemic therapeutic approaches, such as chemotherapy, although beneficial in treating and curing breast cancer subjects with localized breast tumors, tend to fail in metastatic cases of the disease due to (a) an acquired resistance to the chemotherapeutic drug and (b) the development of intrinsic resistance to therapy. The existence of cancer stem cells (CSCs) plays a crucial role in both acquired and intrinsic chemoresistance. CSCs are less abundant than terminally differentiated cancer cells and confer chemoresistance through a unique altered metabolism and capability to evade the immune response system. Furthermore, CSCs possess active DNA repair systems, transporters that support multidrug resistance (MDR), advanced detoxification processes, and the ability to self-renew and differentiate into tumor progenitor cells, thereby supporting cancer invasion, metastasis, and recurrence/relapse. Hence, current research is focusing on targeting CSCs to overcome resistance and improve the efficacy of the treatment and management of breast cancer. Studies revealed that metformin (1, 1-dimethylbiguanide), a widely used anti-hyperglycemic agent, sensitizes tumor response to various chemotherapeutic drugs. Metformin selectively targets CSCs and improves the hypoxic microenvironment, suppresses the tumor metastasis and inflammation, as well as regulates the metabolic programming, induces apoptosis, and reverses epithelial-mesenchymal transition and MDR. Here, we discuss cancer (breast cancer) and chemoresistance, the molecular mechanisms of chemoresistance in breast cancers, and metformin as a chemo-sensitizing/re-sensitizing agent, with a particular focus on breast CSCs as a critical contributing factor to acquired and intrinsic chemoresistance. The review outlines the prospects and directions for a better understanding and re-purposing of metformin as an anti-cancer/chemo-sensitizing drug in the treatment of breast cancer. It intends to provide a rationale for the use of metformin as a combinatory therapy in a clinical setting.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Samson Mathews Samuel
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Education City, Qatar Foundation, Doha 24144, Qatar;
| | - Elizabeth Varghese
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Education City, Qatar Foundation, Doha 24144, Qatar;
| | - Lenka Koklesová
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University in Bratislava, 03601 Martin, Slovakia; (L.K.); (A.L.)
| | - Alena Líšková
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University in Bratislava, 03601 Martin, Slovakia; (L.K.); (A.L.)
| | - Peter Kubatka
- Department of Medical Biology, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University in Bratislava, 03601 Martin, Slovakia;
| | - Dietrich Büsselberg
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Education City, Qatar Foundation, Doha 24144, Qatar;
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Dittmer J. Breast cancer stem cells: Features, key drivers and treatment options. Semin Cancer Biol 2018; 53:59-74. [PMID: 30059727 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2018.07.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 113] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2018] [Revised: 07/10/2018] [Accepted: 07/18/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The current view is that breast cancer is a stem cell disease characterized by the existence of cancer cells with stem-like features and tumor-initiating potential. These cells are made responsible for tumor dissemination and metastasis. Common therapies by chemotherapeutic drugs fail to eradicate these cells and rather increase the pool of cancer stem cells in tumors, an effect that may increase the likelyhood of recurrence. Fifteen years after the first evidence for a small stem-like subpopulation playing a major role in breast cancer initiation has been published a large body of knowledge has been accumulated regarding the signaling cascades and proteins involved in maintaining stemness in breast cancer. Differences in the stem cell pool size and in mechanisms regulating stemness in the different breast cancer subtypes have emerged. Overall, this knowledge offers new approaches to intervene with breast cancer stem cell activity. New options are particularly needed for the treatment of triple-negative breast cancer subtype, which is particularly rich in cancer stem cells and is also the subtype for which specific therapies are still not available.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jürgen Dittmer
- Clinic for Gynecology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Habib JG, O'Shaughnessy JA. The hedgehog pathway in triple-negative breast cancer. Cancer Med 2016; 5:2989-3006. [PMID: 27539549 PMCID: PMC5083752 DOI: 10.1002/cam4.833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2016] [Revised: 05/26/2016] [Accepted: 06/30/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Treatment of triple‐negative breast cancer (TNBC) remains challenging due to the underlying heterogeneity of this disease coupled with the lack of predictive biomarkers and effective targeted therapies. Intratumoral heterogeneity, particularly enrichment for breast cancer stem cell‐like subpopulations, has emerged as a leading hypothesis for systemic therapy resistance and clinically aggressive course of poor prognosis TNBC. A growing body of literature supports the role of the stem cell renewal Hedgehog (Hh) pathway in breast cancer. Emerging preclinical data also implicate Hh signaling in TNBC pathogenesis. Herein, we review the evidence for a pathophysiologic role of Hh signaling in TNBC and explore mechanisms of crosstalk between the Hh pathway and other key signaling networks as well as their potential implications for Hh‐targeted interventions in TNBC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Joyce G Habib
- Baylor Charles A. Sammons Cancer Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Joyce A O'Shaughnessy
- Baylor Charles A. Sammons Cancer Center, Dallas, Texas.
- Texas Oncology, Dallas, Texas.
| |
Collapse
|