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Zhao S, Wang L, Ouyang M, Xing S, Liu S, Sun L, Yu H. Polyploid giant cancer cells induced by Docetaxel exhibit a senescence phenotype with the expression of stem cell markers in ovarian cancer cells. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0306969. [PMID: 38990953 PMCID: PMC11239069 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0306969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2024] [Accepted: 06/26/2024] [Indexed: 07/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Docetaxel (Doc) plays a crucial role in clinical antineoplastic practice. However, it is continuously documented that tumors frequently develop chemoresistance and relapse, which may be related to polyploid giant cancer cells (PGCCs). The aim of this study was investigate the formation mechanism and biological behavior of PGCCs induced by Doc. Ovarian cancer cells were treated with Doc, and then the effect of Doc on cellular viability was evaluated by MTT assay and microscopic imaging analysis. The biological properties of PGCCs were further evaluated by Hoechst 33342 staining, cell cycle and DNA content assay, DNA damage response (DDR) signaling detection, β-galactosidase staining, mitochondrial membrane potential detection, and reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The results indicated that Doc reduced cellular viability; however, many cells were still alive, and were giant and polyploid. Doc increased the proportion of cells stayed in the G2/M phase and reduced the number of cells. In addition, the expression of γ-H2A.X was constantly increased after Doc treatment. PGCCs showed senescence-associated β-galactosidase activity and an increase in the monomeric form of JC-1. The mRNA level of octamer-binding transcription factor 4 (OCT4) and krüppel-like factor 4 (KLF4) was significantly increased in PGCCs. Taken together, our results suggest that Doc induces G2/M cell cycle arrest, inhibits the proliferation and activates persistent DDR signaling to promote the formation of PGCCs. Importantly, PGCCs exhibit a senescence phenotype and express stem cell markers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Song Zhao
- Laboratory of Basic Medicine, General Hospital of Northern Theater Command, Shenyang, China
| | - Lili Wang
- Laboratory of Basic Medicine, General Hospital of Northern Theater Command, Shenyang, China
| | - Mingyue Ouyang
- Laboratory of Basic Medicine, General Hospital of Northern Theater Command, Shenyang, China
| | - Sining Xing
- Laboratory of Basic Medicine, General Hospital of Northern Theater Command, Shenyang, China
| | - Shuo Liu
- Laboratory of Basic Medicine, General Hospital of Northern Theater Command, Shenyang, China
| | - Lingyan Sun
- Laboratory of Basic Medicine, General Hospital of Northern Theater Command, Shenyang, China
| | - Huiying Yu
- Laboratory of Basic Medicine, General Hospital of Northern Theater Command, Shenyang, China
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Patra S, Naik PP, Mahapatra KK, Alotaibi MR, Patil S, Patro BS, Sethi G, Efferth T, Bhutia SK. Recent advancement of autophagy in polyploid giant cancer cells and its interconnection with senescence and stemness for therapeutic opportunities. Cancer Lett 2024; 590:216843. [PMID: 38579893 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2024.216843] [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: 11/03/2023] [Revised: 02/11/2024] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/07/2024]
Abstract
Recurrent chemotherapy-induced senescence and resistance are attributed to the polyploidization of cancer cells that involve genomic instability and poor prognosis due to their unique form of cellular plasticity. Autophagy, a pre-dominant cell survival mechanism, is crucial during carcinogenesis and chemotherapeutic stress, favouring polyploidization. The selective autophagic degradation of essential proteins associated with cell cycle progression checkpoints deregulate mitosis fidelity and genomic integrity, imparting polyploidization of cancer cells. In connection with cytokinesis failure and endoreduplication, autophagy promotes the formation, maintenance, and generation of the progeny of polyploid giant cancer cells. The polyploid cancer cells embark on autophagy-guarded elevation in the expression of stem cell markers, along with triggered epithelial and mesenchymal transition and senescence. The senescent polyploid escapers represent a high autophagic index than the polyploid progeny, suggesting regaining autophagy induction and subsequent autophagic degradation, which is essential for escaping from senescence/polyploidy, leading to a higher proliferative phenotypic progeny. This review documents the various causes of polyploidy and its consequences in cancer with relevance to autophagy modulation and its targeting for therapeutic intervention as a novel therapeutic strategy for personalized and precision medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Srimanta Patra
- Cancer and Cell Death Laboratory, Department of Life Science, National Institute of Technology Rourkela, Rourkela, 769008, Odisha, India
| | - Prajna Paramita Naik
- Cancer and Cell Death Laboratory, Department of Life Science, National Institute of Technology Rourkela, Rourkela, 769008, Odisha, India; Department of Zoology Panchayat College, Bargarh, 768028, Odisha, India
| | - Kewal Kumar Mahapatra
- Cancer and Cell Death Laboratory, Department of Life Science, National Institute of Technology Rourkela, Rourkela, 769008, Odisha, India; Department of Agriculture and Allied Sciences (Zoology), C. V. Raman Global University, Bhubaneswar, 752054, Odisha, India
| | - Moureq Rashed Alotaibi
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Shankargouda Patil
- College of Dental Medicine, Roseman University of Health Sciences, South Jordan, UT, 84095, USA
| | - Birija Sankar Patro
- Chemical Biology Section, Bio-Organic Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai, 400085, India
| | - Gautam Sethi
- Department of Pharmacology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 117600, Singapore
| | - Thomas Efferth
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biology, Institute of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, Johannes Gutenberg University, 55128, Mainz, Germany
| | - Sujit Kumar Bhutia
- Cancer and Cell Death Laboratory, Department of Life Science, National Institute of Technology Rourkela, Rourkela, 769008, Odisha, India.
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White-Gilbertson S, Lu P, Saatci O, Sahin O, Delaney JR, Ogretmen B, Voelkel-Johnson C. Transcriptome analysis of polyploid giant cancer cells and their progeny reveals a functional role for p21 in polyploidization and depolyploidization. J Biol Chem 2024; 300:107136. [PMID: 38447798 PMCID: PMC10979113 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2024.107136] [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: 10/07/2023] [Revised: 02/03/2024] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Polyploid giant cancer cells (PGCC) are frequently detected in tumors and are increasingly recognized for their roles in chromosomal instability and associated genome evolution that leads to cancer recurrence. We previously reported that therapy stress promotes polyploidy, and that acid ceramidase plays a role in depolyploidization. In this study, we used an RNA-seq approach to gain a better understanding of the underlying transcriptomic changes that occur as cancer cells progress through polyploidization and depolyploidization. Our results revealed gene signatures that are associated with disease-free and/or overall survival in several cancers and identified the cell cycle inhibitor CDKN1A/p21 as the major hub in PGCC and early progeny. Increased expression of p21 in PGCC was limited to the cytoplasm. We previously demonstrated that the sphingolipid enzyme acid ceramidase is dispensable for polyploidization upon therapy stress but plays a crucial role in depolyploidization. The current study demonstrates that treatment of cells with ceramide is not sufficient for p53-independent induction of p21 and that knockdown of acid ceramidase, which hydrolyzes ceramide, does not interfere with upregulation of p21. In contrast, blocking the expression of p21 with UC2288 prevented the induction of acid ceramidase and inhibited both the formation of PGCC from parental cells as well as the generation of progeny from PGCC. Taken together, our data suggest that p21 functions upstream of acid ceramidase and plays an important role in polyploidization and depolyploidization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shai White-Gilbertson
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
| | - Ping Lu
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
| | - Ozge Saatci
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
| | - Ozgur Sahin
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
| | - Joe R Delaney
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
| | - Besim Ogretmen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
| | - Christina Voelkel-Johnson
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA.
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Niu N, Liu J. Generation of Polyploid Giant Cancer Cells (PGCCs) from Hey Ovarian Cancer Cells and Analysis of Embryonic Properties. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2825:281-292. [PMID: 38913316 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3946-7_16] [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] [Indexed: 06/25/2024]
Abstract
Polyploid giant cancer cells (PGCCs) play a fundamental role in tumor initiation, dormancy, drug resistance, and metastasis, although the detailed biology of PGCCs remains poorly understood. The lack of literature on establishing a reproducible in vitro system for generating PGCCs is the leading technological obstacle to studying the biology of PGCCs. Here we provide a detailed protocol for generating stable PGCCs from Hey cancer cells and studying the PGCCs' embryonic stemness. This protocol includes (1) generating PGCCs of high purity in 2D culture by exposing Hey cells to paclitaxel, monitoring the cell cycle and amitotic budding of daughter cells from PGCCs, and collecting and studying the daughter cells; (2) inducing PGCCs to form spheroids expressing embryonic stemness markers and observing the spheroids' cleavage and blastocyst-like structure; and (3) inducing redifferentiation of PGCCs into different lineages of differentiated cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Na Niu
- Department of Pathology, Yale-New Haven Hospital, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Jinsong Liu
- Department of Anatomic Pathology, Division of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
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Zhang X, Yao J, Li X, Niu N, Liu Y, Hajek RA, Peng G, Westin S, Sood AK, Liu J. Targeting polyploid giant cancer cells potentiates a therapeutic response and overcomes resistance to PARP inhibitors in ovarian cancer. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadf7195. [PMID: 37478190 PMCID: PMC10361597 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adf7195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/23/2023]
Abstract
To understand the mechanism of acquired resistance to poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors (PARPi) olaparib, we induced the formation of polyploid giant cancer cells (PGCCs) in ovarian and breast cancer cell lines, high-grade serous cancer (HGSC)-derived organoids, and patient-derived xenografts (PDXs). Time-lapse tracking of ovarian cancer cells revealed that PGCCs primarily developed from endoreplication after exposure to sublethal concentrations of olaparib. PGCCs exhibited features of senescent cells but, after olaparib withdrawal, can escape senescence via restitutional multipolar endomitosis and other noncanonical modes of cell division to generate mitotically competent resistant daughter cells. The contraceptive drug mifepristone blocked PGCC formation and daughter cell formation. Mifepristone/olaparib combination therapy substantially reduced tumor growth in PDX models without previous olaparib exposure, while mifepristone alone decreased tumor growth in PDX models with acquired olaparib resistance. Thus, targeting PGCCs may represent a promising approach to potentiate the therapeutic response to PARPi and overcome PARPi-induced resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xudong Zhang
- Department of Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Jun Yao
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Xiaoran Li
- Department of Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Na Niu
- Department of Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Yan Liu
- Department of Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Richard A. Hajek
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology and Reproductive Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Guang Peng
- Department of Clinical Cancer Prevention, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Shannon Westin
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology and Reproductive Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Anil K. Sood
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology and Reproductive Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Jinsong Liu
- Department of Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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Yang X, Zheng M, Ning Y, Sun J, Yu Y, Zhang S. Prognostic risk factors of serous ovarian carcinoma based on mesenchymal stem cell phenotype and guidance for therapeutic efficacy. J Transl Med 2023; 21:456. [PMID: 37434173 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-023-04284-3] [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: 03/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/17/2023] [Indexed: 07/13/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Epithelial ovarian cancer is the leading cause of death from gynecologic cancer, in which serous ovarian carcinoma (SOC) is the most common histological subtype. Although PARP inhibitors (PARPi) and antiangiogenics have been accepted as maintenance treatment in SOC, response to immunotherapy of SOC patients is limited. METHODS The source of transcriptomic data of SOC was from the Cancer Genome Atlas database and Gene Expression Omnibus. The abundance scores of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC scores) were estimated for each sample by xCell. Weighted correlation network analysis is correlated the significant genes with MSC scores. Based on prognostic risk model construction with Cox regression analysis, patients with SOC were divided into low- and high-risk groups. And distribution of immune cells, immunosuppressors and pro-angiogenic factors in different risk groups was achieved by single-sample gene set enrichment analysis. The risk model of MSC scores was further validated in datasets of immune checkpoint blockade and antiangiogenic therapy. In the experiment, the mRNA expression of prognostic genes related to MSC scores was detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction, while the protein level was evaluated by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS Three prognostic genes (PER1, AKAP12 and MMP17) were the constituents of risk model. Patients classified as high-risk exhibited worse prognosis, presented with an immunosuppressive phenotype, and demonstrated high micro-vessel density. Additionally, these patients were insensitive to immunotherapy and would achieve a longer overall survival with antiangiogenesis treatment. The validation experiments showed that the mRNA of PER1, AKAP12, and MMP17 was highly expressed in normal ovarian epithelial cells compared to SOC cell lines and there was a positive correlation between protein levels of PER1, AKAP12 and MMP17 and metastasis in human ovarian serous tumors. CONCLUSION This prognostic model established on MSC scores can predict prognosis of patients and provide the guidance for patients receiving immunotherapy and molecular targeted therapy. Because the number of prognostic genes was fewer than other signatures of SOC, it will be easily accessible on clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaohui Yang
- Nankai University School of Medicine, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, People's Republic of China
| | - Minying Zheng
- Department of Pathology, Tianjin Union Medical Center, Tianjin, 300121, People's Republic of China
| | - Yidi Ning
- Nankai University School of Medicine, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, People's Republic of China
| | - Jie Sun
- Nankai University School of Medicine, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, People's Republic of China
| | - Yongjun Yu
- Nankai University School of Medicine, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, People's Republic of China
| | - Shiwu Zhang
- Department of Pathology, Tianjin Union Medical Center, Tianjin, 300121, People's Republic of China.
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Moein S, Ahmadbeigi N, Adibi R, Kamali S, Moradzadeh K, Nematollahi P, Nardi NB, Gheisari Y. Regenerative potential of multinucleated cells: bone marrow adiponectin-positive multinucleated cells take the lead. Stem Cell Res Ther 2023; 14:173. [PMID: 37403181 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-023-03400-w] [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: 08/08/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 07/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Polyploid cells can be found in a wide evolutionary spectrum of organisms. These cells are assumed to be involved in tissue regeneration and resistance to stressors. Although the appearance of large multinucleated cells (LMCs) in long-term culture of bone marrow (BM) mesenchymal cells has been reported, the presence and characteristics of such cells in native BM and their putative role in BM reconstitution following injury have not been fully investigated. METHODS BM-derived LMCs were explored by time-lapse microscopy from the first hours post-isolation to assess their colony formation and plasticity. In addition, sub-lethally irradiated mice were killed every other day for four weeks to investigate the histopathological processes during BM regeneration. Moreover, LMCs from GFP transgenic mice were transplanted to BM-ablated recipients to evaluate their contribution to tissue reconstruction. RESULTS BM-isolated LMCs produced mononucleated cells with characteristics of mesenchymal stromal cells. Time-series inspections of BM sections following irradiation revealed that LMCs are highly resistant to injury and originate mononucleated cells which reconstitute the tissue. The regeneration process was synchronized with a transient augmentation of adipocytes suggesting their contribution to tissue repair. Additionally, LMCs were found to be adiponectin positive linking the observations on multinucleation and adipogenesis to BM regeneration. Notably, transplantation of LMCs to myeloablated recipients could reconstitute both the hematopoietic system and BM stroma. CONCLUSIONS A population of resistant multinucleated cells reside in the BM that serves as the common origin of stromal and hematopoietic lineages with a key role in tissue regeneration. Furthermore, this study underscores the contribution of adipocytes in BM reconstruction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiva Moein
- Regenerative Medicine Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, 8174673461, Iran
- Department of Genetics and Molecular Biology, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Naser Ahmadbeigi
- Gene Therapy Research Center, Digestive Diseases Research Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Rezvan Adibi
- Regenerative Medicine Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, 8174673461, Iran
- Department of Genetics and Molecular Biology, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Sara Kamali
- Regenerative Medicine Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, 8174673461, Iran
| | - Kobra Moradzadeh
- Gene Therapy Research Center, Digestive Diseases Research Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Pardis Nematollahi
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Nance Beyer Nardi
- Institute of Cardiology of Rio Grande do Sul, Av Princesa Isabel 370, Porto Alegre, RS, 90620-001, Brazil
| | - Yousof Gheisari
- Regenerative Medicine Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, 8174673461, Iran.
- Department of Genetics and Molecular Biology, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
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Borkowska A, Olszewska A, Skarzynska W, Marciniak M, Skrzeszewski M, Kieda C, Was H. High Hemin Concentration Induces Escape from Senescence of Normoxic and Hypoxic Colon Cancer Cells. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14194793. [PMID: 36230727 PMCID: PMC9564005 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14194793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2022] [Revised: 09/21/2022] [Accepted: 09/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary High red-meat consumption as well as bleeding or bruising can promote oxidative stress and, in consequence, cancer development. However, the mechanism of that phenomenon is not understood. The induction of therapy-induced senescence (TIS) might also be induced by oxidative stress. Recently, TIS cells, despite their inhibited proliferation potential, have been identified as one of the sources of tumor re-growth. Here, with the use of molecular analyses, we found that oxidative stress, promoted by high doses of hemin or H2O2, can trigger TIS escape and cell re-population. It is closely related to the activity of antioxidative enzymes, especially heme oxygenase-1. Hypoxia might accelerate these effects. Therefore, we propose that the prevention of excessive oxidative stress could be a potential target in senolytic therapies. Abstract Hemoglobin from either red meat or bowel bleeding may promote oxidative stress and increase the risk of colorectal cancer (CRC). Additionally, solid cancers or their metastases may be present with localized bruising. Escape from therapy-induced senescence (TIS) might be one of the mechanisms of tumor re-growth. Therefore, we sought to study whether hemin can cause escape from TIS in CRC. To induce senescence, human colon cancer cells were exposed to a chemotherapeutic agent irinotecan (IRINO). Cells treated with IRINO exhibited common hallmarks of TIS. To mimic bleeding, colon cancer cells were additionally treated with hemin. High hemin concentration activated heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), induced escape from TIS and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, and augmented progeny production. The effect was even stronger in hypoxic conditions. Similar results were obtained when TIS cells were treated with another prooxidant agent, H2O2. Silencing of antioxidative enzymes such as catalase (CAT) or glutathione peroxidase-1 (GPx-1) maintained colon cancer cells in a senescent state. Our study demonstrates that a high hemin concentration combined with an increased activity of antioxidative enzymes, especially HO-1, leads to escape from the senescence of colon cancer cells. Therefore, our observations could be used in targeted anti-cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agata Borkowska
- Laboratory of Molecular Oncology and Innovative Therapies, Military Institute of Medicine, Szaserow 128 Street, 04-141 Warsaw, Poland
- Postgraduate School of Molecular Medicine, Medical University of Warsaw, Zwirki i Wigury 61 Street, 02-091 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Aleksandra Olszewska
- Laboratory of Molecular Oncology and Innovative Therapies, Military Institute of Medicine, Szaserow 128 Street, 04-141 Warsaw, Poland
- Postgraduate School of Molecular Medicine, Medical University of Warsaw, Zwirki i Wigury 61 Street, 02-091 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Weronika Skarzynska
- Laboratory of Molecular Oncology and Innovative Therapies, Military Institute of Medicine, Szaserow 128 Street, 04-141 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Marta Marciniak
- Laboratory of Molecular Oncology and Innovative Therapies, Military Institute of Medicine, Szaserow 128 Street, 04-141 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Maciej Skrzeszewski
- Laboratory of Molecular Oncology and Innovative Therapies, Military Institute of Medicine, Szaserow 128 Street, 04-141 Warsaw, Poland
- Doctoral School of Translational Medicine, Centre of Postgraduate Medical Education, 01-813 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Claudine Kieda
- Laboratory of Molecular Oncology and Innovative Therapies, Military Institute of Medicine, Szaserow 128 Street, 04-141 Warsaw, Poland
- Centre for Molecular Biophysics, UPR CNRS 4301, CEDEX 2, 45071 Orléans, France
| | - Halina Was
- Laboratory of Molecular Oncology and Innovative Therapies, Military Institute of Medicine, Szaserow 128 Street, 04-141 Warsaw, Poland
- Correspondence:
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Anatskaya OV, Vinogradov AE. Whole-Genome Duplications in Evolution, Ontogeny, and Pathology: Complexity and Emergency Reserves. Mol Biol 2021. [DOI: 10.1134/s0026893321050022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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10
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Liu J, Niu N, Li X, Zhang X, Sood AK. The life cycle of polyploid giant cancer cells and dormancy in cancer: Opportunities for novel therapeutic interventions. Semin Cancer Biol 2021; 81:132-144. [PMID: 34670140 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2021.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2021] [Revised: 10/12/2021] [Accepted: 10/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Recent data suggest that most genotoxic agents in cancer therapy can lead to shock of genome and increase in cell size, which leads whole genome duplication or multiplication, formation of polyploid giant cancer cells, activation of an early embryonic program, and dedifferentiation of somatic cells. This process is achieved via the giant cell life cycle, a recently proposed mechanism for malignant transformation of somatic cells. Increase in both cell size and ploidy allows cells to completely or partially restructures the genome and develop into a blastocyst-like structure, similar to that observed in blastomere-stage embryogenesis. Although blastocyst-like structures with reprogrammed genome can generate resistant or metastatic daughter cells or benign cells of different lineages, they also acquired ability to undergo embryonic diapause, a reversible state of suspended embryonic development in which cells enter dormancy for survival in response to environmental stress. Therapeutic agents can activate this evolutionarily conserved developmental program, and when cells awaken from embryonic diapause, this leads to recurrence or metastasis. Understanding of the key mechanisms that regulate the different stages of the giant cell life cycle offers new opportunities for therapeutic intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinsong Liu
- Departments of Anatomic Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA; Departments of Molecular and Cellular Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
| | - Na Niu
- Departments of Anatomic Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Xiaoran Li
- Departments of Anatomic Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Xudong Zhang
- Departments of Anatomic Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Anil K Sood
- Departments of Gynecologic Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
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De Blander H, Morel AP, Senaratne AP, Ouzounova M, Puisieux A. Cellular Plasticity: A Route to Senescence Exit and Tumorigenesis. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:4561. [PMID: 34572787 PMCID: PMC8468602 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13184561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2021] [Revised: 09/03/2021] [Accepted: 09/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Senescence is a dynamic, multistep program that results in permanent cell cycle arrest and is triggered by developmental or environmental, oncogenic or therapy-induced stress signals. Senescence is considered as a tumor suppressor mechanism that prevents the risk of neoplastic transformation by restricting the proliferation of damaged cells. Cells undergoing senescence sustain important morphological changes, chromatin remodeling and metabolic reprogramming, and secrete pro-inflammatory factors termed senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP). SASP activation is required for the clearance of senescent cells by innate immunity. Therefore, escape from senescence and the associated immune editing would be a prerequisite for tumor initiation and progression as well as therapeutic resistance. One of the possible mechanisms for overcoming senescence could be the acquisition of cellular plasticity resulting from the accumulation of genomic alterations and genetic and epigenetic reprogramming. The modified composition of the SASP produced by these reprogrammed cancer cells would create a permissive environment, allowing their immune evasion. Additionally, the SASP produced by cancer cells could enhance the cellular plasticity of neighboring cells, thus hindering their recognition by the immune system. Here, we propose a comprehensive review of the literature, highlighting the role of cellular plasticity in the pro-tumoral activity of senescence in normal cells and in the cancer context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hadrien De Blander
- Equipe Labellisée Ligue Contre le Cancer “EMT and Cancer Cell Plasticity”, CNRS 5286, INSERM 1052, Centre Léon Bérard, Cancer Research Center of Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, 69008 Lyon, France; (A.-P.M.); (M.O.)
- LabEx DEVweCAN, Université de Lyon, 69008 Lyon, France
| | - Anne-Pierre Morel
- Equipe Labellisée Ligue Contre le Cancer “EMT and Cancer Cell Plasticity”, CNRS 5286, INSERM 1052, Centre Léon Bérard, Cancer Research Center of Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, 69008 Lyon, France; (A.-P.M.); (M.O.)
- LabEx DEVweCAN, Université de Lyon, 69008 Lyon, France
- Institut Curie “EMT and Cancer Cell Plasticity”, Consortium Centre Léon Bérard, 69008 Lyon, France
| | - Aruni P. Senaratne
- UMR3664—Nuclear Dynamics, Development, Biology, Cancer, Genetics and Epigenetics, Institut Curie, PSL Research University, 75005 Paris, France;
| | - Maria Ouzounova
- Equipe Labellisée Ligue Contre le Cancer “EMT and Cancer Cell Plasticity”, CNRS 5286, INSERM 1052, Centre Léon Bérard, Cancer Research Center of Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, 69008 Lyon, France; (A.-P.M.); (M.O.)
- LabEx DEVweCAN, Université de Lyon, 69008 Lyon, France
- Institut Curie “EMT and Cancer Cell Plasticity”, Consortium Centre Léon Bérard, 69008 Lyon, France
- CNRS UMR3666, Inserm U1143, Cellular and Chemical Biology, Institut Curie, PSL Research University, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Alain Puisieux
- Equipe Labellisée Ligue Contre le Cancer “EMT and Cancer Cell Plasticity”, CNRS 5286, INSERM 1052, Centre Léon Bérard, Cancer Research Center of Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, 69008 Lyon, France; (A.-P.M.); (M.O.)
- LabEx DEVweCAN, Université de Lyon, 69008 Lyon, France
- Institut Curie “EMT and Cancer Cell Plasticity”, Consortium Centre Léon Bérard, 69008 Lyon, France
- CNRS UMR3666, Inserm U1143, Cellular and Chemical Biology, Institut Curie, PSL Research University, 75005 Paris, France
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12
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Thura M, Ye Z, Al-Aidaroos AQ, Xiong Q, Ong JY, Gupta A, Li J, Guo K, Ang KH, Zeng Q. PRL3 induces polypoid giant cancer cells eliminated by PRL3-zumab to reduce tumor relapse. Commun Biol 2021; 4:923. [PMID: 34326464 PMCID: PMC8322210 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-021-02449-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2021] [Accepted: 07/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
PRL3, a unique oncotarget, is specifically overexpressed in 80.6% of cancers. In 2003, we reported that PRL3 promotes cell migration, invasion, and metastasis. Herein, firstly, we show that PRL3 induces Polyploid Giant Cancer Cells (PGCCs) formation. PGCCs constitute stem cell-like pools to facilitate cell survival, chemo-resistance, and tumor relapse. The correlations between PRL3 overexpression and PGCCs attributes raised possibilities that PRL3 could be involved in PGCCs formation. Secondly, we show that PRL3+ PGCCs co-express the embryonic stem cell markers SOX2 and OCT4 and arise mainly due to incomplete cytokinesis despite extensive DNA damage. Thirdly, we reveal that PRL3+ PGCCs tolerate prolonged chemotherapy-induced genotoxic stress via suppression of the pro-apoptotic ATM DNA damage-signaling pathway. Fourthly, we demonstrated PRL3-zumab, a First-in-Class humanized antibody drug against PRL3 oncotarget, could reduce tumor relapse in 'tumor removal' animal model. Finally, we confirmed that PGCCs were enriched in relapse tumors versus primary tumors. PRL3-zumab has been approved for Phase 2 clinical trials in Singapore, US, and China to block all solid tumors. This study further showed PRL3-zumab could potentially serve an 'Adjuvant Immunotherapy' after tumor removal surgery to eliminate PRL3+ PGCC stem-like cells, preventing metastasis and relapse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Thura
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Zu Ye
- MD Anderson Cancer Centre, The University of Texas, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Abdul Qader Al-Aidaroos
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Qiancheng Xiong
- Department of Cell Biology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Jun Yi Ong
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Abhishek Gupta
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Jie Li
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Ke Guo
- Genome Institute of Singapore, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Koon Hwee Ang
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Qi Zeng
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore, Singapore. .,Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.
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13
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Liu J. Giant cells: Linking McClintock's heredity to early embryogenesis and tumor origin throughout millennia of evolution on Earth. Semin Cancer Biol 2021; 81:176-192. [PMID: 34116161 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2021.06.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2021] [Revised: 05/12/2021] [Accepted: 06/06/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
The "life code" theory postulates that egg cells, which are giant, are the first cells in reproduction and that damaged or aged giant somatic cells are the first cells in tumorigenesis. However, the hereditary basis for giant cells remains undefined. Here I propose that stress-induced genomic reorganization proposed by Nobel Laureate Barbara McClintock may represent the underlying heredity for giant cells, referred to as McClintock's heredity. Increase in cell size may serve as a response to environmental stress via switching proliferative mitosis to intranuclear replication for reproduction. Intranuclear replication activates McClintock's heredity to reset the genome following fertilization for reproduction or restructures the somatic genome for neoplastic transformation via formation of polyploid giant cancer cells (PGCCs). The genome-based McClintock heredity functions together with gene-based Mendel's heredity to regulate the genomic stability at two different stages of life cycle or tumorigenesis. Thus, giant cells link McClintock's heredity to both early embryogenesis and tumor origin. Cycling change in cell size together with ploidy number switch may represent the most fundamental mechanism on how both germ and soma for coping with environmental stresses for the survival across the tree of life which evolved over millions of years on Earth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinsong Liu
- Department of Anatomical Pathology, Division of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, TX, 77030, United States.
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14
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Xuan B, Ghosh D, Dawson MR. Contributions of the distinct biophysical phenotype of polyploidal giant cancer cells to cancer progression. Semin Cancer Biol 2021; 81:64-72. [PMID: 33992783 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2021.05.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2020] [Revised: 05/03/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Polyploid giant cancer cells (PGCCs) are a commonly observed histological feature of human tumors and are particularly prominent in late stage and drug resistant cancers. The chromosomal duplication conferred by their aneuploidy gives rise to DNA damage resistance and complex tumor cell karyotypes, a driving factor in chemotherapy resistance and disease relapse. Furthermore, PGCCs also exhibit key cytoskeletal features that give rise to a distinct biophysical phenotype, including increased density of polymerized actin and vimentin intermediate filaments, nuclear and cytoskeletal stiffening, increased traction force, and migratory persistence. Despite recent research highlighting the role PGCCs play in cancer progression, this population of tumor cells remains poorly characterized in terms of their biophysical properties. In this review, we will discuss the various aspects of their biomolecular phenotype, such as increased stemness as well as a mixed EMT signature. These features have been extensively associated with tumorigenesis and recurrence, and aggressive cancers. Additionally, we will also examine the distinct PGCC cytoskeletal features of actin and filamentous vimentin. Specifically, how the differential organization of these networks serve to support their increased size and drive migratory persistence. These findings could shed light on potential therapeutic strategies that allow for specific elimination or mitigation of the invasive potential of these polyploid cancer cells. Lastly, we will examine how the biophysical and molecular phenotype of PGCCs combine to tip the scale in favor of promoting cancer progression, presenting an important target in the clinical treatment of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Botai Xuan
- Brown University, Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Physiology, & Biotechnology, Providence, 02912, USA
| | - Deepraj Ghosh
- Brown University, Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Physiology, & Biotechnology, Providence, 02912, USA
| | - Michelle R Dawson
- Brown University, Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Physiology, & Biotechnology, Providence, 02912, USA; Brown University, Center for Biomedical Engineering, Providence, 02912, USA; Brown University, School of Engineering, Providence, 02912, USA.
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15
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White Adipocytes of the Uterine Cervix Tend to Appear in Women of Older Age, Postmenopause Status, and Higher Body Mass Index. Int J Gynecol Pathol 2021; 39:379-383. [PMID: 32515922 DOI: 10.1097/pgp.0000000000000618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
The human uterine cervix consists mainly of epithelium and stroma, including smooth muscle cells and fibrovascular tissues. Fat cells in the uterine cervix have been rarely reported, and the only previous research article has shown that intracervical adipocytes are unrelated to clinical factors. The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency of fat cells in the uterine cervix, as well as to evaluate the relationship between intracervical adipocytes and clinicopathologic factors. We retrospectively selected 405 cases in Japanese women who received cervical conization at our hospital between 2003 and 2017. Cervical conization was not performed during pregnancy or within 1 yr after childbirth. The prepared histologic specimens for pathologic diagnosis were available in all cases. Age, menopause status, body mass index, gravidity, and parity were selected clinical factors, which were obtained in 214 patients. The mean patient age was 42 yr (range, 22-80 yr). Intracervical white adipocytes were observed in 13% of patients (53/405), with no brown adipocytes detected. The existence of intracervical adipocytes was significantly correlated to older age (P<0.0001), postmenopause status (P<0.0001), and higher body mass index (P=0.0018). Intracervical adipocytes might undergo adipocytic metaplasia from cervical stromal cells in accordance with aging, postmenopause status, or weight gain. Our result also suggest that cervical malignancy involving fat cells does not necessarily imply parametrial invasion.
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16
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Voelkel-Johnson C. Sphingolipids in embryonic development, cell cycle regulation, and stemness - Implications for polyploidy in tumors. Semin Cancer Biol 2021; 81:206-219. [PMID: 33429049 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2020.12.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2020] [Revised: 12/26/2020] [Accepted: 12/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The aberrant biology of polyploid giant cancer cells (PGCC) includes dysregulation of the cell cycle, induction of stress responses, and dedifferentiation, all of which are likely accompanied by adaptations in biophysical properties and metabolic activity. Sphingolipids are the second largest class of membrane lipids and play important roles in many aspects of cell biology that are potentially relevant to polyploidy. We have recently shown that the function of the sphingolipid enzyme acid ceramidase (ASAH1) is critical for the ability of PGCC to generate progeny by depolyploidization but mechanisms by which sphingolipids contribute to polyploidy and generation of offspring with stem-like properties remain elusive. This review discusses the role of sphingolipids during embryonic development, cell cycle regulation, and stem cells in an effort to highlight parallels to polyploidy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina Voelkel-Johnson
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA.
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17
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Herbein G, Nehme Z. Polyploid Giant Cancer Cells, a Hallmark of Oncoviruses and a New Therapeutic Challenge. Front Oncol 2020; 10:567116. [PMID: 33154944 PMCID: PMC7591763 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2020.567116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2020] [Accepted: 09/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Tumors are renowned as intricate systems that harbor heterogeneous cancer cells with distinctly diverse molecular signatures, sizes and genomic contents. Among those various genomic clonal populations within the complex tumoral architecture are the polyploid giant cancer cells (PGCC). Although described for over a century, PGCC are increasingly being recognized for their prominent role in tumorigenesis, metastasis, therapy resistance and tumor repopulation after therapy. A shared characteristic among all tumors triggered by oncoviruses is the presence of polyploidy. Those include Human Papillomaviruses (HPV), Epstein Barr Virus (EBV), Hepatitis B and C viruses (HBV and HCV, respectively), Human T-cell lymphotropic virus-1 (HTLV-1), Kaposi's sarcoma herpesvirus (KSHV) and Merkel polyomavirus (MCPyV). Distinct viral proteins, for instance Tax for HTLV-1 or HBx for HBV have demonstrated their etiologic role in favoring the appearance of PGCC. Different intriguing biological mechanisms employed by oncogenic viruses, in addition to viruses with high oncogenic potential such as human cytomegalovirus, could support the generation of PGCC, including induction of endoreplication, inactivation of tumor suppressors, development of hypoxia, activation of cellular senescence and others. Interestingly, chemoresistance and radioresistance have been reported in the context of oncovirus-induced cancers, for example KSHV and EBV-associated lymphomas and high-risk HPV-related cervical cancer. This points toward a potential linkage between the previously mentioned players and highlights PGCC as keystone cancer cells in virally-induced tumors. Subsequently, although new therapeutic approaches are actively needed to fight PGCC, attention should also be drawn to reveal the relationship between PGCC and oncoviruses, with the ultimate goal of establishing effective therapeutic platforms for treatment of virus-associated cancers. This review discusses the presence of PGCCs in tumors induced by oncoviruses, biological mechanisms potentially favoring their appearance, as well as their consequent implication at the clinical and therapeutic level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georges Herbein
- Pathogens & Inflammation/EPILAB Laboratory, EA 4266, University of Franche-Comté, Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté (UBFC), Besançon, France.,Department of Virology, CHRU Besancon, Besançon, France
| | - Zeina Nehme
- Pathogens & Inflammation/EPILAB Laboratory, EA 4266, University of Franche-Comté, Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté (UBFC), Besançon, France.,Faculty of Sciences, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon
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18
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Cancer regeneration: Polyploid cells are the key drivers of tumor progression. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2020; 1874:188408. [PMID: 32827584 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2020.188408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2020] [Revised: 07/16/2020] [Accepted: 07/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
In spite of significant advancements of therapies for initial eradication of cancers, tumor relapse remains a major challenge. It is for a long time known that polyploid malignant cells are a main source of resistance against chemotherapy and irradiation. However, therapeutic approaches targeting these cells have not been appropriately pursued which could partly be due to the shortage of knowledge on the molecular biology of cell polyploidy. On the other hand, there is a rising trend to appreciate polyploid/ multinucleated cells as key players in tissue regeneration. In this review, we suggest an analogy between the functions of polyploid cells in normal and malignant tissues and discuss the idea that cell polyploidy is an evolutionary conserved source of tissue regeneration also exploited by cancers as a survival factor. In addition, polyploid cells are highlighted as a promising therapeutic target to overcome drug resistance and relapse.
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19
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Chen J, Niu N, Zhang J, Qi L, Shen W, Donkena KV, Feng Z, Liu J. Polyploid Giant Cancer Cells (PGCCs): The Evil Roots of Cancer. Curr Cancer Drug Targets 2020; 19:360-367. [PMID: 29968537 DOI: 10.2174/1568009618666180703154233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2018] [Revised: 05/28/2018] [Accepted: 06/08/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Polyploidy is associated with increased cell size and is commonly found in a subset of adult organs and blastomere stage of the human embryo. The polyploidy is formed through endoreplication or cell fusion to support the specific need of development including earliest embryogenesis. Recent data demonstrated that Polyploid Giant Cancer Cells (PGCCs) may have acquired an activated early embryonic-like program in response to oncogenic and therapeutic stress to generate reprogrammed cancer cells for drug resistance and metastasis. Targeting PGCCs may open up new opportunities for cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junsong Chen
- Department of Pathology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.,Department of Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Na Niu
- Department of Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Jing Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, Department of Pathology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Lisha Qi
- Department of Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States.,Department of Pathology, Tianjin Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Weiwei Shen
- Department of Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States.,Department of Oncology, Tangdu Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Krishna Vanaja Donkena
- Department of Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Zhenqing Feng
- Department of Pathology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jinsong Liu
- Department of Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States
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20
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Salem A, Pinto K, Koch M, Liu J, Silva EG. Are polyploid giant cancer cells in high grade serous carcinoma of the ovary blastomere-like cancer stem cells? Ann Diagn Pathol 2020; 46:151505. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anndiagpath.2020.151505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2019] [Accepted: 03/03/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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21
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White-Gilbertson S, Voelkel-Johnson C. Giants and monsters: Unexpected characters in the story of cancer recurrence. Adv Cancer Res 2020; 148:201-232. [PMID: 32723564 DOI: 10.1016/bs.acr.2020.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Polyploid giant cancer cells (PGCC) constitute a dangerous subpopulation of cancer cells and are a driving force in cancer recurrence. These unique cells arise from diploid tumor cells in response to stress encountered in the tumor microenvironment or during cancer therapy. PGCC are greatly dedifferentiated, acquire pluripotency, and are able to replicate through a form of asymmetric division called neosis, which results in new populations that are themselves able to differentiate into new cell types or to re-establish tumors. Progeny tend to be more genetically unstable than the founding population due to the dysregulation required to transition through a PGCC state. Therefore, cancers that escape stressors through this mechanism tend to re-emerge with a more aggressive phenotype that is therapy resistant. This review focuses on the clinical significance of PGCC, the need for standardized nomenclature and molecular markers, as well as possible avenues to develop therapies aimed at PGCC and the process of neosis. The biology underlying the development of PGCC including cell cycle checkpoint dysregulation, stress responses, dedifferentiation, stemness and epithelial-mesenchymal transition is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shai White-Gilbertson
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United States
| | - Christina Voelkel-Johnson
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United States.
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22
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Liu J. The "life code": A theory that unifies the human life cycle and the origin of human tumors. Semin Cancer Biol 2020; 60:380-397. [PMID: 31521747 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2019.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2019] [Revised: 09/03/2019] [Accepted: 09/09/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Tumors arise from the transformation of normal stem cells or mature somatic cells. Intriguingly, two types of tumors have been observed by pathologists for centuries: well-differentiated tumors and undifferentiated tumors. Well-differentiated tumors are architecturally similar to the tissues from which they originate, whereas undifferentiated tumors exhibit high nuclear atypia and do not resemble their tissue of origin. The relationship between these two tumor types and the human life cycle has not been clear. Here I propose a unifying theory that explains the processes of transformation of both tumor types with our life cycle. Human life starts with fertilization of an egg by a sperm to form a zygote. The zygote undergoes successive rounds of cleavage division to form blastomeres within the zona pellucida, with progressive decreases in cell size, and the cleaved blastomeres then compact to form a 32-cell or a "64n" morula [n = 1 full set of chromosomes]. Thus early embryogenesis can be interpreted as a progressive increase in ploidy, and if the zona pellucida is considered a cell membrane and cleavage is interpreted as endomitosis, then the 32-cell morula can be considered a multinucleated giant cell (or 64n syncytium). The decrease in cell size is accompanied by an increase in the nuclear-to-cytoplasmic (N/C) ratio, which then selectively activates a combined set of embryonic transcription factors that dedifferentiate the parental genome to a zygotic genome. This process is associated with a morphologic transition from a morula to a blastocyst and formation of an inner cell mass that gives rise to a new embryonic life. If the subsequent differentiation proceeds to complete maturation, then a normal life results. However, if differentiation is blocked at any point along the continuum of primordial germ cell to embryonic maturation to fetal organ maturation, a well-differentiated tumor will develop. Depending on the level of developmental hierarchy at which the stem cell differentiation is blocked, the resulting tumor can range from highly malignant to benign. Undifferentiated tumors are derived from mature somatic cells through dedifferentiation via a recently described reprogramming mechanism named the giant cell life cycle or the giant cell cycle. This mechanism can initiate "somatic embryogenesis" via an increase in ploidy ranging from 4n to 64n or more, similar to that in normal embryogenesis. This dedifferentiation mechanism is initiated through an endocycle and is followed by endomitosis, which leads to the formation of mononucleated or multinucleated polyploid giant cancer cells (PGCCs), that is, cancer stem-like cells that mimic the blastomere-stage embryo. The giant cell life cycle leads to progressive increases in the N/C ratio and awakens the suppressed embryonic reprogram, resulting in mature somatic transformation into undifferentiated tumors. Thus, the increase in ploidy explains not only normal embryogenesis for well-differentiated tumors but also "somatic embryogenesis" for undifferentiated tumors. I refer to this ploidy increase as the 'life code". The concept of the "life code" may provide a simple theoretical framework to guide our immense efforts to understand cancer and fight this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinsong Liu
- Department of Anatomic Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, TX, 77030, United States.
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23
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Dong Q, Xing X, Han Y, Wei X, Zhang S. De Novo Organelle Biogenesis in the Cyanobacterium TDX16 Released from the Green Alga <i>Haematococcus pluvialis</i>. Cell 2020. [DOI: 10.4236/cellbio.2020.91003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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24
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Amend SR, Torga G, Lin KC, Kostecka LG, de Marzo A, Austin RH, Pienta KJ. Polyploid giant cancer cells: Unrecognized actuators of tumorigenesis, metastasis, and resistance. Prostate 2019; 79:1489-1497. [PMID: 31376205 PMCID: PMC6706309 DOI: 10.1002/pros.23877] [Citation(s) in RCA: 96] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2019] [Accepted: 06/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Cancer led to the deaths of more than 9 million people worldwide in 2018, and most of these deaths were due to metastatic tumor burden. While in most cases, we still do not know why cancer is lethal, we know that a total tumor burden of 1 kg-equivalent to one trillion cells-is not compatible with life. While localized disease is curable through surgical removal or radiation, once cancer has spread, it is largely incurable. The inability to cure metastatic cancer lies, at least in part, to the fact that cancer is resistant to all known compounds and anticancer drugs. The source of this resistance remains undefined. In fact, the vast majority of metastatic cancers are resistant to all currently available anticancer therapies, including chemotherapy, hormone therapy, immunotherapy, and systemic radiation. Thus, despite decades-even centuries-of research, metastatic cancer remains lethal and incurable. We present historical and contemporary evidence that the key actuators of this process-of tumorigenesis, metastasis, and therapy resistance-are polyploid giant cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah R. Amend
- Department of Urology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
| | - Gonzalo Torga
- Department of Urology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
| | | | - Laurie G. Kostecka
- Department of Urology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
- Cellular and Molecular Medicine Program, Johns Hopkins University
| | - Angelo de Marzo
- Depatment of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
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25
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Formation of Polyploid Giant Cancer Cells Involves in the Prognostic Value of Neoadjuvant Chemoradiation in Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer. JOURNAL OF ONCOLOGY 2019; 2019:2316436. [PMID: 31558902 PMCID: PMC6735173 DOI: 10.1155/2019/2316436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2019] [Revised: 07/09/2019] [Accepted: 07/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
We previously reported that polyploid giant cancer cells (PGCCs) exhibit cancer stem cell properties and can generate daughter cells with the epithelial-mesenchymal transition phenotype. This study investigated the role of PGCC formation in the prognostic value of neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy (nCRT) in locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC). The morphological characteristics were observed in patients with LARC after nCRT. Colorectal cancer cell lines were treated with irradiation or chemotherapeutic drugs, and the metastasis-related proteins were detected. 304 nCRT cases and 301 paired non-nCRT cases were collected for analysis. More PGCCs and morphologic characteristics related to invasion and metastasis appeared in tumor tissue after nCRT. Irradiation or chemicals could induce the formation of PGCCs with daughter cells exhibiting strong migratory, invasive, and proliferation abilities. In patients after nCRT, pathologic complete remission, partial remission, stable disease, and progressive disease were observed in 29 (9.54%), 125 (41.12%), 138 (45.39%), and 12 (3.95%) patients, respectively. Mucinous adenocarcinomas (MCs) occurred more frequently in nCRT than in non-nCRT patients (χ 2 = 29.352, P=0.001), and the prognosis in MC patients was worse than that in non-MC patients (χ 2 = 24.617, P=0.001). The difference in survival time had statistical significance for 60 days (χ 2 = 5.357, P=0.021) and 70 days (χ 2 = 18.830, P=0.001) rest interval time. On multivariable analysis, 60 days rest interval, Duke's stage, and recurrence and/or distant metastasis remained significant predictors of survival. In conclusion, irradiation or chemicals induce the formation of PGCCs and PGCCs produce daughter cells with strong migration and invasion abilities after a long incubation period. Appropriate rest interval (incubation period) is very important for patients with LARC who will receive nCRT.
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26
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Fei F, Li C, Cao Y, Liu K, Du J, Gu Y, Wang X, Li Y, Zhang S. CK7 expression associates with the location, differentiation, lymph node metastasis, and the Dukes' stage of primary colorectal cancers. J Cancer 2019; 10:2510-2519. [PMID: 31258757 PMCID: PMC6584339 DOI: 10.7150/jca.29397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2018] [Accepted: 04/13/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose: Most colorectal cancers (CRCs) show positive immunohistochemical (IHC) staining for CK20 and negative staining for CK7. However, in clinical settings, some CRCs show positive IHC staining for CK7, and the clinicopathological significance of this needs to be studied. This study investigated the clinicopathological significance of CK7 positivity in CRCs. Materials and Methods: A total of 178 patients with CRC were used to study the clinicopathological significance of CK7 positivity. Western blotting and immunocytochemical (ICC) staining were used to compare the expression levels of CK7 before and after CoCl2 treatment. Results: CK7 expression was associated with the location, differentiation, lymph node metastasis, and the Dukes' stage of CRCs. CK7 positive cells were mainly distributed at the edge of cancer nests, at the invasion front, as single stromal polyploid giant cancer cells (PGCCs), in tumor buds, in intravascular tumor emboli, and in a micropapillary pattern. Results of ICC staining showed that CK7 expression was almost negative in LoVo and HCT116 before CoCl2 treatment. After CoCl2 treatment, the PGCCs and their daughter cells of LoVo and HCT116 yielded positive results in CK7 ICC staining. Results of western blotting also confirmed that there was higher CK7 expression in LoVo and HCT116 after CoCl2 treatment than in the control. Conclusion: CRC cells expressing CK7 may have strong invasive and metastatic abilities. Some metastasis-related morphological characteristics in CRCs including the invasion front, micropapillary pattern, tumor emboli, and single stromal PGCCs associated with CK7 positive expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei Fei
- Nankai University School of Medicine, Nankai University, Tianjin, P.R. China.,Department of Pathology, Tianjin Union Medical Center, Tianjin, P.R. China
| | - Chunyuan Li
- Nankai University School of Medicine, Nankai University, Tianjin, P.R. China.,Department of Pathology, Tianjin Union Medical Center, Tianjin, P.R. China
| | - Yuan Cao
- Department of Pathology, Tianjin Union Medical Center, Tianjin, P.R. China
| | - Kai Liu
- Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, P.R. China
| | - Jiaxing Du
- Graduate School, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, P.R. China
| | - Yanjun Gu
- Department of pathology, Affiliated Hospital of Logistic University of People's Armed Police Force, Tianjin, P.R. China
| | - Xinlu Wang
- Graduate School, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, P.R. China
| | - Yuwei Li
- Departments of colorectal surgery, Tianjin Union Medical Center, Tianjin, P.R. China
| | - Shiwu Zhang
- Nankai University School of Medicine, Nankai University, Tianjin, P.R. China.,Department of Pathology, Tianjin Union Medical Center, Tianjin, P.R. China
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Abstract
Background The origin of cancer cells is the most fundamental yet unresolved problem in cancer research. Cancer cells are thought to be transformed from the normal cells. However, recent studies reveal that the primary cancer cells (PCCs) for cancer initiation and secondary cancer cells (SCCs) for cancer progression are formed in but not transformed from the senescent normal and cancer cells, respectively. Nevertheless, the cellular mechanism of PCCs/SCCs formation is unclear. Here, based on the evidences (1) the nascent PCCs/SCCs are small and organelle-less resembling bacteria; (2) our finding that the cyanobacterium TDX16 acquires its algal host DNA and turns into a new alga TDX16-DE by de novo organelle biogenesis, and (3) PCCs/SCCs formations share striking similarities with TDX16 development and transition, we propose the bacterial origin of cancer cells (BOCC). Presentation of the hypothesis The intracellular bacteria take up the DNAs of the senescent/necrotic normal cells/PCCs and then develop into PCCs/SCCs by hybridizing the acquired DNAs with their own ones and expressing the hybrid genomes. Testing the hypothesis BOCC can be confirmed by testing BOCC-based predictions, such as normal cells with no intracellular bacteria can not "transform" into cancer cells in any conditions. Implications of the hypothesis According to BOCC theory: (1) cancer cells are new single-celled eukaryotes, which is why the hallmarks of cancer are mostly the characteristics of protists; (2) genetic changes and instabilities are not the causes, but the consequences of cancer cell formation; and (3) the common role of carcinogens, infectious agents and relating factors is inducing or related to cellular senescence rather than mutations. Therefore, BOCC theory provides new rationale and direction for cancer research, prevention and therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing-Lin Dong
- Department of Bioengineering, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin, 300130 China
| | - Xiang-Ying Xing
- Department of Bioengineering, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin, 300130 China
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28
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Clinical characteristics and preliminary morphological observation of 47 cases of primary anorectal malignant melanomas. Melanoma Res 2018; 28:592-599. [DOI: 10.1097/cmr.0000000000000491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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29
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Abstract
Life starts with a zygote, which is formed by the fusion of a haploid sperm and egg. The formation of a blastomere by cleavage division (nuclear division without an increase in cell size) is the first step in embryogenesis, after the formation of the zygote. Blastomeres are responsible for reprogramming the parental genome as a new embryonic genome for generation of the pluripotent stem cells which then differentiate by Waddington's epigenetic landscape to create a new life. Multiple authors over the past 150 years have proposed that tumors arises from development gone awry at a point within Waddington's landscape. Recent discoveries showing that differentiated somatic cells can be reprogrammed into induced pluripotent stem cells, and that somatic cell nuclear transfer can be used to successfully clone animals, have fundamentally reshaped our understanding of tumor development and origin. Differentiated somatic cells are plastic and can be induced to dedifferentiate into pluripotent stem cells. Here, I review the evidence that suggests somatic cells may have a previously overlooked endogenous embryonic program that can be activated to dedifferentiate somatic cells into stem cells of various potencies for tumor initiation. Polyploid giant cancer cells (PGCCs) have long been observed in cancer and were thought originally to be nondividing. Contrary to this belief, recent findings show that stress-induced PGCCs divide by endoreplication, which may recapitulate the pattern of cleavage-like division in blastomeres and lead to dedifferentiation of somatic cells by a programmed process known as "the giant cell cycle", which comprise four distinct but overlapping phases: initiation, self-renewal, termination and stability. Depending on the intensity and type of stress, different levels of dedifferentiation result in the formation of tumors of different grades of malignancy. Based on these results, I propose a unified dualistic model to demonstrate the origin of human tumors. The tenet of this model includes four points, as follows. 1. Tumors originate from a stem cell at a specific developmental hierarchy, which can be achieved by dualistic origin: dedifferentiation of the zygote formed by two haploid gametes (sexual reproduction) via the blastomere during normal development, or transformation from damaged or aged mature somatic cells via a blastomere-like embryonic program (asexual reproduction). 2. Initiation of the tumor begins with a stem cell that has uncoupled the differentiation from the proliferation program which results in stem cell maturation arrest. 3. The developmental hierarchy at which stem cells arrest determines the degree of malignancy: the more primitive the level at which stem cells arrest, the greater the likelihood of the tumor being malignant. 4. Environmental factors and intrinsic genetic or epigenetic alterations represent the risk factors or stressors that facilitate stem cell arrest and somatic cell dedifferentiation. However, they, per se, are not the driving force of tumorigenesis. Thus, the birth of a tumor can be viewed as a triad that originates from a stem cell via dedifferentiation through a blastomere or blastomere-like program, which then differentiates along Waddington's landscape, and arrests at a developmental hierarchy. Blocking the PGCC-mediated dedifferentiation process and inducing their differentiation may represent a novel alternative approach to eliminate the tumor occurrence and therapeutic resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinsong Liu
- Department of Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, TX 77030-4095, United States.
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30
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Xuan B, Ghosh D, Cheney EM, Clifton EM, Dawson MR. Dysregulation in Actin Cytoskeletal Organization Drives Increased Stiffness and Migratory Persistence in Polyploidal Giant Cancer Cells. Sci Rep 2018; 8:11935. [PMID: 30093656 PMCID: PMC6085392 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-29817-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2018] [Accepted: 07/16/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Polyploidal giant cancer cells (PGCCs) have been observed by pathologists in patient tumor samples and are especially prominent in late stage, high grade disease or after chemotherapy. However, they are often overlooked due to their apparent dormancy. Recent research has shown PGCCs to be chemoresistant and express stem-like features, traits associated with disease progression and relapse. Here, we show the preferential survival of PGCCs during Paclitaxel (PTX) treatment and used multiple particle tracking analysis to probe their unique biophysical phenotype. We show that PGCCs have higher inherent cytoplasmic and nuclear stiffness in order to withstand the mechanical stress associated with their increased size and the chemical stress from PTX treatment. Inhibitor studies show the involvement of a dysregulated RhoA-Rock1 pathway and overall actin cytoskeletal network as the underlying mechanism for the altered biophysical phenotype of PGCCs. Furthermore, PGCCs exhibit a slow but persistent migratory phenotype, a trait commonly associated with metastatic dissemination and invasiveness. This work demonstrates the clinical relevance and the need to study this subpopulation, in order to devise therapeutic strategies to combat disease relapse. By highlighting the unique biophysical phenotype of PGCCs, we hope to provide unique avenues for therapeutic targeting of these cells in disease treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Botai Xuan
- Brown University, Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Physiology, and Biotechnology, Providence, 02912, USA
| | - Deepraj Ghosh
- Brown University, Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Physiology, and Biotechnology, Providence, 02912, USA
| | - Emily M Cheney
- Brown University, Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Physiology, and Biotechnology, Providence, 02912, USA
| | - Elizabeth M Clifton
- Brown University, Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Physiology, and Biotechnology, Providence, 02912, USA
| | - Michelle R Dawson
- Brown University, Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Physiology, and Biotechnology, Providence, 02912, USA.
- Brown University, Center for Biomedical Engineering, Providence, 02912, USA.
- Brown University, School of Engineering, Providence, 02912, USA.
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31
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Yang Z, Yao H, Fei F, Li Y, Qu J, Li C, Zhang S. Generation of erythroid cells from polyploid giant cancer cells: re-thinking about tumor blood supply. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 2018; 144:617-627. [PMID: 29417259 DOI: 10.1007/s00432-018-2598-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2017] [Accepted: 01/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION During development and tumor progression, cells need a sufficient blood supply to maintain development and rapid growth. It is reported that there are three patterns of blood supply for tumor growth: endothelium-dependent vessels, mosaic vessels, and vasculogenic mimicry (VM). VM was first reported in highly aggressive uveal melanomas, with tumor cells mimicking the presence and function of endothelial cells forming the walls of VM vessels. The walls of mosaic vessels are randomly lined with both endothelial cells and tumor cells. We previously proposed a three-stage process, beginning with VM, progressing to mosaic vessels, and eventually leading to endothelium-dependent vessels. However, many phenomena unique to VM channel formation remain to be elucidated, such as the origin of erythrocytes before VM vessels connect with endothelium-dependent vessels. RESULTS In adults, erythroid cells are generally believed to be generated from hematopoietic stem cells in the bone marrow. In contrast, embryonic tissue obtains oxygen through formation of blood islands, which are largely composed of embryonic hemoglobin with a higher affinity with oxygen, in the absence of mature erythrocytes. Recent data from our laboratory suggest that embryonic blood-forming mechanisms also exist in cancer tissue, particularly when these tissues are under environmental stress such as hypoxia. We review the evidence from induced pluripotent stem cells in vitro and in vivo to support this previously underappreciated cell functionality in normal and cancer cells, including the ability to generate erythroid cells. We will also summarize the current understanding of tumor angiogenesis, VM, and our recent work on polyploid giant cancer cells, with emphasis on their ability to generate erythroid cells and their association with tumor growth under hypoxia. CONCLUSION An alternative embryonic pathway to obtain oxygen in cancer cells exists, particularly when they are under hypoxic conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhigang Yang
- Departments of Pathology, Baodi Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Baodi District, Tianjin, 300121, People's Republic of China
| | - Hong Yao
- Department of thoracic Surgery, Tianjin Union Medical Center, Tianjin, 300121, People's Republic of China
| | - Fei Fei
- Nankai University School of Medicine, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, People's Republic of China
- Department of Pathology, Tianjin Union Medical Center, Jieyuan Road, Hongqiao District, Tianjin, 300121, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuwei Li
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Tianjin Union Medical Center, Tianjin, 300121, People's Republic of China
| | - Jie Qu
- Nankai University School of Medicine, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, People's Republic of China
- Department of Pathology, Tianjin Union Medical Center, Jieyuan Road, Hongqiao District, Tianjin, 300121, People's Republic of China
| | - Chunyuan Li
- Nankai University School of Medicine, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, People's Republic of China
- Department of Pathology, Tianjin Union Medical Center, Jieyuan Road, Hongqiao District, Tianjin, 300121, People's Republic of China
| | - Shiwu Zhang
- Department of Pathology, Tianjin Union Medical Center, Jieyuan Road, Hongqiao District, Tianjin, 300121, People's Republic of China.
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32
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Niu N, Mercado-Uribe I, Liu J. Dedifferentiation into blastomere-like cancer stem cells via formation of polyploid giant cancer cells. Oncogene 2017; 36:4887-4900. [PMID: 28436947 PMCID: PMC5582213 DOI: 10.1038/onc.2017.72] [Citation(s) in RCA: 169] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2016] [Revised: 02/08/2017] [Accepted: 02/17/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Our recent perplexing findings that polyploid giant cancer cells (PGCCs) acquired embryonic-like stemness and were capable of tumor initiation raised two important unanswered questions: how do PGCCs acquire such stemness, and to which stage of normal development do PGCCs correspond. Intriguingly, formation of giant cells due to failed mitosis/cytokinesis is common in the blastomere stage of the preimplantation embryo. However, the relationship between PGCCs and giant blastomeres has never been studied. Here, we tracked the fate of single PGCCs following paclitaxel-induced mitotic failure. Morphologically, early spheroids derived from PGCCs were indistinguishable from human embryos at the blastomere, polyploid blastomere, compaction, morula and blastocyst-like stages by light, scanning electron or three-dimensional confocal scanning microscopy. Formation of PGCCs was associated with activation of senescence, while budding of daughter cells was associated with senescence escape. PGCCs showed time- and space-dependent activation of expression of the embryonic stem cell markers OCT4, NANOG, SOX2 and SSEA1 and lacked expression of Xist. PGCCs acquired mesenchymal phenotype and were capable of differentiation into all three germ layers in vitro. The embryonic-like stemness of PGCCs was associated with nuclear accumulation of YAP, a key mediator of the Hippo pathway. Spheroids derived from single PGCCs grew into a wide spectrum of human neoplasms, including germ cell tumors, high-grade and low-grade carcinomas and benign tissues. Daughter cells derived from PGCCs showed attenuated capacity for invasion and increased resistance to paclitaxel. We also observed formation of PGCCs and dedifferentiation in ovarian cancer specimens from patients treated with chemotherapy. Taken together, our findings demonstrate that PGCCs represent somatic equivalents of blastomeres, the most primitive cancer stem cells reported to date. Thus, our studies reveal an evolutionarily conserved archaic embryonic program in somatic cells that can be de-repressed for oncogenesis. Our work offers a new paradigm for cancer origin and disease relapse.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Niu
- Departments of Pathology, Molecular and Cellular Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - I Mercado-Uribe
- Departments of Pathology, Molecular and Cellular Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - J Liu
- Departments of Pathology, Molecular and Cellular Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
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33
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Niu N, Zhang J, Zhang N, Mercado-Uribe I, Tao F, Han Z, Pathak S, Multani AS, Kuang J, Yao J, Bast RC, Sood AK, Hung MC, Liu J. Linking genomic reorganization to tumor initiation via the giant cell cycle. Oncogenesis 2016; 5:e281. [PMID: 27991913 PMCID: PMC5177773 DOI: 10.1038/oncsis.2016.75] [Citation(s) in RCA: 103] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2016] [Revised: 10/19/2016] [Accepted: 10/23/2016] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
To investigate the mechanisms underlying our recent paradoxical finding that mitotically incapacitated and genomically unstable polyploid giant cancer cells (PGCCs) are capable of tumor initiation, we labeled ovarian cancer cells with α-tubulin fused to green fluorescent protein, histone-2B fused to red fluorescent protein and FUCCI (fluorescent ubiquitination cell cycle indicator), and tracked the spatial and time-dependent change in spindle and chromosomal dynamics of PGCCs using live-cell fluorescence time-lapse recording. We found that single-dose (500 nm) treatment with paclitaxel paradoxically initiated endoreplication to form PGCCs after massive cell death. The resulting PGCCs continued self-renewal via endoreplication and further divided by nuclear budding or fragmentation; the small daughter nuclei then acquired cytoplasm, split off from the giant mother cells and acquired competency in mitosis. FUCCI showed that PGCCs divided via truncated endoreplication cell cycle (endocycle or endomitosis). Confocal microscopy showed that PGCCs had pronounced nuclear fragmentation and lacked expression of key mitotic proteins. PGCC-derived daughter cells were capable of long-term proliferation and acquired numerous new genome/chromosome alterations demonstrated by spectral karyotyping. These data prompt us to conceptualize a giant cell cycle composed of four distinct but overlapping phases, initiation, self-renewal, termination and stability. The giant cell cycle may represent a fundamental cellular mechanism to initiate genomic reorganization to generate new tumor-initiating cells in response to chemotherapy-induced stress and contributes to disease relapse.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Niu
- Department of Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - J Zhang
- Department of Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - N Zhang
- Department of Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - I Mercado-Uribe
- Department of Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - F Tao
- Department of Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Z Han
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - S Pathak
- Department of Genetics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - A S Multani
- Department of Genetics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - J Kuang
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - J Yao
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - R C Bast
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - A K Sood
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology and Reproductive Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - M-C Hung
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.,Center for Molecular Medicine and Graduate Institute of Cancer Biology, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - J Liu
- Department of Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.,Department of Molecular and Cellular Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
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Tumor Budding, Micropapillary Pattern, and Polyploidy Giant Cancer Cells in Colorectal Cancer: Current Status and Future Prospects. Stem Cells Int 2016; 2016:4810734. [PMID: 27843459 PMCID: PMC5097820 DOI: 10.1155/2016/4810734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2016] [Accepted: 09/29/2016] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
We previously reported that polyploid giant cancer cells (PGCGs) induced by CoCl2 could form through endoreduplication or cell fusion. A single PGCC formed tumors in immunodeficient mice. PGCCs are also the key contributors to the cellular atypia and associate with the malignant grade of tumors. PGCCs have the properties of cancer stem cells and produce daughter cells via asymmetric cell division. Compared with diploid cancer cells, these daughter cells express less epithelial markers and acquire mesenchymal phenotype with importance in cancer development and progression. Tumor budding is generally recognized to correlate with a high recurrence rate, lymph node metastasis, chemoresistance, and poor prognosis of colorectal cancers (CRCs) and is a good indicator to predict the metastasis and aggressiveness in CRCs. Micropapillary pattern is a special morphologic pattern and also associates with tumor metastasis and poor prognosis. There are similar morphologic features and molecular phenotypes among tumor budding, micropapillary carcinoma pattern, and PGCCs with their budding daughter cells and all of them show strong ability of tumor invasion and migration. In this review, we discuss the cancer stem cell properties of PGCCs, the molecular mechanisms of their regulation, and the relationships with tumor budding and micropapillary pattern in CRCs.
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