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Tecalco-Cruz AC, Ramírez-Jarquín JO, Macías-Silva M, Sosa-Garrocho M, López-Camarillo C. Novel Breast Cancer Treatment by Targeting Estrogen Receptor-Alpha Stability Using Proteolysis-Targeting Chimeras (PROTACs) Technology. Breast Cancer 2022. [DOI: 10.36255/exon-publications-breast-cancer-protacs] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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Karmakar A, Ahamad Khan MM, Kumari N, Devarajan N, Ganesan SK. Identification of Epigenetically Modified Hub Genes and Altered Pathways Associated With Retinoblastoma. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:743224. [PMID: 35359459 PMCID: PMC8960645 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.743224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2021] [Accepted: 02/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Retinoblastoma (Rb) is the most common childhood malignancy initiated by biallelic mutation in RB1 gene and driven by various epigenetic events including DNA methylation and microRNA dysregulation. Hence, understanding the key genes that are critically modulated by epigenetic modifications in RB1−/− cells is very important to identify prominent biomarkers and therapeutic targets of Rb. In this study, we for the first time have integrated various Rb microarray NCBI-GEO datasets including DNA Methylation (GSE57362), miRNA (GSE7072) and mRNA (GSE110811) to comprehensively investigate the epigenetic consequences of RB loss in retinoblastoma tumors and identify genes with the potential to serve as early diagnostic markers and therapeutic targets for Rb. Interestingly, the GEO2R and co-expression network analysis have identified three genes namely E2F3, ESR1, and UNC5D that are significantly deregulated by modified DNA methylation, mRNA and microRNA expression in Rb tumors. Due to their recognition in all epigenetic, transcriptomic, and miRNA datasets, we have termed these genes as “common genes”. The results of our integrative bioinformatics analysis were validated in vitro by studying the gene and protein expression of these common genes in Y79, WERI-Rb-1, Rb cell lines and non-tumorigenic retinal pigment epithelial cell line (hTERT-RPE). The expression of E2F3 and UNC5D were up-regulated and that of ESR1 was down-regulated in Rb tumor cells when compared to that in non-tumorigenic hTERT-RPE cells. More importantly, UNC5D, a potent tumor suppressor gene in most cancers is significantly up-regulated in Y79 and Weri Rb1 cells, which, in turn, questions its anti-cancer properties. Together, our study shows that E2F3, ESR1, and UNC5D may be crucially involved in Rb tumorigenesis and possess the potential to act as early diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets of Rb.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aditi Karmakar
- Department of Structural Biology and Bioinformatics, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Kolkata, India
- CSIR-IICB Translational Research Unit of Excellence (TRUE), Kolkata, India
| | - Md. Maqsood Ahamad Khan
- Centre of Bioinformatics, Institute of Interdisciplinary Studies, University of Allahabad, Prayagraj, India
| | - Nidhi Kumari
- Department of Structural Biology and Bioinformatics, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Kolkata, India
- CSIR-IICB Translational Research Unit of Excellence (TRUE), Kolkata, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, India
| | - Nalini Devarajan
- Central Research Laboratory, Meenakshi Academy of Higher Education and Research, Chennai, India
- *Correspondence: Nalini Devarajan, ; Senthil Kumar Ganesan,
| | - Senthil Kumar Ganesan
- Department of Structural Biology and Bioinformatics, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Kolkata, India
- CSIR-IICB Translational Research Unit of Excellence (TRUE), Kolkata, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, India
- *Correspondence: Nalini Devarajan, ; Senthil Kumar Ganesan,
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Tecalco-Cruz AC, Macías-Silva M, Ramírez-Jarquín JO, Ramírez-Jarquín UN. Decoding the Therapeutic Implications of the ERα Stability and Subcellular Distribution in Breast Cancer. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2022; 13:867448. [PMID: 35498431 PMCID: PMC9044904 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2022.867448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2022] [Accepted: 03/03/2022] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Approximately 70% of all breast cancer cases are estrogen receptor-alpha positive (ERα+) and any ERα signaling pathways deregulation is critical for the progression of malignant mammary neoplasia. ERα acts as a transcription factor that promotes the expression of estrogen target genes associated with pro-tumor activity in breast cancer cells. Furthermore, ERα is also part of extranuclear signaling pathways related to endocrine resistance. The regulation of ERα subcellular distribution and protein stability is critical to regulate its functions and, consequently, influence the response to endocrine therapies and progression of this pathology. This minireview highlights studies that have deciphered the molecular mechanisms implicated in controlling ERα stability and nucleo-cytoplasmic transport. These mechanisms offer information about novel biomarkers, therapeutic targets, and promising strategies for breast cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angeles C. Tecalco-Cruz
- Posgrado en Ciencias Genómicas, Universidad Autónoma de la Ciudad de México (UACM), Mexico City, Mexico
- *Correspondence: Angeles C. Tecalco-Cruz, ; Marina Macías-Silva,
| | - Marina Macías-Silva
- Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Mexico City, Mexico
- *Correspondence: Angeles C. Tecalco-Cruz, ; Marina Macías-Silva,
| | | | - Uri Nimrod Ramírez-Jarquín
- Neural Signal Transduction, Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience, Jupiter, FL, United States
- Instituto Nacional de Cardiología “Ignacio Chávez”, Mexico City, Mexico
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Tecalco-Cruz AC, Zepeda-Cervantes J, Ramírez-Jarquín JO, Rojas-Ochoa A. Proteolysis-targeting chimeras and their implications in breast cancer. EXPLORATION OF TARGETED ANTI-TUMOR THERAPY 2021; 2:496-510. [PMID: 36046115 PMCID: PMC9400758 DOI: 10.37349/etat.2021.00060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer (BC) is a highly heterogeneous neoplasm of the mammary tissue, causing the deaths of a large number of women worldwide. Nearly 70% and 20% of BC cases are estrogen receptor alpha positive (ERα+) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive (HER2+), respectively; therefore, ER and HER2 targeted therapies have been employed in BC treatment. However, resistance to these therapies has been reported, indicating a need for developing novel therapeutic strategies. Proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs) are new, promising therapeutic tools designed with a bimodular structure: one module allows specific binding to target proteins, and the other module allows efficient degradation of these target proteins. In this paper, PROTACs and their potential in controlling the progression of ERα and HER2+ BC are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angeles C. Tecalco-Cruz
- Posgrado en Ciencias Genómicas, Universidad Autónoma de la Ciudad de México (UACM), CDMX, Mexico City 03100, Mexico
| | - Jesús Zepeda-Cervantes
- Departamento de Microbiología e Inmunología, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), CDMX, Mexico City 04510, Mexico
| | - Josué O. Ramírez-Jarquín
- Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), CDMX, Mexico City 04500, Mexico
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Crucitta S, Cucchiara F, Sciandra F, Cerbioni A, Diodati L, Rafaniello C, Capuano A, Fontana A, Fogli S, Danesi R, Re MD. Pharmacological Basis of Breast Cancer Resistance to Therapies - An Overview. Anticancer Agents Med Chem 2021; 22:760-774. [PMID: 34348634 DOI: 10.2174/1871520621666210804100547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2020] [Revised: 04/13/2021] [Accepted: 07/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Breast cancer (BC) is a molecular heterogeneous disease and often patients with similar clinico-pathological characteristics may display different response to treatment. Cellular processes, including uncontrolled cell-cycle, constitutive activation of signalling pathways parallel to or downstream of HER2 and alterations in DNA-repair mechanisms are the main features altered in the tumor. These cellular processes play significant roles in the emergence of therapy resistance. The introduction of target therapies as well as immunotherapies has improved the management of breast cancer. Furthermore, several therapeutic options are available to overcome resistance and physicians could overcome the challenge of resistant BC using combinatorial drug strategies and incorporating novel biomarkers. Molecular profiling promises to help in refine personalized treatment decisions and catalyse the development of further strategies when resistances inevitably occur. The search for biological explanations for treatment failure helps to clarify the phenomenon and allows to incorporate new biomarkers into clinical practice that can lead to adequate solutions to overcome it. This review provides a summary of genetic and molecular aspects of resistance mechanisms to available treatments for BC patients, and its clinical implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefania Crucitta
- Unit of Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacogenetics, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University Hospital of Pisa, Pisa. Italy
| | - Federico Cucchiara
- Unit of Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacogenetics, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University Hospital of Pisa, Pisa. Italy
| | - Francesca Sciandra
- Unit of Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacogenetics, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University Hospital of Pisa, Pisa. Italy
| | - Annalisa Cerbioni
- Unit of Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacogenetics, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University Hospital of Pisa, Pisa. Italy
| | - Lucrezia Diodati
- Unit of Medical Oncology, Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine, University of Pisa. Italy
| | - Concetta Rafaniello
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples. Italy
| | - Annalisa Capuano
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples. Italy
| | - Andrea Fontana
- Unit of Medical Oncology, Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine, University of Pisa. Italy
| | - Stefano Fogli
- Unit of Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacogenetics, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University Hospital of Pisa, Pisa. Italy
| | - Romano Danesi
- Unit of Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacogenetics, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University Hospital of Pisa, Pisa. Italy
| | - Marzia Del Re
- Unit of Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacogenetics, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University Hospital of Pisa, Pisa. Italy
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Iwabuchi E, Miki Y, Suzuki T, Hirakawa H, Ishida T, Sasano H. Heterogeneous Nuclear Ribonucleoprotein K Is Involved in the Estrogen-Signaling Pathway in Breast Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22052581. [PMID: 33806648 PMCID: PMC7962001 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22052581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2020] [Revised: 02/24/2021] [Accepted: 03/01/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein K (hnRNPK) transcripts are abundant in estrogen receptor (ER)- or progesterone receptor (PR)-positive breast cancer. However, the biological functions of hnRNPK in the ER-mediated signaling pathway have remained largely unknown. Therefore, this study analyzes the functions of hnRNPK expression in the ER-mediated signaling pathway in breast cancer. We initially evaluated hnRNPK expression upon treatment with estradiol (E2) and ICI 182,780 in the ERα-positive breast carcinoma cell line MCF-7. The results revealed that E2 increased hnRNPK; however, hnRNPK expression was decreased with ICI 182,780 treatment, indicating estrogen dependency. We further evaluated the effects of hnRNPK knockdown in the ER-mediated signaling pathway in MCF-7 cells using small interfering RNAs. The results revealed that hnRNPK knockdown decreased ERα expression and ERα target gene pS2 by E2 treatment. As hnRNPK interacts with several other proteins, we explored the interaction between hnRNPK and ERα, which was demonstrated using immunoprecipitation and proximity ligation assay. Subsequently, we immunolocalized hnRNPK in patients with breast cancer, which revealed that hnRNPK immunoreactivity was significantly higher in ERα-positive carcinoma cells and significantly lower in Ki67-positive or proliferative carcinoma cells. These results indicated that hnRNPK directly interacted with ERα and was involved in the ER-mediated signaling pathway in breast carcinoma. Furthermore, hnRNPK expression could be an additional target of endocrine therapy in patients with ERα-positive breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erina Iwabuchi
- Department of Pathology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai 980-8575, Japan;
| | - Yasuhiro Miki
- Department of Disaster Obstetrics and Gynecology, International Research Institute of Disaster Science (IRIDes), Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8575, Japan;
| | - Takashi Suzuki
- Department of Pathology and Histotechnology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai 980-8575, Japan;
| | - Hisashi Hirakawa
- Department of Surgery, Tohoku Kosai Hospital, Sendai 980-0803, Japan;
| | - Takanori Ishida
- Department of Breast and Endocrine Surgical Oncology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai 980-8575, Japan;
| | - Hironobu Sasano
- Department of Pathology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai 980-8575, Japan;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +81-22-717-8050
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Lin M, Wang YN, Ye Y, Xiong Z, Guo F, Chen H. DNAJC12 as a Mediator Between ESR1 and ERBB4 in Breast Carcinoma Cells. Front Oncol 2021; 11:582277. [PMID: 33718139 PMCID: PMC7943744 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.582277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2020] [Accepted: 01/05/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Mutation of the DNAJC12 gene is typically associated with non-progressive Parkinsonism, but is also detectable in breast carcinoma where its contribution and mechanisms are unexplored. In breast carcinoma, ESR1 was positively correlated with DNAJC12 and ERBB4, and DNAJC12 was positively correlated with ERBB4. We used the GEO2R tool to compare differential gene expression of MCF-7 cells, following ESR1 knockdown (GEO database, E-GEOD-27473 array), and found decreased expression of DNAJC12 and ERBB4 in ESR1-silenced MCF-7 cells. The number of identical genes having correlativity with ESR1, DNAJC12, or ERBB4 was 12,165 (66.41%). These results suggest that ESR1 can promote the expression of DNAJC12 and ERBB4, and DNAJC12 can enhance the expression of ERBB4 in MCF-7 cells, implying that there may be a regulatory network among these three genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mianjie Lin
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Breast Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
| | - Ya-Nan Wang
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
| | - Yixin Ye
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
| | - Zhelei Xiong
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
| | - Fengbiao Guo
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
| | - Haibin Chen
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Breast Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
- *Correspondence: Haibin Chen,
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CTCs Expression Profiling for Advanced Breast Cancer Monitoring. Cancers (Basel) 2019; 11:cancers11121941. [PMID: 31817194 PMCID: PMC6966538 DOI: 10.3390/cancers11121941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2019] [Revised: 11/18/2019] [Accepted: 12/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The study of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) has a huge clinical interest in advance and metastatic breast cancer patients. However, many approaches are biased by the use of epithelial markers, which underestimate non-epithelial CTCs phenotypes. CTCs enumeration provides valuable prognostic information; however, molecular characterization could be the best option to monitor patients throughout the disease since it may provide more relevant clinical information to the physicians. In this work, we aimed at enumerating and performing a molecular characterization of CTCs from a cohort of 20 patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC), monitoring the disease at different time points of the therapy, and at progression when it occurred. To this end, we used a CTC negative enrichment protocol that allowed us to recover a higher variety of CTCs phenotypes. With this strategy, we were able to obtain gene expression data from CTCs from all the patients. In addition, we found that high expression levels of PALB2 and MYC were associated with a worse outcome. Interestingly, we identified that CTCs with an EpCAMhighVIMlowALDH1A1high signature showed both shorter overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS), suggesting that CTCs with epithelial-stem features had the most aggressive phenotype.
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Tecalco-Cruz AC, Ramírez-Jarquín JO, Cruz-Ramos E. Estrogen Receptor Alpha and its Ubiquitination in Breast Cancer Cells. Curr Drug Targets 2019; 20:690-704. [DOI: 10.2174/1389450119666181015114041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2018] [Revised: 10/09/2018] [Accepted: 10/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
More than 70% of all breast cancer cases are estrogen receptor alpha-positive (ERα). ERα is a member of the nuclear receptor family, and its activity is implicated in the gene transcription linked to the proliferation of breast cancer cells, as well as in extranuclear signaling pathways related to the development of resistance to endocrine therapy. Protein-protein interactions and posttranslational modifications of ERα underlie critical mechanisms that modulate its activity. In this review, the relationship between ERα and ubiquitin protein (Ub), was investigated in the context of breast cancer cells. Interestingly, Ub can bind covalently or non-covalently to ERα resulting in either a proteolytic or non-proteolytic fate for this receptor. Thereby, Ub-dependent molecular pathways that modulate ERα signaling may play a central role in breast cancer progression, and consequently, present critical targets for treatment of this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angeles C. Tecalco-Cruz
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomedicas. Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico. Mexico City, 04510, Mexico
| | - Josué O. Ramírez-Jarquín
- Instituto de Fisiologia Celular. Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico. Mexico City, 04510, Mexico
| | - Eduardo Cruz-Ramos
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomedicas. Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico. Mexico City, 04510, Mexico
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Tecalco-Cruz AC, Ramírez-Jarquín JO. Polyubiquitination inhibition of estrogen receptor alpha and its implications in breast cancer. World J Clin Oncol 2018; 9:60-70. [PMID: 30148069 PMCID: PMC6107474 DOI: 10.5306/wjco.v9.i4.60] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2018] [Revised: 06/22/2018] [Accepted: 06/28/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) is detected in more than 70% of the cases of breast cancer. Nuclear activity of ERα, a transcriptional regulator, is linked to the development of mammary tumors, whereas the extranuclear activity of ERα is related to endocrine therapy resistance. ERα polyubiquitination is induced by the estradiol hormone, and also by selective estrogen receptor degraders, resulting in ERα degradation via the ubiquitin proteasome system. Moreover, polyubiquitination is related to the ERα transcription cycle, and some E3-ubiquitin ligases also function as coactivators for ERα. Several studies have demonstrated that ERα polyubiquitination is inhibited by multiple mechanisms that include posttranslational modifications, interactions with coregulators, and formation of specific protein complexes with ERα. These events are responsible for an increase in ERα protein levels and deregulation of its signaling in breast cancers. Thus, ERα polyubiquitination inhibition may be a key factor in the progression of breast cancer and resistance to endocrine therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angeles C Tecalco-Cruz
- Programa de Investigación de Cáncer de Mama (PICM), Departamento de Biología Molecular y Biotecnología, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México 04510, México
| | - Josué O Ramírez-Jarquín
- Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México 04510, México
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Parl FF, Crooke PS, Plummer WD, Dupont WD. Genomic-Epidemiologic Evidence That Estrogens Promote Breast Cancer Development. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2018; 27:899-907. [PMID: 29789325 DOI: 10.1158/1055-9965.epi-17-1174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2017] [Revised: 02/23/2018] [Accepted: 05/14/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Estrogens are a prime risk factor for breast cancer, yet their causal relation to tumor formation remains uncertain. A recent study of 560 breast cancers identified 82 genes with 916 point mutations as drivers in the genesis of this malignancy. Because estrogens play a major role in breast cancer development and are also known to regulate the expression of numerous genes, we hypothesize that the 82 driver genes are likely to be influenced by estrogens, such as 17ß-estradiol (E2), and the estrogen receptor ESR1 (ERα). Because different types of tumors are characterized by unique sets of cancer driver genes, we also argue that the fraction of driver genes regulated by E2-ESR1 is lower in malignancies not associated with estrogens, e.g., acute myeloid leukemia (AML).Methods: We performed a literature search of each driver gene to determine its E2-ESR1 regulation.Results: Fifty-three of the 82 driver genes (64.6%) identified in breast cancers showed evidence of E2-ESR1 regulation. In contrast, only 19 of 54 mutated driver genes (35.2%) identified in AML were linked to E2-ESR1. Among the 916 driver mutations found in breast cancers, 813 (88.8%) were linked to E2-ESR1 compared with 2,046 of 3,833 in AML (53.4%).Conclusions: Risk assessment revealed that mutations in estrogen-regulated genes are much more likely to be associated with elevated breast cancer risk, while mutations in unregulated genes are more likely to be associated with AML.Impact: These results increase the plausibility that estrogens promote breast cancer development. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 27(8); 899-907. ©2018 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fritz F Parl
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee.
| | - Philip S Crooke
- Department of Mathematics, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - W Dale Plummer
- Department of Health Policy, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - William D Dupont
- Department of Health Policy, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee
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Nucleo-cytoplasmic transport of estrogen receptor alpha in breast cancer cells. Cell Signal 2017; 34:121-132. [PMID: 28341599 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellsig.2017.03.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2016] [Revised: 03/19/2017] [Accepted: 03/21/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Approximately 70% cases of breast cancers exhibit high expression and activity levels of estrogen receptor alpha (ERα), a transcription regulator that induces the expression of genes associated with cellular proliferation and survival. These nuclear functions of the receptor are associated with the development of breast cancer. However, ERα localization is not static, but rather, dynamic with continuous shuttling between the nucleus and the cytoplasm. Interestingly, both the nuclear import and export of ERα are modulated by several stimuli that include estradiol, antiestrogens, and growth factors. As ERα nuclear accumulation is critical to the regulation of gene expression, nuclear export of this receptor modulates the intensity and duration of its transcriptional activity. Thus, the subcellular spatial distribution of ERα ensures tight modulation of its concentration in cellular compartments, as well as of its nuclear and extranuclear functions. In this review, we will discuss current findings regarding the biological importance of molecular mechanisms of, and proteins responsible for, the nuclear import and export of ERα in breast cancer cells.
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Tecalco-Cruz AC, Ramírez-Jarquín JO. Mechanisms that Increase Stability of Estrogen Receptor Alpha in Breast Cancer. Clin Breast Cancer 2016; 17:1-10. [PMID: 27561704 DOI: 10.1016/j.clbc.2016.07.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2016] [Revised: 06/29/2016] [Accepted: 07/20/2016] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Estrogen receptor alpha (ER) is a transcriptional regulator that controls the expression of genes related to cellular proliferation and differentiation in normal mammary tissue. However, the expression, abundance, and activity of this receptor are increased in 70% of breast cancers. The ER upregulation is facilitated by several molecular mechanisms, including protein stability, which represents an important strategy to maintain an active and functional repertoire of ER. Several proteins interact and protect ER from degradation by the ubiquitin-proteasome system. Through diverse mechanisms, these proteins prevent polyubiquitination and degradation of ER, leading to an increase in ER protein levels; consequently, estrogen signaling and its physiologic effects are enhanced in breast cancer cells. Thus, increased protein stability seems to be one of the main reasons that ER is upregulated in breast cancer. Here, we highlight findings on the proteins and mechanisms that participate directly or indirectly in ER stability and their relevance to breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angeles C Tecalco-Cruz
- Programa de Investigación de Cáncer de Mama, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México D.F., Mexico.
| | - Josué O Ramírez-Jarquín
- Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México D.F., Mexico
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Loss of the N-terminal methyltransferase NRMT1 increases sensitivity to DNA damage and promotes mammary oncogenesis. Oncotarget 2016; 6:12248-63. [PMID: 25909287 PMCID: PMC4494936 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.3653] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2014] [Accepted: 02/27/2015] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Though discovered over four decades ago, the function of N-terminal methylation has mostly remained a mystery. Our discovery of the first mammalian N-terminal methyltransferase, NRMT1, has led to the discovery of many new functions for N-terminal methylation, including regulation of DNA/protein interactions, accurate mitotic division, and nucleotide excision repair (NER). Here we test whether NRMT1 is also important for DNA double-strand break (DSB) repair, and given its previously known roles in cell cycle regulation and the DNA damage response, assay if NRMT1 is acting as a tumor suppressor. We find that NRMT1 knockdown significantly enhances the sensitivity of breast cancer cell lines to both etoposide treatment and γ-irradiation, as well as, increases proliferation rate, invasive potential, anchorage-independent growth, xenograft tumor size, and tamoxifen sensitivity. Interestingly, this positions NRMT1 as a tumor suppressor protein involved in multiple DNA repair pathways, and indicates, similar to BRCA1 and BRCA2, its loss may result in tumors with enhanced sensitivity to diverse DNA damaging chemotherapeutics.
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15
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Carrasco E, Álvarez PJ, Melguizo C, Prados J, Álvarez-Manzaneda E, Chahboun R, Messouri I, Vázquez-Vázquez MI, Aránega A, Rodríguez-Serrano F. Novel merosesquiterpene exerts a potent antitumor activity against breast cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. Eur J Med Chem 2014; 79:1-12. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2014.03.071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2014] [Revised: 03/19/2014] [Accepted: 03/25/2014] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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