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Zuhair R, Eastwood M, Jones M, Cross A, Hester J, Issa F, Ginty F, Sailem H. Decoding mTOR signalling heterogeneity in the tumour microenvironment using multiplexed imaging and graph convolutional networks. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.12.30.573693. [PMID: 38234756 PMCID: PMC10793449 DOI: 10.1101/2023.12.30.573693] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2024]
Abstract
Evaluating the contribution of the tumour microenvironment (TME) in tumour progression has proven a complex challenge due to the intricate interactions within the TME. Multiplexed imaging is an emerging technology that allows concurrent assessment of multiple of these components simultaneously. Here we utilise a highly multiplexed dataset of 61 markers across 746 colorectal tumours to investigate how complex mTOR signalling in different tissue compartments influences patient prognosis. We found that the signalling of mTOR pathway can have heterogeneous activation patterns in tumour and immune compartments which correlate with patient prognosis. Using graph neural networks, we determined the most predictive features of mTOR activity in immune cells and identified relevant cellular subpopulations. We validated our observations using spatial transcriptomics data analysis in an independent patient cohort. Our work provides a framework for studying complex cell signalling and reveals important insights for developing mTOR-based therapies.
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2
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Das R, Virlan MJR, Xenaki V, Kulasekara KK, Lukandu O, Neppelberg E, Vintermyr OK, Johannessen AC, Calenic B, Costea DE. Granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor and keratinocyte growth factor control of early stages of differentiation of oral epithelium. Eur J Oral Sci 2022; 130:e12867. [PMID: 35452148 PMCID: PMC9322408 DOI: 10.1111/eos.12867] [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: 11/11/2021] [Accepted: 03/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Oral epithelial differentiation is known to be directed by underlying fibroblasts, but the responsible factor(s) have not been identified. We aimed here to identify fibroblast‐derived factors responsible for oral epithelial differentiation. Primary normal human oral keratinocytes and fibroblasts were isolated from healthy volunteers after informed consent (n = 5) and 3D‐organotypic (3D‐OT) cultures were constructed. Various growth factors were added at a range of 0.1‐100 ng/ml. 3D‐OTs were harvested after ten days and assessed histologically, by immunohistochemistry and the TUNEL method. Epithelium developed in 3D‐OT without fibroblasts showed an undifferentiated phenotype. Addition of granulocyte macrophage‐colony stimulating factor (GM‐CSF) induced expression of cytokeratin 13 in suprabasal cell layers. Admixture of GM‐CSF and keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) induced, in addition, polarization of epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor and β1‐integrin to basal cell layer and collagen IV deposition. Terminal differentiation with polarization of TUNEL‐positive cells to superficial layers occurred only in the presence of fibroblasts in collagen gels either in direct contact or at distance from normal oral keratinocytes. Taken together, these results show that major aspects of oral epithelial differentiation are regulated by the synergic combination of GM‐CSF and KGF. However, the terminal stage seems to be controlled by other yet unidentified fibroblast‐derived diffusible factor(s).
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Affiliation(s)
- Ridhima Das
- Center for Cancer Biomarkers CCBIO and Gade Laboratory for Pathology, Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Maria Justina Roxana Virlan
- Center for Cancer Biomarkers CCBIO and Gade Laboratory for Pathology, Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.,Department of Oral Rehabilitation and Department of Biochemistry, 'Carol Davila' University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Victoria Xenaki
- Center for Cancer Biomarkers CCBIO and Gade Laboratory for Pathology, Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.,Department of Clinical Dentistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Keerthi K Kulasekara
- Department of Pharmacy & Applied Science, College of Science, Health & Engineering, La Trobe University, Bendigo, Victoria, Australia
| | - Ochiba Lukandu
- Maxillofacial Surgery and Pathology, School of Dentistry, Moi University, Eldoret, Kenya
| | - Evelyn Neppelberg
- Department of Clinical Dentistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.,Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Head and Neck Clinic, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
| | - Olav K Vintermyr
- Center for Cancer Biomarkers CCBIO and Gade Laboratory for Pathology, Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.,Department of Pathology, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
| | - Anne Chr Johannessen
- Center for Cancer Biomarkers CCBIO and Gade Laboratory for Pathology, Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.,Department of Pathology, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
| | - Bogdan Calenic
- Department of Oral Rehabilitation and Department of Biochemistry, 'Carol Davila' University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Daniela Elena Costea
- Center for Cancer Biomarkers CCBIO and Gade Laboratory for Pathology, Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.,Department of Pathology, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
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3
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Takahashi H, Rokudai S, Kawabata-Iwakawa R, Sakakura K, Oyama T, Nishiyama M, Chikamatsu K. AKT3 Is a Novel Regulator of Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13061233. [PMID: 33799788 PMCID: PMC7998536 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13061233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2021] [Revised: 02/28/2021] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) promote epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, angiogenesis, and immunosuppression, resulting in tumor progression. The PI3K-AKT pathway is known to play vital roles in various cellular activities, including proliferation, growth, metabolism, and survival. In the present study, we sought to identify the key regulator of CAFs in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and elucidated the vital roles of AKT3, one of the AKT isoforms, in CAFs. A loss-of-function approach revealed that AKT3 in CAFs promoted their myofibroblastic phenotype and immunosuppressive characteristics. Moreover, the infiltration of AKT3-positive CAFs into tumors was positively correlated with that of various immune cells and an unfavorable prognosis in HNSCC patients. Our findings suggest that AKT3 is a potential biomarker to evaluate the CAF activity and immunosuppressive microenvironment in HNSCC. Furthermore, AKT3 is a potential target for cancer therapy that inhibits the pro-tumoral function of CAFs. Abstract Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) play vital roles in tumor progression by promoting epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, angiogenesis, and immunosuppression. In the present study, we sought to identify the key regulators of the pro-tumoral functions of CAFs in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). mRNA expression data obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas revealed that CAF-specific mRNA expression correlated with genes that relate to an immunosuppressive microenvironment in a HNSCC cohort. RNA sequencing of CAFs and normal fibroblasts isolated from HNSCC specimens identified 1127 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and several upregulated pathways in CAFs. Among the 1127 DEGs, we identified 13 immune function-related genes and focused on AKT3 as a potential regulator of CAFs. The targeted depletion of AKT3 in CAFs revealed that AKT3 promotes their myofibroblastic phenotype. AKT3-transduced CAFs exhibited downregulated the expression of immunosuppressive cytokine genes, impairing T-cell suppression and pro-tumoral macrophage induction. The immunohistochemistry of 72 HNSCC patients showed that AKT3 expression in CAFs positively correlated with tumor infiltration by CAFs, tumor-associated macrophages, dendritic cells, and T cells. Moreover, AKT3 expression in CAFs was an independent prognostic factor for overall survival. In conclusion, AKT3 is a potential target for cancer therapy that inhibits the pro-tumoral function of CAFs and reverses CAF-mediated immunosuppression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hideyuki Takahashi
- Department of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, 3-39-22, Showa-machi, Maebashi, Gunma 371-8511, Japan; (H.T.); (K.S.)
| | - Susumu Rokudai
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Oncology, Gunma University, 3-39-22, Showa-machi, Maebashi, Gunma 371-8511, Japan;
| | - Reika Kawabata-Iwakawa
- Division of Integrate Oncology Research, Gunma University Initiative for Advanced Research, 3-39-22, Showa-machi, Maebashi, Gunma 371-8511, Japan; (R.K.-I.); (M.N.)
| | - Koichi Sakakura
- Department of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, 3-39-22, Showa-machi, Maebashi, Gunma 371-8511, Japan; (H.T.); (K.S.)
| | - Tetsunari Oyama
- Department of Diagnostic Pathology, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, 3-39-22, Showa-machi, Maebashi, Gunma 371-8511, Japan;
| | - Masahiko Nishiyama
- Division of Integrate Oncology Research, Gunma University Initiative for Advanced Research, 3-39-22, Showa-machi, Maebashi, Gunma 371-8511, Japan; (R.K.-I.); (M.N.)
| | - Kazuaki Chikamatsu
- Department of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, 3-39-22, Showa-machi, Maebashi, Gunma 371-8511, Japan; (H.T.); (K.S.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +81-27-220-8350; Fax: +81-27-220-8369
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4
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Mestre-Farrera A, Bruch-Oms M, Peña R, Rodríguez-Morató J, Alba-Castellón L, Comerma L, Quintela-Fandino M, Duñach M, Baulida J, Pozo ÓJ, García de Herreros A. Glutamine-Directed Migration of Cancer-Activated Fibroblasts Facilitates Epithelial Tumor Invasion. Cancer Res 2020; 81:438-451. [PMID: 33229340 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-20-0622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2020] [Revised: 09/15/2020] [Accepted: 11/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Tumors are complex tissues composed of transformed epithelial cells as well as cancer-activated fibroblasts (CAF) that facilitate epithelial tumor cell invasion. We show here that CAFs and other mesenchymal cells rely much more on glutamine than epithelial tumor cells; consequently, they are more sensitive to inhibition of glutaminase. Glutamine dependence drove CAF migration toward this amino acid when cultured in low glutamine conditions. CAFs also invaded a Matrigel matrix following a glutamine concentration gradient and enhanced the invasion of tumor cells when both cells were cocultured. Accordingly, glutamine directed invasion of xenografted tumors in immunocompromised mice. Stimulation of glutamine-driven epithelial tumor invasion by fibroblasts required previous CAF activation, which involved the TGFβ/Snail1 signaling axis. CAFs moving toward Gln presented a polarized Akt2 distribution that was modulated by the Gln-dependent activity of TRAF6 and p62 in the migrating front, and depletion of these proteins prevented Akt2 polarization and Gln-driven CAF invasion. Our results demonstrate that glutamine deprivation promotes CAF migration and invasion, which in turn facilitates the movement of tumor epithelial cells toward nutrient-rich territories. These results provide a novel molecular mechanism for how metabolic stress enhances invasion and metastasis. SIGNIFICANCE: Cancer-associated fibroblasts migrate and invade toward free glutamine and facilitate invasion of tumor epithelial cells, accounting for their movement away from the hostile conditions of the tumor towards nutrient-rich adjacent tissues. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT: http://cancerres.aacrjournals.org/content/canres/81/2/438/F1.large.jpg.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aida Mestre-Farrera
- Cancer Research Program, Institut Hospital del Mar d'Investigacions Mèdiques (IMIM), Unidad Asociada IIBB-CSIC, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marina Bruch-Oms
- Cancer Research Program, Institut Hospital del Mar d'Investigacions Mèdiques (IMIM), Unidad Asociada IIBB-CSIC, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Raúl Peña
- Cancer Research Program, Institut Hospital del Mar d'Investigacions Mèdiques (IMIM), Unidad Asociada IIBB-CSIC, Barcelona, Spain
| | - José Rodríguez-Morató
- Integrative Pharmacology and Systems Neuroscience Research Group, Neurosciences Research Program, Institut Hospital del Mar d'Investigacions Mèdiques (IMIM), Barcelona, Spain.,Department of Experimental and Health Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra Barcelona, Spain.,Spanish Biomedical Research Centre in Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition (CIBEROBN), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Lorena Alba-Castellón
- Cancer Research Program, Institut Hospital del Mar d'Investigacions Mèdiques (IMIM), Unidad Asociada IIBB-CSIC, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Laura Comerma
- Servei d'Anatomia Patològica, Hospital del Mar, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Miguel Quintela-Fandino
- Breast Cancer Clinical Research Unit, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas, Madrid; Medical Oncology, Hospital Quirón de Pozuelo, Madrid; Medical Oncology, Hospital de Fuenlabrada, Madrid, Spain
| | - Mireia Duñach
- Departament de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular, CEB, Facultat de Medicina, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Josep Baulida
- Cancer Research Program, Institut Hospital del Mar d'Investigacions Mèdiques (IMIM), Unidad Asociada IIBB-CSIC, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Óscar J Pozo
- Integrative Pharmacology and Systems Neuroscience Research Group, Neurosciences Research Program, Institut Hospital del Mar d'Investigacions Mèdiques (IMIM), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Antonio García de Herreros
- Cancer Research Program, Institut Hospital del Mar d'Investigacions Mèdiques (IMIM), Unidad Asociada IIBB-CSIC, Barcelona, Spain. .,Department of Experimental and Health Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra Barcelona, Spain
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5
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Dundar B, Markwell SM, Sharma NV, Olson CL, Mukherjee S, Brat DJ. Methods for in vitro modeling of glioma invasion: Choosing tools to meet the need. Glia 2020; 68:2173-2191. [PMID: 32134155 DOI: 10.1002/glia.23813] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2019] [Revised: 01/24/2020] [Accepted: 02/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Widespread tumor cell invasion is a fundamental property of diffuse gliomas and is ultimately responsible for their poor prognosis. A greater understanding of basic mechanisms underlying glioma invasion is needed to provide insights into therapies that could potentially counteract them. While none of the currently available in vitro models can fully recapitulate the complex interactions of glioma cells within the brain tumor microenvironment, if chosen and developed appropriately, these models can provide controlled experimental settings to study molecular and cellular phenomena that are challenging or impossible to model in vivo. Therefore, selecting the most appropriate in vitro model, together with its inherent advantages and limitations, for specific hypotheses and experimental questions achieves primary significance. In this review, we describe and discuss commonly used methods for modeling and studying glioma invasion in vitro, including platforms, matrices, cell culture, and visualization techniques, so that choices for experimental approach are informed and optimal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bilge Dundar
- Department of Pathology, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
| | - Steven M Markwell
- Department of Pathology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Nitya V Sharma
- Department of Pathology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Cheryl L Olson
- Department of Pathology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Subhas Mukherjee
- Department of Pathology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Daniel J Brat
- Department of Pathology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
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6
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Deng H, Hillpot E, Mondal S, Khurana KK, Woodworth CD. HPV16-Immortalized Cells from Human Transformation Zone and Endocervix are More Dysplastic than Ectocervical Cells in Organotypic Culture. Sci Rep 2018; 8:15402. [PMID: 30337615 PMCID: PMC6194146 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-33865-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2018] [Accepted: 10/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
A major risk factor for cervical cancer is persistent infection with high-risk human papillomaviruses (HPV) which can cause cervical intraepithelial neoplasia. Greater than 90% of cervical cancers develop in the transformation zone (TZ), a small region of metaplastic squamous epithelium at the squamocolumnar junction between endocervix and ectocervix. However, it is unclear why this region is highly susceptible to malignant progression. We hypothesized that cells from TZ were more susceptible to dysplastic differentiation, a precursor to cervical cancer. We used three-dimensional organotypic culture to compare differentiation of HPV16-immortalized epithelial cell lines derived from ectocervix, TZ, and endocervix. We show that immortal cells from TZ or endocervix form epithelia that are more dysplastic than immortal cells from ectocervix. A higher percentage of immortal cells from TZ and endocervix express the proliferation marker Ki-67 and are positive for phospho-Akt. Immortal cells from TZ and endocervix invade collagen rafts and express increased levels of matrix metalloproteinase-1. Inhibition of MMP-1 or Akt activity blocks invasion. We conclude that HPV16-immortalized cells cultured from TZ or endocervix are more susceptible to dysplastic differentiation, and this might enhance their susceptibility to cervical cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Han Deng
- Department of Biology, Clarkson University, Potsdam, NY, United States of America
| | - Eric Hillpot
- Department of Biology, Clarkson University, Potsdam, NY, United States of America
| | - Sumona Mondal
- Department of Mathematics, Clarkson University, Potsdam, NY, United States of America
| | - Kamal K Khurana
- Department of Pathology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, USA
| | - Craig D Woodworth
- Department of Biology, Clarkson University, Potsdam, NY, United States of America.
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7
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Srivastava K, Pickard A, Craig SG, Quinn GP, Lambe SM, James JA, McDade SS, McCance DJ. ΔNp63γ/SRC/Slug Signaling Axis Promotes Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition in Squamous Cancers. Clin Cancer Res 2018; 24:3917-3927. [PMID: 29739791 PMCID: PMC6098695 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-17-3775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2017] [Revised: 03/28/2018] [Accepted: 05/03/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Purpose: To investigate the regulation of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and its importance in tumor invasion.Experimental Design: We use a three-dimensional invasive organotypic raft culture model of human foreskin keratinocytes expressing the E6/E7 genes of the human papilloma virus-16, coupled with bioinformatic and IHC analysis of patient samples to investigate the role played by EMT in invasion and identify effectors and upstream regulatory pathways.Results: We identify SNAI2 (Slug) as a critical effector of EMT-activated downstream of TP63 overexpression in HNSCC. Splice-form-specific depletion and rescue experiments further identify the ΔNp63γ isoform as both necessary and sufficient to activate the SRC signaling axis and SNAI2-mediated EMT and invasion. Moreover, elevated SRC levels are associated with poor outcome in patients with HNSCC in The Cancer Genome Atlas dataset. Importantly, the effects on EMT and invasions and SNAI2 expression can be reversed by genetic or pharmacologic inhibition of SRC.Conclusions: Overexpression of ΔNp63γ modulates cell invasion by inducing targetable SRC-Slug-evoked EMT in HNSCC, which can be reversed by inhibitors of the SRC signaling. Clin Cancer Res; 24(16); 3917-27. ©2018 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kirtiman Srivastava
- Centre for Cancer Research and Cell Biology, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom.
| | - Adam Pickard
- Centre for Cancer Research and Cell Biology, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
- The Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell Matrix Research, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Stephanie G Craig
- Centre for Cancer Research and Cell Biology, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Gerard P Quinn
- Centre for Cancer Research and Cell Biology, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Shauna M Lambe
- Centre for Cancer Research and Cell Biology, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Jacqueline A James
- Centre for Cancer Research and Cell Biology, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Simon S McDade
- Centre for Cancer Research and Cell Biology, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom.
| | - Dennis J McCance
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico.
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8
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Kabir TD, Leigh RJ, Tasena H, Mellone M, Coletta RD, Parkinson EK, Prime SS, Thomas GJ, Paterson IC, Zhou D, McCall J, Speight PM, Lambert DW. A miR-335/COX-2/PTEN axis regulates the secretory phenotype of senescent cancer-associated fibroblasts. Aging (Albany NY) 2017; 8:1608-35. [PMID: 27385366 PMCID: PMC5032686 DOI: 10.18632/aging.100987] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2016] [Accepted: 06/12/2016] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Senescent cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAF) develop a senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) that is believed to contribute to cancer progression. The mechanisms underlying SASP development are, however, poorly understood. Here we examined the functional role of microRNA in the development of the SASP in normal fibroblasts and CAF. We identified a microRNA, miR-335, up-regulated in the senescent normal fibroblasts and CAF and able to modulate the secretion of SASP factors and induce cancer cell motility in co-cultures, at least in part by suppressing the expression of phosphatase and tensin homologue (PTEN). Additionally, elevated levels of cyclo-oxygenase 2 (PTGS2; COX-2) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) secretion were observed in senescent fibroblasts, and inhibition of COX-2 by celecoxib reduced the expression of miR-335, restored PTEN expression and decreased the pro-tumourigenic effects of the SASP. Collectively these data demonstrate the existence of a novel miRNA/PTEN-regulated pathway modulating the inflammasome in senescent fibroblasts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tasnuva D Kabir
- Integrated Biosciences, School of Clinical Dentistry, University of Sheffield, S10 2TA, UK.,Department of Surgical Sciences, Dunedin Medical School, Dunedin, University of Otago, Dunedin Hospital, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand
| | - Ross J Leigh
- Integrated Biosciences, School of Clinical Dentistry, University of Sheffield, S10 2TA, UK
| | - Hataitip Tasena
- Integrated Biosciences, School of Clinical Dentistry, University of Sheffield, S10 2TA, UK
| | - Massimiliano Mellone
- Faculty of Medicine Cancer Sciences Unit, Southampton University, Somers Building, Southampton SO16 6YD, UK
| | - Ricardo D Coletta
- Department of Oral Diagnosis, School of Dentistry, University of Campinas, Piracicaba-SP, Brazil
| | - Eric K Parkinson
- Centre for Clinical and Diagnostic Oral Sciences, Institute of Dentistry, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 2AD, UK
| | - Stephen S Prime
- Centre for Clinical and Diagnostic Oral Sciences, Institute of Dentistry, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 2AD, UK
| | - Gareth J Thomas
- Faculty of Medicine Cancer Sciences Unit, Southampton University, Somers Building, Southampton SO16 6YD, UK
| | - Ian C Paterson
- Department of Oral and Craniofacial Sciences, and Oral Cancer Research and Coordinating Centre, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Malaya, Malaya, Malaysia
| | - Donghui Zhou
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand
| | - John McCall
- Department of Surgical Sciences, Dunedin Medical School, Dunedin, University of Otago, Dunedin Hospital, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand
| | - Paul M Speight
- Integrated Biosciences, School of Clinical Dentistry, University of Sheffield, S10 2TA, UK
| | - Daniel W Lambert
- Integrated Biosciences, School of Clinical Dentistry, University of Sheffield, S10 2TA, UK
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9
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Human Papillomavirus and the Stroma: Bidirectional Crosstalk during the Virus Life Cycle and Carcinogenesis. Viruses 2017; 9:v9080219. [PMID: 28792475 PMCID: PMC5580476 DOI: 10.3390/v9080219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2017] [Revised: 08/03/2017] [Accepted: 08/04/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Human papillomaviruses (HPVs) are double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) tumor viruses that are causally associated with human cancers of the anogenital tract, skin, and oral cavity. Despite the availability of prophylactic vaccines, HPVs remain a major global health issue due to inadequate vaccine availability and vaccination coverage. The HPV life cycle is established and completed in the terminally differentiating stratified epithelia, and decades of research using in vitro organotypic raft cultures and in vivo genetically engineered mouse models have contributed to our understanding of the interactions between HPVs and the epithelium. More recently, important and emerging roles for the underlying stroma, or microenvironment, during the HPV life cycle and HPV-induced disease have become clear. This review discusses the current understanding of the bidirectional communication and relationship between HPV-infected epithelia and the surrounding microenvironment. As is the case with other human cancers, evidence suggests that the stroma functions as a significant partner in tumorigenesis and helps facilitate the oncogenic potential of HPVs in the stratified epithelium.
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10
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Srivastava K, Pickard A, McDade S, McCance DJ. p63 drives invasion in keratinocytes expressing HPV16 E6/E7 genes through regulation of Src-FAK signalling. Oncotarget 2017; 8:16202-16219. [PMID: 26001294 PMCID: PMC5369957 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.3892] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2015] [Accepted: 04/24/2015] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Using microarray information from oro-pharyngeal data sets and results from primary human foreskin keratinocytes (HFK) expressing Human Papilloma Virus (HPV)-16 E6/E7 proteins, we show that p63 expression regulates signalling molecules which initiate cell migration such as Src and focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and induce invasion in 3D-organotypic rafts; a phenotype that can be reversed by depletion of p63. Knockdown of Src or FAK in the invasive cells restored focal adhesion protein paxillin at cell periphery and impaired the cell migration. In addition, specific inhibition of FAK (PF573228) or Src (dasatinib) activities mitigated invasion and attenuated the expression/activity of matrix metalloproteinase 14 (MMP14), a pivotal MMP in the MMP activation cascade. Expression of constitutively active Src in non-invasive HFK expressing E6/E7 proteins upregulated the activity of c-Jun and MMP14, and induced invasion in rafts. Depletion of Src, FAK or AKT in the invasive cells normalised the expression/activity of c-Jun and MMP14, thus implicating the Src-FAK/AKT/AP-1 signalling in MMP14-mediated extra-cellular matrix remodelling. Up-regulation of Src, AP-1, MMP14 and p63 expression was confirmed in oro-pharyngeal cancer. Since p63 transcriptionally regulated expression of many of the genes in this signalling pathway, it suggests that it has a central role in cancer progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kirtiman Srivastava
- Centre for Cancer Research and Cell Biology, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK
| | - Adam Pickard
- Centre for Cancer Research and Cell Biology, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK
| | - Simon McDade
- Centre for Cancer Research and Cell Biology, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK
| | - Dennis J McCance
- Centre for Cancer Research and Cell Biology, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK.,Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001, USA
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11
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Takahashi A, Ishii G, Neri S, Yoshida T, Hashimoto H, Suzuki S, Umemura S, Matsumoto S, Yoh K, Niho S, Goto K, Ohmatsu H, Nagai K, Gemma A, Ohe Y, Ochiai A. Podoplanin-expressing cancer-associated fibroblasts inhibit small cell lung cancer growth. Oncotarget 2016; 6:9531-41. [PMID: 25909164 PMCID: PMC4496236 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.3371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2014] [Accepted: 02/11/2015] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) expressing podoplanin (PDPN) are a favorable prognosticator in surgically resected small cell lung cancer (SCLC). Here we explore whether CAFs expressing PDPN influence proliferation of SCLC cells. Compared with control group (SCLC cells co-cultured with CAFs-Ctrl), numbers of SCLC cells co-cultured with CAFs overexpressing PDPN were decreased. Suppression of PDPN expression by shRNA in CAFs resulted in increased numbers of SCLC cells. In surgically resected human SCLC specimens, the frequency of Geminin-positive cancer cells was significantly higher in the cases with PDPN-positive CAFs than in the cases with PDPN-negative CAFs. Thus CAFs expressing PDPN inhibit growth of SCLC cells, suggesting that CAFs expressing PDPN represent a tumor inhibitory stromal cell component in SCLC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akiko Takahashi
- Division of Pathology, Research Center for Innovative Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa, Chiba 277-8577, Japan.,Division of Thoracic Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa, Chiba 277-8577, Japan.,Department of Pulmonary Medicine and Oncology, Graduate School of Medicine, Nippon Medical School, Sendagi, Bunkyo City, Tokyo 113-0022, Japan
| | - Genichiro Ishii
- Division of Pathology, Research Center for Innovative Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa, Chiba 277-8577, Japan
| | - Shinya Neri
- Division of Pathology, Research Center for Innovative Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa, Chiba 277-8577, Japan
| | - Tatsuya Yoshida
- Division of Pathology, Research Center for Innovative Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa, Chiba 277-8577, Japan.,Division of Thoracic Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa, Chiba 277-8577, Japan
| | - Hiroko Hashimoto
- Division of Pathology, Research Center for Innovative Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa, Chiba 277-8577, Japan
| | - Shigeki Suzuki
- Division of Pathology, Research Center for Innovative Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa, Chiba 277-8577, Japan.,Division of Thoracic Surgery, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa, Chiba 277-8577, Japan
| | - Shigeki Umemura
- Division of Thoracic Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa, Chiba 277-8577, Japan
| | - Shingo Matsumoto
- Division of Thoracic Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa, Chiba 277-8577, Japan
| | - Kiyotaka Yoh
- Division of Thoracic Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa, Chiba 277-8577, Japan
| | - Seiji Niho
- Division of Thoracic Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa, Chiba 277-8577, Japan
| | - Koichi Goto
- Division of Thoracic Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa, Chiba 277-8577, Japan
| | - Hironobu Ohmatsu
- Division of Thoracic Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa, Chiba 277-8577, Japan
| | - Kanji Nagai
- Division of Thoracic Surgery, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa, Chiba 277-8577, Japan
| | - Akihiko Gemma
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine and Oncology, Graduate School of Medicine, Nippon Medical School, Sendagi, Bunkyo City, Tokyo 113-0022, Japan
| | - Yuichiro Ohe
- Division of Thoracic Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tsukiji, Chuo City, Tokyo 104-0045, Japan
| | - Atsushi Ochiai
- Division of Pathology, Research Center for Innovative Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa, Chiba 277-8577, Japan
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12
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Zhang L, Wu J, Ling MT, Zhao L, Zhao KN. The role of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signalling pathway in human cancers induced by infection with human papillomaviruses. Mol Cancer 2015; 14:87. [PMID: 26022660 PMCID: PMC4498560 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-015-0361-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 158] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2014] [Accepted: 04/06/2015] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Infection with Human papillomaviruses (HPVs) leads to the development of a wide-range of cancers, accounting for 5% of all human cancers. A prominent example is cervical cancer, one of the leading causes of cancer death in women worldwide. It has been well established that tumor development and progression induced by HPV infection is driven by the sustained expression of two oncogenes E6 and E7. The expression of E6 and E7 not only inhibits the tumor suppressors p53 and Rb, but also alters additional signalling pathways that may be equally important for transformation. Among these pathways, the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signalling cascade plays a very important role in HPV-induced carcinogenesis by acting through multiple cellular and molecular events. In this review, we summarize the frequent amplification of PI3K/Akt/mTOR signals in HPV-induced cancers and discuss how HPV oncogenes E6/E7/E5 activate the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signalling pathway to modulate tumor initiation and progression and affect patient outcome. Improvement of our understanding of the mechanism by which the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signalling pathway contributes to the immortalization and carcinogenesis of HPV-transduced cells will assist in devising novel strategies for preventing and treating HPV-induced cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lifang Zhang
- Institute of Molecular Virology and Immunology, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325035 , Zhejiang, PR China.
| | - Jianhong Wu
- Australian Prostate Cancer Research Centre-Queensland, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, 37 Kent Street, Woolloongabba, Brisbane, 4102, QLD, Australia.
- Current address: Department of Gastric Cancer and Soft Tissue Sarcomas Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, 200032, PR China.
| | - Ming Tat Ling
- Australian Prostate Cancer Research Centre-Queensland, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, 37 Kent Street, Woolloongabba, Brisbane, 4102, QLD, Australia.
| | - Liang Zhao
- The University of Queensland, Brisbane, 4072, QLD, Australia.
| | - Kong-Nan Zhao
- Institute of Molecular Virology and Immunology, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325035 , Zhejiang, PR China.
- Centre for Kidney Disease Research-Venomics Research, The University of Queensland School of Medicine, Translational Research Institute, 37 Kent Street, Woolloongabba, Brisbane, 4102, QLD, Australia.
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13
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Abstract
The initiation and progression of human cancer is frequently linked to the uncontrolled activation of survival kinases. Two such pro-survival kinases that are commonly amplified in cancer are PIM and Akt. These oncogenic proteins are serine/threonine kinases that regulate tumorigenesis by phosphorylating substrates that control the cell cycle, cellular metabolism, proliferation, and survival. Growing evidence suggests that cross-talk exists between the PIM and Akt kinases, indicating that they control partially overlapping survival signaling pathways that are critical to the initiation, progression, and metastatic spread of many types of cancer. The PI3K/Akt signaling pathway is activated in many human tumors, and it is well established as a promising anticancer target. Likewise, based on the role of PIM kinases in normal and tumor tissues, it is clear that this family of kinases represents an interesting target for anticancer therapy. Pharmacological inhibition of PIM has the potential to significantly influence the efficacy of standard and targeted therapies. This review focuses on the regulation of PIM kinases, their role in tumorigenesis, and the biological impact of their interaction with the Akt signaling pathway on the efficacy of cancer therapy.
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Martinez-Outschoorn U, Sotgia F, Lisanti MP. Tumor microenvironment and metabolic synergy in breast cancers: critical importance of mitochondrial fuels and function. Semin Oncol 2014; 41:195-216. [PMID: 24787293 DOI: 10.1053/j.seminoncol.2014.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 144] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Metabolic synergy or metabolic coupling between glycolytic stromal cells (Warburg effect) and oxidative cancer cells occurs in human breast cancers and promotes tumor growth. The Warburg effect or aerobic glycolysis is the catabolism of glucose to lactate to obtain adenosine triphosphate (ATP). This review summarizes the main findings on this stromal metabolic phenotype, and the associated signaling pathways, as well as the critical role of oxidative stress and autophagy, all of which promote carcinoma cell mitochondrial metabolism and tumor growth. Loss of Caveolin 1 (Cav-1) and the upregulation of monocarboxylate transporter 4 (MCT4) in stromal cells are novel markers of the Warburg effect and metabolic synergy between stromal and carcinoma cells. MCT4 and Cav-1 are also breast cancer prognostic biomarkers. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are key mediators of the stromal Warburg effect. High ROS also favors cancer cell mitochondrial metabolism and tumorigenesis, and anti-oxidants can reverse this altered stromal and carcinoma metabolism. A pseudo-hypoxic state with glycolysis and low mitochondrial metabolism in the absence of hypoxia is a common feature in breast cancer. High ROS induces loss of Cav-1 in stromal cells and is sufficient to generate a pseudo-hypoxic state. Loss of Cav-1 in the stroma drives glycolysis and lactate extrusion via HIF-1α stabilization and the upregulation of MCT4. Stromal cells with loss of Cav-1 and/or high expression of MCT4 also show a catabolic phenotype, with enhanced macroautophagy. This catabolic state in stromal cells is driven by hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α, nuclear factor κB (NFκB), and JNK activation and high ROS generation. A feed-forward loop in stromal cells regulates pseudo-hypoxia and metabolic synergy, with Cav-1, MCT4, HIF-1α, NFκB, and ROS as its key elements. Metabolic synergy also may occur between cancer cells and cells in distant organs from the tumor. Cancer cachexia, which is due to severe organismal metabolic dysregulation in myocytes and adipocytes, shares similarities with stromal-carcinoma metabolic synergy, as well. In summary, metabolic synergy occurs when breast carcinoma cells induce a nutrient-rich microenvironment to promote tumor growth. The process of tumor metabolic synergy is a multistep process, due to the generation of ROS, and the induction of catabolism with autophagy, mitophagy and glycolysis. Studying epithelial-stromal interactions and metabolic synergy is important to better understand the ecology of cancer and the metabolic role of different cell types in tumor progression.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Federica Sotgia
- University of Manchester, Manchester Breast Centre & Breakthrough Breast Cancer Research Unit, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Michael P Lisanti
- University of Manchester, Manchester Breast Centre & Breakthrough Breast Cancer Research Unit, Manchester, United Kingdom
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15
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Drake LE, Macleod KF. Tumour suppressor gene function in carcinoma-associated fibroblasts: from tumour cells via EMT and back again? J Pathol 2014; 232:283-8. [PMID: 24254977 DOI: 10.1002/path.4298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2013] [Revised: 11/01/2013] [Accepted: 11/05/2013] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Recent reports indicate that inactivation of the RB, TP53 or PTEN tumour suppressor genes is detected in tumour stroma of oropharyngeal, breast and other human cancers. Mouse models have validated the tumour-promoting effects of deleting Rb, Pten or p53 in fibroblasts that converts them from normal fibroblasts to carcinoma associated fibroblasts (CAFs). The tumour-promoting activity of CAFs in these contexts was associated with increased paracrine signaling to tumour cells through production of specific growth factors, chemokines and MMPs by CAFs. The conversion of NOFs into CAFs through acquisition of specific mutations, such as loss of tumour suppressors, or deregulated expression of microRNAs or key epigenetic events, can clearly occur independently of genetic and epigenetic changes in tumour cells but an alternative source of CAFs that is being reconsidered is that CAFs derive from the tumour cells by EMT. Recent mouse models employing lineage-tracing techniques have suggested that this can take place in vivo and the extent to which this is relevant more broadly is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren E Drake
- Ben May Department for Cancer Research, University of Chicago, IL, USA; Committee on Molecular Pathogenesis and Molecular Medicine, University of Chicago, IL, USA
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