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How CW, Ong YS, Low SS, Pandey A, Show PL, Foo JB. How far have we explored fungi to fight cancer? Semin Cancer Biol 2022; 86:976-989. [PMID: 33737109 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2021.03.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2020] [Revised: 02/21/2021] [Accepted: 03/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
The use of fungal cultures have been well documented in human history. Although its used in healthcare, like penicillin and statins, have saved countless of lives, but there is still no fungal products that are specifically indicated for cancers. Research into fungal-derived materials to curb cancers in the recent decades have made a considerable progress in terms of drug delivery vehicles, anticancer active ingredients and cancer immunotherapy. Various parts of the organisms have successfully been exploited to achieve specific tasks. Apart from the identification of novel anticancer compound from fungi, its native capsular structure can also be used as drug cargo to achieve higher oral bioavailability. This review summarises the anticancer potential of fungal-derived materials, highlighting the role of capsular polysaccharides, proteins, and other structures in variety of innovative utilities to fit the current pharmaceutical technology. Many bioactive compounds isolated from fungi have also been formulated into nanoparticles to achieve greater anticancer activity. The progress of fungal compounds and their analogues in clinical trials is also highlighted. In addition, the potential of various fungal species to be developed for anticancer immunotherapy are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chee Wun How
- School of Pharmacy, Monash University Malaysia, 47500, Bandar Sunway, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Yong Sze Ong
- School of Pharmacy, Monash University Malaysia, 47500, Bandar Sunway, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Sze Shin Low
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus, Jalan Broga, 43500 Semenyih, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia
| | - Ashok Pandey
- Centre for Innovation and Translational Research, CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, Lucknow, 226 001, India
| | - Pau Loke Show
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus, Jalan Broga, 43500 Semenyih, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia.
| | - Jhi Biau Foo
- School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health & Medical Sciences, Taylor's University, 1, Jalan Taylors, 47500, Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia; Centre for Drug Discovery and Molecular Pharmacology (CDDMP), Faculty of Health & Medical Sciences, Taylor's University, 1, Jalan Taylors, 47500, Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia.
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2
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Raja Arul GL, Toruner MD, Gatenby RA, Carr RM. Ecoevolutionary biology of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Pancreatology 2022; 22:730-740. [PMID: 35821188 DOI: 10.1016/j.pan.2022.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2022] [Accepted: 06/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), the most common histological subtype of pancreatic cancer, is an aggressive disease predicted to be the 2nd cause of cancer mortality in the US by 2040. While first-line therapy has improved, 5-year overall survival has only increased from 5 to ∼10%, and surgical resection is only available for ∼20% of patients as most present with advanced disease, which is invariably lethal. PDAC has well-established highly recurrent mutations in four driver genes including KRAS, TP53, CDKN2A, and SMAD4. Unfortunately, these genetic drivers are not currently therapeutically actionable. Despite extensive sequencing efforts, few additional significantly recurrent and druggable drivers have been identified. In the absence of targetable mutations, chemotherapy remains the mainstay of treatment for most patients. Further, the role of the above driver mutations on PDAC initiation and early development is well-established. However, these mutations alone cannot account for PDAC heterogeneity nor discern early from advanced disease. Taken together, management of PDAC is an example highlighting the shortcomings of the current precision medicine paradigm. PDAC, like other malignancies, represents an ecoevolutionary process. Better understanding the disease through this lens can facilitate the development of novel therapeutic strategies to better control and cure PDAC. This review aims to integrate the current understanding of PDAC pathobiology into an ecoevolutionary framework.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Merih D Toruner
- Schulze Center for Novel Therapeutics, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Robert A Gatenby
- Department of Integrated Mathematical Oncology, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Ryan M Carr
- Department of Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
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3
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Niu G, Hao J, Sheng S, Wen F. Role of T-box genes in cancer, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, and cancer stem cells. J Cell Biochem 2021; 123:215-230. [PMID: 34897787 DOI: 10.1002/jcb.30188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2021] [Revised: 11/08/2021] [Accepted: 11/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Sharing a common DNA binding motif called T-box, transcription factor T-box gene family controls embryonic development and is also involved in cancer progression and metastasis. Cancer metastasis shows therapy resistance and involves complex processes. Among them, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) triggers cancer cell invasiveness and the acquisition of stemness of cancer cells, called cancer stem cells (CSCs). CSCs are a small fraction of tumor bulk and are capable of self-renewal and tumorsphere formation. Recent progress has highlighted the critical roles of T-box genes in cancer progression, EMT, and CSC function, and such regulatory functions of T-box genes have emerged as potential therapeutic candidates for cancer. Herein we summarize the current understanding of the regulatory mechanisms of T-box genes in cancer, EMT, and CSCs, and discuss the implications of targeting T-box genes as anticancer therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gengle Niu
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jin Hao
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Surui Sheng
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial-Head Neck Oncology, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Fangyuan Wen
- Department of Outpatient, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China.,Chinese Academy of Sciences Sichuan Translational Medicine Research Hospital, Chengdu, China
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4
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Abrahao-Machado LF, Pinto F, Antunes B, Volc S, Boldrini E, Camargo OPD, Reis RM. Clinical impact of brachyury expression in Ewing sarcoma patients. Adv Med Sci 2021; 66:321-325. [PMID: 34273746 DOI: 10.1016/j.advms.2021.06.002] [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: 09/23/2020] [Revised: 05/21/2021] [Accepted: 06/25/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE The T-box transcription factor brachyury has been demonstrated as a prognostic factor in a variety of cancer types and considered a novel oncotarget in solid tumors. Brachyury acts as a regulator of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process, leading to more aggressive behavior and poorer prognosis. However, recent literature evidence suggests a tumor suppressor role in other neoplasms. In the present study, we aimed to study brachyury expression and its prognostic impact in Ewing sarcoma, an aggressive neoplasm of young individuals. METHODS We analyzed the expression of brachyury by immunohistochemistry in a series of 96 Ewing sarcomas in a tissue microarray and investigated the association of the protein expression with the clinical parameters and overall survival. RESULTS More than half of the cases (51%, n = 49) depicted positive nuclear brachyury expression, while a lack of expression was observed in 49% (n = 47) of cases. Nuclear brachyury staining was significantly associated with non-white ethnicity (p = 0.04) and axial localization (p = 0.025). Importantly, lack of brachyury expression was significantly associated with lower overall survival in multivariate analyses (hazard ratio - HR: 2.227, p = 0.008). CONCLUSIONS Our findings indicate, that brachyury is an independent prognostic biomarker in Ewing sarcoma, which might suggest a tumor suppressor role and which yet to be fully elucidated.
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5
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Traylor JI, Pernik MN, Plitt AR, Lim M, Garzon-Muvdi T. Immunotherapy for Chordoma and Chondrosarcoma: Current Evidence. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:2408. [PMID: 34067530 PMCID: PMC8156915 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13102408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2021] [Revised: 05/10/2021] [Accepted: 05/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Chordomas and chondrosarcomas are rare but devastating neoplasms that are characterized by chemoradiation resistance. For both tumors, surgical resection is the cornerstone of management. Immunotherapy agents are increasingly improving outcomes in multiple cancer subtypes and are being explored in chordoma and chondrosarcoma alike. In chordoma, brachyury has been identified as a prominent biomarker and potential molecular immunotherapy target as well as PD-1 inhibition. While studies on immunotherapy in chondrosarcoma are sparse, there is emerging evidence and ongoing clinical trials for PD-1 as well as IDH inhibitors. This review highlights potential biomarkers and targets for immunotherapy in chordoma and chondrosarcoma, as well as current clinical evidence and ongoing trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey I. Traylor
- Department of Neurological Surgery, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75235, USA; (J.I.T.); (M.N.P.); (A.R.P.)
| | - Mark N. Pernik
- Department of Neurological Surgery, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75235, USA; (J.I.T.); (M.N.P.); (A.R.P.)
| | - Aaron R. Plitt
- Department of Neurological Surgery, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75235, USA; (J.I.T.); (M.N.P.); (A.R.P.)
| | - Michael Lim
- Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University Medical Center, Stanford, CA 94305, USA;
| | - Tomas Garzon-Muvdi
- Department of Neurological Surgery, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75235, USA; (J.I.T.); (M.N.P.); (A.R.P.)
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Ramamoorthi G, Kodumudi K, Gallen C, Zachariah NN, Basu A, Albert G, Beyer A, Snyder C, Wiener D, Costa RLB, Czerniecki BJ. Disseminated cancer cells in breast cancer: Mechanism of dissemination and dormancy and emerging insights on therapeutic opportunities. Semin Cancer Biol 2021; 78:78-89. [PMID: 33626407 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2021.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2020] [Revised: 12/22/2020] [Accepted: 02/07/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Metastatic spread in breast cancer patients is the major driver of cancer-related deaths. A unique subset of cells disseminated from pre-invasive or primary tumor lesions are recognized as the main seeds for metastatic outgrowth. Disseminated cancer cells (DCCs) can migrate to distant organs and settle in a dormant state for a prolonged period until they emerge to overt metastases. Understanding the biology of breast cancer cells dissemination, dormancy and reactivation to form overt metastases has become an important focus. In this review, we discuss the recent advancements of molecular pathways involving breast cancer cell dissemination, role of chemokine-chemokine receptor networks in DCCs migration, DCCs phenotypic heterogeneity and unique genes signatures in tumor dormancy, microenvironmental regulation and specific niches that favors DCCs homing and dormancy. In addition, we also discuss recent findings relating to the role of immune response on DCC dissemination and dormancy. With recent advances in the field of immunotherapy/targeted therapy and its beneficial effects in cancer treatment, this review will focus on their impact on DCCs, reversal of stemness, tumor dormancy and metastatic relapse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ganesan Ramamoorthi
- Clinical Science & Immunology Program, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, United States
| | - Krithika Kodumudi
- Clinical Science & Immunology Program, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, United States
| | - Corey Gallen
- Clinical Science & Immunology Program, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, United States
| | - Nadia Nocera Zachariah
- Clinical Science & Immunology Program, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, United States; Department of Breast Oncology H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, United States
| | - Amrita Basu
- Clinical Science & Immunology Program, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, United States
| | - Gabriella Albert
- Clinical Science & Immunology Program, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, United States
| | - Amber Beyer
- Clinical Science & Immunology Program, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, United States
| | - Colin Snyder
- Clinical Science & Immunology Program, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, United States
| | - Doris Wiener
- Clinical Science & Immunology Program, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, United States
| | - Ricardo L B Costa
- Clinical Science & Immunology Program, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, United States; Department of Breast Oncology H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, United States
| | - Brian J Czerniecki
- Clinical Science & Immunology Program, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, United States; Department of Breast Oncology H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, United States.
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7
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Palena C, Fernando RI, Hamilton DH. An immunotherapeutic intervention against tumor progression: Targeting a driver of the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. Oncoimmunology 2021; 3:e27220. [PMID: 24575384 PMCID: PMC3929358 DOI: 10.4161/onci.27220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2013] [Accepted: 11/15/2013] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Targeting the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is emerging as a novel intervention against tumor progression and metastatic dissemination, as well as the resistance to chemo- and radiotherapy displayed by multiple carcinomas. We have recently developed an immunotherapeutic approach to target a major driver of EMT, the T-box transcription factor T (also known as brachyury). This therapeutic paradigm is currently being tested in patients with advanced carcinomas in the context of a Phase I clinical trial.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Palena
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology; Center for Cancer Research; National Cancer Institute; National Institutes of Health; Bethesda, MD USA
| | - Romaine I Fernando
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology; Center for Cancer Research; National Cancer Institute; National Institutes of Health; Bethesda, MD USA
| | - Duane H Hamilton
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology; Center for Cancer Research; National Cancer Institute; National Institutes of Health; Bethesda, MD USA
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8
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Pinto F, Costa ÂM, Andrade RP, Reis RM. Brachyury Is Associated with Glioma Differentiation and Response to Temozolomide. Neurotherapeutics 2020; 17:2015-2027. [PMID: 32785847 PMCID: PMC7851232 DOI: 10.1007/s13311-020-00911-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Glioblastomas (GBMs) are the most aggressive tumor type of the central nervous system, mainly due to their high invasiveness and innate resistance to radiotherapy and chemotherapy, with temozolomide (TMZ) being the current standard therapy. Recently, brachyury was described as a novel tumor suppressor gene in gliomas, and its loss was associated with increased gliomagenesis. Here, we aimed to explore the role of brachyury as a suppressor of glioma invasion, stem cell features, and resistance to TMZ. Using gene-edited glioma cells to overexpress brachyury, we found that brachyury-positive cells exhibit reduced invasive and migratory capabilities and stem cell features. Importantly, these brachyury-expressing cells have increased expression of differentiation markers, which corroborates the results from human glioma samples and in vivo tumors. Glioma cells treated with retinoic acid increased the differentiation status with concomitant increased expression of brachyury. We then selected TMZ-resistant (SNB-19) and TMZ-responsive (A172 and U373) cell lines to evaluate the role of brachyury in the response to TMZ treatment. We observed that both exogenous and endogenous brachyury activation, through overexpression and retinoic acid treatment, are associated with TMZ sensitization in glioma-resistant cell lines. In this study, we demonstrate that brachyury expression can impair aggressive glioma features associated with treatment resistance. Finally, we provide the first evidence that brachyury can be a potential therapeutic target in GBM patients who do not respond to conventional chemotherapeutic drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filipe Pinto
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
- I3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, University of Porto, 4200-135, Porto, Portugal
- Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto - IPATIMUP, 4200-135, Porto, Portugal
| | - Ângela M Costa
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
- I3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, University of Porto, 4200-135, Porto, Portugal
- INEB-Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Porto, 4200-135, Porto, Portugal
| | - Raquel P Andrade
- Centre for Biomedical Research - CBMR, University of Algarve, 8005-139, Faro, Portugal
- Algarve Biomedical Center, Campus Gambelas, Edificio 2. Ala Norte, 8005-139, Faro, Portugal
- Department of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Algarve, 8005-139, Faro, Portugal
| | - Rui Manuel Reis
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal.
- ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal.
- Molecular Oncology Research Center, Barretos Cancer Hospital, Barretos, SP, 14784-400, Brazil.
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9
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Chen M, Wu Y, Zhang H, Li S, Zhou J, Shen J. The Roles of Embryonic Transcription Factor BRACHYURY in Tumorigenesis and Progression. Front Oncol 2020; 10:961. [PMID: 32695672 PMCID: PMC7338565 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2020.00961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2020] [Accepted: 05/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Transcription factor brachyury, with a DNA-binding T-domain, regulates posterior mesoderm formation and notochord development through binding with highly conserved palindromic consensus sequence in a variety of organisms. The absence of brachyury expression in majority of adult normal tissues and exclusive tumor-specific expression provides the potential to be developed into a novel and promising diagnostic and therapeutic target in cancer. As a sensitive and specific marker in the diagnosis of chordoma, brachyury protein has been verified to involve in the process of carcinogenesis and progression of chordoma and several epithelial carcinomas in various studies, but the mechanism by which brachyury promotes tumor cells migrate, invade and metastasis still remains less clear. To this end, we attempt to summarize the literature on the upstream regulatory pathway of brachyury transcription and downstream controlling network by brachyury activation, all of which involve in both the embryonic development and tumor progression. We present the respective correlation of brachyury expression with tumor progression, distant metastasis, survival rate and prognosis in several types of tumor samples (including chordoma, lung cancer, breast carcinoma, and prostate cancer), and various brachyury gain-of-function and loss-of-function experiments are summarized to explore its specific role in respective tumor cell line in vitro. In addition, we also discuss another two programs relating to brachyury function: epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and cell cycle control, both of which implicate in the regulation of brachyury on biological behavior of tumor cells. This review will provide an overview of the function of master transcriptional factor brachyury, compare the similarities and differences of its role between embryonic development and carcinogenesis, and list the evidence on which brachyury-target therapies have the potential to help control advanced cancer populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming Chen
- Department of Orthopeadic Surgery, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, China
- Department of Orthopeadic Surgery, Wuxi No. 2 People's Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi, China
| | - Yinghui Wu
- Department of Orthopeadic Surgery, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, China
- Suzhou Municipal Hospital, Suzhou, China
| | - Hong Zhang
- Department of Orthopeadic Surgery, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, China
- Suzhou Municipal Hospital, Suzhou, China
| | - Suoyuan Li
- Department of Orthopeadic Surgery, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, China
- Suzhou Municipal Hospital, Suzhou, China
| | - Jundong Zhou
- Suzhou Cancer Center Core Laboratory, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, China
| | - Jun Shen
- Department of Orthopeadic Surgery, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, China
- Suzhou Municipal Hospital, Suzhou, China
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Ribatti D, Tamma R, Annese T. Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition in Cancer: A Historical Overview. Transl Oncol 2020; 13:100773. [PMID: 32334405 PMCID: PMC7182759 DOI: 10.1016/j.tranon.2020.100773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 442] [Impact Index Per Article: 110.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2020] [Revised: 03/26/2020] [Accepted: 04/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Epithelial-mesenchymal transitions (EMTs), the acquisition of mesenchymal features from epithelial cells, occur during some biological processes and are classified into three types: the first type occurs during embryonic development, the second type is associated with adult tissue regeneration, and the third type occurs in cancer progression. EMT occurring during embryonic development in gastrulation, renal development, and the origin and fate of the neural crest is a highly regulated process, while EMT occurring during tumor progression is highly deregulated. EMT allows the solid tumors to become more malignant, increasing their invasiveness and metastatic activity. Secondary tumors frequently maintain the typical histologic characteristics of the primary tumor. These histologic features connecting the secondary metastatic tumors to the primary is due to a process called mesenchymal-epithelial transition (MET). MET has been demonstrated in different mesenchymal tumors and is the expression of the reversibility of EMT. EMT modulation could constitute an approach to avoid metastasis. Some of the targeted small molecules utilized as antiproliferative agents have revealed to inhibit EMT initiation or maintenance because EMT is regulated through signaling pathways for which these molecules have been designed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Domenico Ribatti
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neurosciences and Sensory Organs, University of Bari Medical School, Bari, Italy.
| | - Roberto Tamma
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neurosciences and Sensory Organs, University of Bari Medical School, Bari, Italy
| | - Tiziana Annese
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neurosciences and Sensory Organs, University of Bari Medical School, Bari, Italy
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Pinto F, Costa ÂM, Santos GC, Matsushita MM, Costa S, Silva VA, Miranda-Gonçalves V, Lopes CM, Clara CA, Becker AP, Neder L, Hajj GN, da Cunha IW, Jones C, Andrade RP, Reis RM. The T-box transcription factor brachyury behaves as a tumor suppressor in gliomas. J Pathol 2020; 251:87-99. [PMID: 32154590 DOI: 10.1002/path.5419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2019] [Revised: 02/11/2020] [Accepted: 03/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The oncogene brachyury (TBXT) is a T-box transcription factor that is overexpressed in multiple solid tumors and is associated with tumor aggressiveness and poor patient prognosis. Gliomas comprise the most common and aggressive group of brain tumors, and at the present time the functional and clinical impact of brachyury expression has not been investigated previously in these neoplasms. Brachyury expression (mRNA and protein) was assessed in normal brain (n = 67), glioma tissues (n = 716) and cell lines (n = 42), and further in silico studies were undertaken using genomic databases totaling 3115 samples. Our glioma samples were analyzed for copy number (n = 372), promoter methylation status (n = 170), and mutation status (n = 1569 tissues and n = 52 cell lines) of the brachyury gene. The prognostic impact of brachyury expression was studied in 1524 glioma patient tumors. The functional impact of brachyury on glioma proliferation, viability, and cell death was evaluated both in vitro and in vivo. Brachyury was expressed in the normal brain, and significantly downregulated in glioma tissues. Loss of brachyury was associated with tumor aggressiveness and poor survival in glioma patients. Downregulation of brachyury was not associated with gene deletion, promoter methylation, or inactivating point mutations. Brachyury re-expression in glioma cells was found to decrease glioma tumorigenesis by induction of autophagy. These data strongly suggest that brachyury behaves as a tumor suppressor gene in gliomas by modulating autophagy. It is important to note that brachyury constitutes an independent positive biomarker of patient prognosis. Our findings indicate that the role of brachyury in tumorigenesis may be tissue-dependent and demands additional investigation to guide rational interventions. © 2020 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filipe Pinto
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Guimarães, Portugal.,I3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.,Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto - IPATIMUP, Porto, Portugal
| | - Ângela M Costa
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Guimarães, Portugal.,I3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Gisele C Santos
- Department of Pathology, Barretos Cancer Hospital, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Sandra Costa
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Viviane Ao Silva
- Molecular Oncology Research Center, Barretos Cancer Hospital, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Vera Miranda-Gonçalves
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Celeste M Lopes
- Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Carlos A Clara
- Neurosurgery Department, Barretos Cancer Hospital, Barretos, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Aline P Becker
- Molecular Oncology Research Center, Barretos Cancer Hospital, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Luciano Neder
- Department of Pathology and Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo (FMRP-USP), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Glaucia Nm Hajj
- International Research Center, AC Camargo Cancer Center, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Isabela W da Cunha
- Department of Molecular Diagnosis, Anatomic Pathology Department, AC Camargo Cancer Center, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Chris Jones
- Divisions of Molecular Pathology and Cancer Therapeutics, The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR), Sutton, UK
| | - Raquel P Andrade
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Guimarães, Portugal.,Regenerative Medicine Program; Department of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Algarve, Faro, Portugal.,CBMR, Centre for Biomedical Research, Universidade do Algarve, Faro, Portugal
| | - Rui M Reis
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Guimarães, Portugal.,Molecular Oncology Research Center, Barretos Cancer Hospital, São Paulo, Brazil
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12
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Horn LA, Fousek K, Palena C. Tumor Plasticity and Resistance to Immunotherapy. Trends Cancer 2020; 6:432-441. [PMID: 32348738 DOI: 10.1016/j.trecan.2020.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2020] [Revised: 01/31/2020] [Accepted: 02/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Tumor cell plasticity exhibited as an epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) has been identified as a major obstacle for the effective treatment of many cancers. This process, which involves the dedifferentiation of epithelial tumor cells towards a motile, metastatic, and mesenchymal tumor phenotype, mediates resistance to conventional therapies and small-molecule targeted therapies. In this review, we highlight current research correlating the role of tumor plasticity with resistance to current immunotherapy approaches and discuss future and ongoing combination immunotherapy strategies to reduce tumor cell plasticity-driven resistance in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucas A Horn
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Kristen Fousek
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Claudia Palena
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
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13
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Integrated Therapeutic Targeting of the Prostate Tumor Microenvironment. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2020; 1296:183-198. [PMID: 34185293 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-59038-3_11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/07/2023]
Abstract
Prostate cancer is a common and deadly cancer among men. The heterogeneity that characterizes prostate tumors contributes to clinical challenges in the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of this malignancy. While localized prostate cancer can be treated with surgery or radiotherapy, metastatic disease to the lymph nodes and the bone requires aggressive treatment with androgen deprivation treatment (ADT). Unfortunately, this often eventually progresses to metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). Advanced prostate cancer treatment today involves 1st- and 2nd-line taxane chemotherapy and 2nd-generation antiandrogens. The process of epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT), during which epithelial cells lose their adhesions and their polarity, is a critical contributor to prostate cancer metastasis. In this article, we aim to integrate the current understanding of mechanisms dictating the dynamics of phenotypic EMT, with apoptosis outcomes in prostate tumors in response to antiandrogen and taxane chemotherapy for the treatment of advanced disease. Novel insights into the signaling mechanisms that target the functional interface between apoptosis and EMT will be considered in the context of potential clinical markers of tumor prognosis, as well as for effective therapeutic targeting of α- and β- adrenergic signaling (by novel and existing chemotherapeutic agents and antiandrogens). Interfering with EMT and apoptosis simultaneously toward eradicating the tumor mass is of major significance in combating the lethal disease and increasing patient survival.
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14
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Xu G, Liu C, Liang T, Zhang Z, Jiang J, Chen J, Xue J, Zeng H, Lu Z, Zhan X. Gene expression profile and bioinformatics analysis revealed key molecular characteristics of chordoma-before and after TNF- a treatment. Medicine (Baltimore) 2020; 99:e18790. [PMID: 32011476 PMCID: PMC7220412 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000018790] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2019] [Revised: 11/16/2019] [Accepted: 12/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chordoma is a rare malignant tumor with limited treatment. Recent studies have shown that the proliferation and invasion ability of chordoma after Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) treatment is enhanced, which may activate the gene pathway involved in the development of chordoma. This study tends to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) before and after treatment of TNF-α in chordoma cell line, providing a new target for future molecular therapy of chordoma. METHODS The gene expression profile of GSE101867 was downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus database, and the differentially expressed genes were obtained using GEO2R. Based on the CLUEGO plugin in Cytoscape, DEGs functionality and enrichment analysis. A protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed using Cytoscape based on data collected from the STRING online dataset. The Hub genes are selected from the CytoHubba, the first 20 genes that coexist with the KEGG tumor-related pathway. RESULTS A total of 560 genes, including 304 up-regulated genes and 256 down-regulated genes, were selected as DEGs. Obviously, GO analysis shows that up-regulated and down-regulated DEGs are mainly enriched in biological processes such as synaptic tissue, cell adhesion, extracellular matrix organization and skeletal system development. DEGs are mainly enriched in tumor-associated pathways such as Pi3k-akt Signal path, Rap1 signal path. Three key genes were identified: PDGFRB, KDR, FGF2. All of these genes are involved in the tumor-associated pathways described previously. CONCLUSION This study is helpful in understanding the molecular characteristics of chordoma development. Hub genes PDGFRB, KDR, FGF2 and pi3k-akt signaling pathway, Rap1 signaling pathway will become a new target for the future treatment of chordoma.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Chong Liu
- Guangxi Medical University
- Spine and Osteopathy Ward, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, PR China
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Xinli Zhan
- Guangxi Medical University
- Spine and Osteopathy Ward, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, PR China
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15
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Gatti‐Mays ME, Redman JM, Donahue RN, Palena C, Madan RA, Karzai F, Bilusic M, Sater HA, Marté JL, Cordes LM, McMahon S, Steinberg SM, Orpia A, Burmeister A, Schlom J, Gulley JL, Strauss J. A Phase I Trial Using a Multitargeted Recombinant Adenovirus 5 (CEA/MUC1/Brachyury)-Based Immunotherapy Vaccine Regimen in Patients with Advanced Cancer. Oncologist 2019; 25:479-e899. [PMID: 31594913 PMCID: PMC7288633 DOI: 10.1634/theoncologist.2019-0608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2019] [Accepted: 08/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
LESSONS LEARNED Concurrent ETBX-011, ETBX-051, and ETBX-061 can be safely administered to patients with advanced cancer. All patients developed CD4+ and/or CD8+ T-cell responses after vaccination to at least one tumor-associated antigen (TAA) encoded by the vaccine; 5/6 patients (83%) developed MUC1-specific T cells, 4/6 (67%) developed CEA-specific T cells, and 3/6 (50%) developed brachyury-specific T cells. The presence of adenovirus 5-neutralizing antibodies did not prevent the generation of TAA-specific T cells. BACKGROUND A novel adenovirus-based vaccine targeting three human tumor-associated antigens-CEA, MUC1, and brachyury-has demonstrated antitumor cytolytic T-cell responses in preclinical animal models of cancer. METHODS This open-label, phase I trial evaluated concurrent administration of three therapeutic vaccines (ETBX-011 = CEA, ETBX-061 = MUC1 and ETBX-051 = brachyury). All three vaccines used the same modified adenovirus 5 (Ad5) vector backbone and were administered at a single dose level (DL) of 5 × 1011 viral particles (VP) per vector. The vaccine regimen consisting of all three vaccines was given every 3 weeks for three doses then every 8 weeks for up to 1 year. Clinical and immune responses were evaluated. RESULTS Ten patients enrolled on trial (DL1 = 6 with 4 in the DL1 expansion cohort). All treatment-related adverse events were temporary, self-limiting, grade 1/2 and included injection site reactions and flu-like symptoms. Antigen-specific T cells to MUC1, CEA, and/or brachyury were generated in all patients. There was no evidence of antigenic competition. The administration of the vaccine regimen produced stable disease as the best clinical response. CONCLUSION Concurrent ETBX-011, ETBX-051, and ETBX-061 can be safely administered to patients with advanced cancer. Further studies of the vaccine regimen in combination with other agents, including immune checkpoint blockade, are planned.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margaret E. Gatti‐Mays
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of HealthBethesdaMarylandUSA
| | - Jason M. Redman
- Genitourinary Malignancies Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of HealthBethesdaMarylandUSA
| | - Renee N. Donahue
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of HealthBethesdaMarylandUSA
| | - Claudia Palena
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of HealthBethesdaMarylandUSA
| | - Ravi A. Madan
- Genitourinary Malignancies Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of HealthBethesdaMarylandUSA
| | - Fatima Karzai
- Genitourinary Malignancies Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of HealthBethesdaMarylandUSA
| | - Marijo Bilusic
- Genitourinary Malignancies Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of HealthBethesdaMarylandUSA
| | - Houssein Abdul Sater
- Genitourinary Malignancies Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of HealthBethesdaMarylandUSA
| | - Jennifer L. Marté
- Genitourinary Malignancies Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of HealthBethesdaMarylandUSA
| | - Lisa M. Cordes
- Genitourinary Malignancies Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of HealthBethesdaMarylandUSA
| | - Sheri McMahon
- Genitourinary Malignancies Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of HealthBethesdaMarylandUSA
| | - Seth M. Steinberg
- Biostatistics and Data Management Section, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of HealthBethesdaMarylandUSA
| | - Alanvin Orpia
- Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc.FrederickMarylandUSA
| | | | - Jeffrey Schlom
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of HealthBethesdaMarylandUSA
| | - James L. Gulley
- Genitourinary Malignancies Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of HealthBethesdaMarylandUSA
| | - Julius Strauss
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of HealthBethesdaMarylandUSA
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16
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Kumar R, Kumar P. Yeast-based vaccines: New perspective in vaccine development and application. FEMS Yeast Res 2019; 19:5298404. [PMID: 30668686 DOI: 10.1093/femsyr/foz007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2018] [Accepted: 01/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
In presently licensed vaccines, killed or attenuated organisms act as a source of immunogens except for peptide-based vaccines. These conventional vaccines required a mass culture of associated or related organisms and long incubation periods. Special requirements during storage and transportation further adds to the cost of vaccine preparations. Availability of complete genome sequence, well-established genetic, inherent natural adjuvant and non-pathogenic nature of yeast species viz. Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Pichia pastoris makes them an ideal model system for the development of vaccines both for public health and for on-farm consumption. In this review, we compile the work in this emerging field during last two decades with major emphases on S. cerevisiae and P. pastoris which are routinely used worldwide for expression of heterologous proteins with therapeutic value against infectious diseases along with possible use in cancer therapy. We also pointed towards the developments in use of whole recombinant yeast, yeast surface display and virus-like particles as a novel strategy in the fight against infectious diseases and cancer along with other aspects including suitability of yeast in vaccines preparations, yeast cell wall component as an immune stimulator or modulator and present status of yeast-based vaccines in clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ravinder Kumar
- Section of Molecular Biology, Division of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Piyush Kumar
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Powai, Mumbai 400 076, Maharashtra, India
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17
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Hinshaw DC, Shevde LA. The Tumor Microenvironment Innately Modulates Cancer Progression. Cancer Res 2019; 79:4557-4566. [PMID: 31350295 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-18-3962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1770] [Impact Index Per Article: 354.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2018] [Revised: 02/28/2019] [Accepted: 05/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Cancer development and progression occurs in concert with alterations in the surrounding stroma. Cancer cells can functionally sculpt their microenvironment through the secretion of various cytokines, chemokines, and other factors. This results in a reprogramming of the surrounding cells, enabling them to play a determinative role in tumor survival and progression. Immune cells are important constituents of the tumor stroma and critically take part in this process. Growing evidence suggests that the innate immune cells (macrophages, neutrophils, dendritic cells, innate lymphoid cells, myeloid-derived suppressor cells, and natural killer cells) as well as adaptive immune cells (T cells and B cells) contribute to tumor progression when present in the tumor microenvironment (TME). Cross-talk between cancer cells and the proximal immune cells ultimately results in an environment that fosters tumor growth and metastasis. Understanding the nature of this dialog will allow for improved therapeutics that simultaneously target multiple components of the TME, increasing the likelihood of favorable patient outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominique C Hinshaw
- Department of Pathology, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
| | - Lalita A Shevde
- Department of Pathology, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama. .,O'Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
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18
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The Vicious Cross-Talk between Tumor Cells with an EMT Phenotype and Cells of the Immune System. Cells 2019; 8:cells8050460. [PMID: 31096701 PMCID: PMC6562673 DOI: 10.3390/cells8050460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2019] [Revised: 05/02/2019] [Accepted: 05/14/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Carcinoma cells that undergo an epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and display a predominantly mesenchymal phenotype (hereafter EMT tumor cells) are associated with immune exclusion and immune deviation in the tumor microenvironment (TME). A large body of evidence has shown that EMT tumor cells and immune cells can reciprocally influence each other, with EMT cells promoting immune exclusion and deviation and immune cells promoting, under certain circumstances, the induction of EMT in tumor cells. This cross-talk between EMT tumor cells and immune cells can occur both between EMT tumor cells and cells of either the native or adaptive immune system. In this article, we review this evidence and the functional consequences of it. We also discuss some recent evidence showing that tumor cells and cells of the immune system respond to similar stimuli, activate the expression of partially overlapping gene sets, and acquire, at least in part, identical functionalities such as migration and invasion. The possible significance of these symmetrical changes in the cross-talk between EMT tumor cells and immune cells is addressed. Eventually, we also discuss possible therapeutic opportunities that may derive from disrupting this cross-talk.
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19
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Shah SR, David JM, Tippens ND, Mohyeldin A, Martinez-Gutierrez JC, Ganaha S, Schiapparelli P, Hamilton DH, Palena C, Levchenko A, Quiñones-Hinojosa A. Brachyury-YAP Regulatory Axis Drives Stemness and Growth in Cancer. Cell Rep 2018; 21:495-507. [PMID: 29020634 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2017.09.057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2017] [Revised: 07/19/2017] [Accepted: 09/15/2017] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Molecular factors that define stem cell identity have recently emerged as oncogenic drivers. For instance, brachyury, a key developmental transcriptional factor, is also implicated in carcinogenesis, most notably of chordoma, through mechanisms that remain elusive. Here, we show that brachyury is a crucial regulator of stemness in chordoma and in more common aggressive cancers. Furthermore, this effect of brachyury is mediated by control of synthesis and stability of Yes-associated protein (YAP), a key regulator of tissue growth and homeostasis, providing an unexpected mechanism of control of YAP expression. We further demonstrate that the brachyury-YAP regulatory pathway is associated with tumor aggressiveness. These results elucidate a mechanism of controlling both tumor stemness and aggressiveness through regulatory coupling of two developmental factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sagar R Shah
- Department of Neurologic Surgery, The Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Justin M David
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Nathaniel D Tippens
- Department of Biological Statistics and Computational Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Ahmed Mohyeldin
- Department of Neurological Surgery, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA
| | | | - Sara Ganaha
- Department of Neurologic Surgery, The Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | | | - Duane H Hamilton
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Claudia Palena
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Andre Levchenko
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Systems Biology Institute, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA.
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20
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Fujii R, Friedman ER, Richards J, Tsang KY, Heery CR, Schlom J, Hodge JW. Enhanced killing of chordoma cells by antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity employing the novel anti-PD-L1 antibody avelumab. Oncotarget 2018; 7:33498-511. [PMID: 27172898 PMCID: PMC5085098 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.9256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2016] [Accepted: 04/26/2016] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Chordoma, a rare bone tumor derived from the notochord, has been shown to be resistant to conventional therapies. Checkpoint inhibition has shown great promise in immune-mediated therapy of diverse cancers. The anti-PD-L1 mAb avelumab is unique among checkpoint inhibitors in that it is a fully human IgG1 capable of mediating antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) of PD-L1-expressing tumor cells. Here, we investigated avelumab as a potential therapy for chordoma. We examined 4 chordoma cell lines, first for expression of PD-L1, and in vitro for ADCC killing using NK cells and avelumab. PD-L1 expression was markedly upregulated by IFN-γ in all 4 chordoma cell lines, which significantly increased sensitivity to ADCC. Brachyury is a transcription factor that is uniformly expressed in chordoma. Clinical trials are ongoing in which chordoma patients are treated with brachyury-specific vaccines. Co-incubating chordoma cells with brachyury-specific CD8+ T cells resulted in significant upregulation of PD-L1 on the tumor cells, mediated by the CD8+ T cells' IFN-γ production, and increased sensitivity of chordoma cells to avelumab-mediated ADCC. Residential cancer stem cell subpopulations of chordoma cells were also killed by avelumab-mediated ADCC to the same degree as non-cancer stem cell populations. These findings suggest that as a monotherapy for chordoma, avelumab may enable endogenous NK cells, while in combination with T-cell immunotherapy, such as a vaccine, avelumab may enhance NK-cell killing of chordoma cells via ADCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rika Fujii
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Eitan R Friedman
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Jacob Richards
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Kwong Y Tsang
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Christopher R Heery
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Jeffrey Schlom
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - James W Hodge
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
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21
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Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition in Pancreatic Cancer: A Review. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2017; 2017:2646148. [PMID: 29379795 PMCID: PMC5742883 DOI: 10.1155/2017/2646148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2017] [Revised: 10/21/2017] [Accepted: 11/19/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most aggressive solid malignancies and is characterized by its insensitivity to current therapy. The invasion and metastasis of solid tumors such as PDAC are complex processes involving many factors. Recent insights into the role of cancer stem cells (CSCs) and the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in tumorigenesis have increased the knowledge base and highlighted new therapeutic targets of this disease. The process of EMT is regulated by a complex network of cytokines, transcription factors, growth factors, signaling pathways, and the tumor microenvironment, exhibiting CSC-like properties. The transition of solid cancer cells from an epithelial to a mesenchymal phenotype increases their migratory and invasive properties, thus promoting metastasis. In PDAC, the exact influence of EMT on the biological behaviors of cancer cells and its impact on clinical therapy remain controversial, but the therapeutic strategy of combining EMT inhibition with chemotherapy deserves attention. Alternatively, anti-inflammatory therapy that targets the interaction between inflammation and EMT is a valid strategy for treating the premalignant stage of tumor progression. In this review, we summarize the latest research on EMT and the potential relationship between EMT and PDAC.
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22
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Targeting epithelial-mesenchymal plasticity in cancer: clinical and preclinical advances in therapy and monitoring. Biochem J 2017; 474:3269-3306. [PMID: 28931648 DOI: 10.1042/bcj20160782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2017] [Revised: 08/01/2017] [Accepted: 08/07/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The concept of epithelial-mesenchymal plasticity (EMP), which describes the dynamic flux within the spectrum of phenotypic states that invasive carcinoma cells may reside, is being increasingly recognised for its role in cancer progression and therapy resistance. The myriad of events that are able to induce EMP, as well as the more recently characterised control loops, results in dynamic transitions of cancerous epithelial cells to more mesenchymal-like phenotypes through an epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), as well as the reverse transition from mesenchymal phenotypes to an epithelial one. The significance of EMP, in its ability to drive local invasion, generate cancer stem cells and facilitate metastasis by the dissemination of circulating tumour cells (CTCs), highlights its importance as a targetable programme to combat cancer morbidity and mortality. The focus of this review is to consolidate the existing knowledge on the strategies currently in development to combat cancer progression via inhibition of specific facets of EMP. The prevalence of relapse due to therapy resistance and metastatic propensity that EMP endows should be considered when designing therapy regimes, and such therapies should synergise with existing chemotherapeutics to benefit efficacy. To further improve upon EMP-targeted therapies, it is imperative to devise monitoring strategies to assess the impact of such treatments on EMP-related phenomenon such as CTC burden, chemosensitivity/-resistance and micrometastasis in patients.
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23
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Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition and MicroRNAs in Lung Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2017; 9:cancers9080101. [PMID: 28771186 PMCID: PMC5575604 DOI: 10.3390/cancers9080101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2017] [Revised: 07/17/2017] [Accepted: 07/26/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite major advances, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains the major cause of cancer-related death in developed countries. Metastasis and drug resistance are the main factors contributing to relapse and death. Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a complex molecular and cellular process involved in tissue remodelling that was extensively studied as an actor of tumour progression, metastasis and drug resistance in many cancer types and in lung cancers. Here we described with an emphasis on NSCLC how the changes in signalling pathways, transcription factors expression or microRNAs that occur in cancer promote EMT. Understanding the biology of EMT will help to define reversing process and treatment strategies. We will see that this complex mechanism is related to inflammation, cell mobility and stem cell features and that it is a dynamic process. The existence of intermediate phenotypes and tumour heterogeneity may be debated in the literature concerning EMT markers, EMT signatures and clinical consequences in NSCLC. However, given the role of EMT in metastasis and in drug resistance the development of EMT inhibitors is an interesting approach to counteract tumour progression and drug resistance. This review describes EMT involvement in cancer with an emphasis on NSCLC and microRNA regulation.
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24
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Hdeib A, Wright JM. Brachyury-targeting immunotherapy for chordomas: treatment with GI-6301, a Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast-based cancer vaccine. Expert Opin Orphan Drugs 2017. [DOI: 10.1080/21678707.2017.1331126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Alia Hdeib
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - James M. Wright
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA
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25
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Terry S, Savagner P, Ortiz-Cuaran S, Mahjoubi L, Saintigny P, Thiery JP, Chouaib S. New insights into the role of EMT in tumor immune escape. Mol Oncol 2017; 11:824-846. [PMID: 28614624 PMCID: PMC5496499 DOI: 10.1002/1878-0261.12093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 275] [Impact Index Per Article: 39.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2017] [Revised: 05/27/2017] [Accepted: 06/02/2017] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Novel immunotherapy approaches have provided durable remission in a significant number of cancer patients with cancers previously considered rapidly lethal. Nonetheless, the high degree of nonresponders, and in some cases the emergence of resistance in patients who do initially respond, represents a significant challenge in the field of cancer immunotherapy. These issues prompt much more extensive studies to better understand how cancer cells escape immune surveillance and resist immune attacks. Here, we review the current knowledge of how cellular heterogeneity and plasticity could be involved in shaping the tumor microenvironment (TME) and in controlling antitumor immunity. Indeed, recent findings have led to increased interest in the mechanisms by which cancer cells undergoing epithelial‐mesenchymal transition (EMT), or oscillating within the EMT spectrum, might contribute to immune escape through multiple routes. This includes shaping of the TME and decreased susceptibility to immune effector cells. Although much remains to be learned on the mechanisms at play, cancer cell clones with mesenchymal features emerging from the TME seem to be primed to face immune attacks by specialized killer cells of the immune system, the natural killer cells, and the cytotoxic T lymphocytes. Recent studies investigating patient tumors have suggested EMT as a candidate predictive marker to be explored for immunotherapy outcome. Promising data also exist on the potential utility of targeting these cancer cell populations to at least partly overcome such resistance. Research is now underway which may lead to considerable progress in optimization of treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stéphane Terry
- INSERM UMR 1186, Integrative Tumor Immunology and Genetic Oncology, Gustave Roussy, EPHE, Fac. de médecine - Univ. Paris-Sud, University Paris-Saclay, Villejuif, France
| | - Pierre Savagner
- Institut de Recherche en Cancérologie de Montpellier, France.,U1194, INSERM, Montpellier, France.,Université Montpellier, France.,Institut du Cancer Montpellier, France
| | - Sandra Ortiz-Cuaran
- INSERM U1052, CNRS UMR 5286, Cancer Research Center of Lyon, France.,Université de Lyon, France.,Centre Léon Bérard, Lyon, France.,Faculté de Pharmacie de Lyon, ISPB, Université Lyon 1, France.,LabEx DEVweCAN, Université de Lyon, France
| | - Linda Mahjoubi
- INSERM UMR 1186, Integrative Tumor Immunology and Genetic Oncology, Gustave Roussy, EPHE, Fac. de médecine - Univ. Paris-Sud, University Paris-Saclay, Villejuif, France
| | - Pierre Saintigny
- INSERM U1052, CNRS UMR 5286, Cancer Research Center of Lyon, France.,Université de Lyon, France.,Centre Léon Bérard, Lyon, France.,Faculté de Pharmacie de Lyon, ISPB, Université Lyon 1, France.,LabEx DEVweCAN, Université de Lyon, France
| | - Jean-Paul Thiery
- INSERM UMR 1186, Integrative Tumor Immunology and Genetic Oncology, Gustave Roussy, EPHE, Fac. de médecine - Univ. Paris-Sud, University Paris-Saclay, Villejuif, France.,CNRS UMR 7057, Matter and Complex Systems, Paris, France.,Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Salem Chouaib
- INSERM UMR 1186, Integrative Tumor Immunology and Genetic Oncology, Gustave Roussy, EPHE, Fac. de médecine - Univ. Paris-Sud, University Paris-Saclay, Villejuif, France
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26
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Malek R, Wang H, Taparra K, Tran PT. Therapeutic Targeting of Epithelial Plasticity Programs: Focus on the Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition. Cells Tissues Organs 2017; 203:114-127. [PMID: 28214899 DOI: 10.1159/000447238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/27/2016] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Mounting data points to epithelial plasticity programs such as the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) as clinically relevant therapeutic targets for the treatment of malignant tumors. In addition to the widely realized role of EMT in increasing cancer cell invasiveness during cancer metastasis, the EMT has also been implicated in allowing cancer cells to avoid tumor suppressor pathways during early tumorigenesis. In addition, data linking EMT to innate and acquired treatment resistance further points towards the desire to develop pharmacological therapies to target epithelial plasticity in cancer. In this review we organized our discussion on pathways and agents that can be used to target the EMT in cancer into 3 groups: (1) extracellular inducers of EMT, (2) the transcription factors that orchestrate the EMT transcriptome, and (3) the downstream effectors of EMT. We highlight only briefly specific canonical pathways known to be involved in EMT, such as the signal transduction pathways TGFβ, EFGR, and Axl-Gas6. We emphasize in more detail pathways that we believe are emerging novel pathways and therapeutic targets such as epigenetic therapies, glycosylation pathways, and immunotherapy. The heterogeneity of tumors and the dynamic nature of epithelial plasticity in cancer cells make it likely that targeting only 1 EMT-related process will be unsuccessful or only transiently successful. We suggest that with greater understanding of epithelial plasticity regulation, such as with the EMT, a more systematic targeting of multiple EMT regulatory networks will be the best path forward to improve cancer outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reem Malek
- Department of Radiation Oncology and Molecular Radiation Sciences, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
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27
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Hamilton DH, David JM, Dominguez C, Palena C. Development of Cancer Vaccines Targeting Brachyury, a Transcription Factor Associated with Tumor Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition. Cells Tissues Organs 2017; 203:128-138. [PMID: 28214895 DOI: 10.1159/000446495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/28/2016] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is recognized as a relevant process during the progression of carcinomas towards metastatic disease. Epithelial cancer cells undergoing an EMT program may acquire mesenchymal features, motility, invasiveness, and resistance to a variety of anticancer therapeutics. Preventing or reverting the EMT process in carcinomas has the potential to minimize tumor dissemination and the emergence of therapeutic resistance. One of the strategies currently under investigation to target tumor cells undergoing EMT is the generation of a sustained immune response directed against an essential molecular driver of the process. This review focuses on the current development of immune-mediated anticancer interventions aimed at targeting a transcription factor, brachyury, associated with human tumor EMT. Also presented here is a summary of recent studies demonstrating a role for EMT in tumor resistance to immune effector cytotoxicity, and the study of novel strategies aimed at reverting the EMT to be used in combination with immune-mediated anticancer interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Duane H Hamilton
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
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28
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Abstract
The significant parallels between cell plasticity during embryonic development and carcinoma progression have helped us understand the importance of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in human disease. Our expanding knowledge of EMT has led to a clarification of the EMT program as a set of multiple and dynamic transitional states between the epithelial and mesenchymal phenotypes, as opposed to a process involving a single binary decision. EMT and its intermediate states have recently been identified as crucial drivers of organ fibrosis and tumor progression, although there is some need for caution when interpreting its contribution to metastatic colonization. Here, we discuss the current state-of-the-art and latest findings regarding the concept of cellular plasticity and heterogeneity in EMT. We raise some of the questions pending and identify the challenges faced in this fast-moving field.
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29
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David JM, Dominguez C, Palena C. Pharmacological and immunological targeting of tumor mesenchymalization. Pharmacol Ther 2016; 170:212-225. [PMID: 27916651 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2016.11.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Controlling the spread of carcinoma cells to distant organs is the foremost challenge in cancer treatment, as metastatic disease is generally resistant to therapy and is ultimately incurable for the majority of patients. The plasticity of tumor cell phenotype, in which the behaviors and functions of individual tumor cells differ markedly depending upon intrinsic and extrinsic factors, is now known to be a central mechanism in cancer progression. Our expanding knowledge of epithelial and mesenchymal phenotypic states in tumor cells, and the dynamic nature of the transitions between these phenotypes has created new opportunities to intervene to better control the behavior of tumor cells. There are now a variety of innovative pharmacological approaches to preferentially target tumor cells that have acquired mesenchymal features, including cytotoxic agents that directly kill these cells, and inhibitors that block or revert the process of mesenchymalization. Furthermore, novel immunological strategies have been developed to engage the immune system in seeking out and destroying mesenchymalized tumor cells. This review highlights the relevance of phenotypic plasticity in tumor biology, and discusses recently developed pharmacological and immunological means of targeting this phenomenon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin M David
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, United States
| | - Charli Dominguez
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, United States
| | - Claudia Palena
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, United States.
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30
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Hamilton DH, Roselli M, Ferroni P, Costarelli L, Cavaliere F, Taffuri M, Palena C, Guadagni F. Brachyury, a vaccine target, is overexpressed in triple-negative breast cancer. Endocr Relat Cancer 2016; 23:783-796. [PMID: 27580659 PMCID: PMC5010091 DOI: 10.1530/erc-16-0037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2016] [Accepted: 08/09/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Patients diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) have a high rate of tumor metastasis and a poor prognosis. The treatment option for these patients is currently chemotherapy, which results in very low response rates. Strategies that exploit the immune system for the treatment of cancer have now shown the ability to improve survival in several tumor types. Identifying potential targets for immune therapeutic interventions is an important step in developing novel treatments for TNBC. In this study, in silico analysis of publicly available datasets and immunohistochemical analysis of primary and metastatic tumor biopsies from TNBC patients were conducted to evaluate the expression of the transcription factor brachyury, which is a driver of tumor metastasis and resistance and a target for cancer vaccine approaches. Analysis of breast cancer datasets demonstrated a predominant expression of brachyury mRNA in TNBC and in basal vs luminal or HER2 molecular breast cancer subtypes. At the protein level, variable levels of brachyury expression were detected both in primary and metastatic TNBC lesions. A strong association was observed between nuclear brachyury protein expression and the stage of disease, with nuclear brachyury being more predominant in metastatic vs primary tumors. Survival analysis also demonstrated an association between high levels of brachyury in the primary tumor and poor prognosis. Two brachyury-targeting cancer vaccines are currently undergoing clinical evaluation; the data presented here provide rationale for using brachyury-targeting immunotherapy approaches for the treatment of TNBC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Duane H. Hamilton
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Mario Roselli
- Department of Systems Medicine, Medical Oncology, Tor Vergata Clinical Center, Tor Vergata University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | - Claudia Palena
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
- Corresponding Author: Claudia Palena, Ph.D., Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892. Telephone: (301) 496-1528; fax: (301) 496-2756;
| | - Fiorella Guadagni
- San Raffaele Roma Open University, Rome, Italy
- Interinstitutional Multidisciplinary Biobank (BioBIM), IRCCS San Raffaele Pisana, Rome, Italy
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31
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Short-term EGFR blockade enhances immune-mediated cytotoxicity of EGFR mutant lung cancer cells: rationale for combination therapies. Cell Death Dis 2016; 7:e2380. [PMID: 27685624 PMCID: PMC5059888 DOI: 10.1038/cddis.2016.297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2016] [Revised: 08/23/2016] [Accepted: 08/24/2016] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor (EGFR-TKI) erlotinib has been approved for years as a first-line therapy for patients harboring EGFR-sensitizing mutations. With the promising implementation of immunotherapeutic strategies for the treatment of lung cancer, there is a growing interest in developing combinatorial therapies that could utilize immune approaches in the context of conventional or targeted therapies. Tumor cells are known to evade immune attack by multiple strategies, including undergoing phenotypic plasticity via a process designated as the epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT). As signaling through EGFR is a major inducer of EMT in epithelial cells, we have investigated the effect of EGFR inhibition with erlotinib on tumor phenotype and susceptibility to immune attack. Our data shows that short-term exposure of tumor cells to low-dose erlotinib modulates tumor plasticity and immune-mediated cytotoxicity in lung cancer cells harboring a sensitizing EGFR mutation, leading to a remarkable enhancement of tumor lysis mediated by innate NK cells and antigen-specific T cells. This effect positively correlated with the ability of short-term EGFR blockade to modulate tumor phenotype towards a more epithelial one, as well as to increase susceptibility to caspase-mediated apoptosis. The effect, however, was lost when erlotinib was utilized for long periods of time in vitro or in vivo, which resulted in gain of mesenchymal features and decreased (rather than increased) tumor lysis in response to immune effector mechanisms. Our data provides rationale for potential combinations of erlotinib and immunotherapies for the treatment of lung carcinomas in the early setting, before the establishment of tumor relapse with long-term EGFR inhibition.
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32
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Gabitzsch ES, Tsang KY, Palena C, David JM, Fantini M, Kwilas A, Rice AE, Latchman Y, Hodge JW, Gulley JL, Madan RA, Heery CR, Balint JP, Jones FR, Schlom J. The generation and analyses of a novel combination of recombinant adenovirus vaccines targeting three tumor antigens as an immunotherapeutic. Oncotarget 2016; 6:31344-59. [PMID: 26374823 PMCID: PMC4741610 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.5181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2015] [Accepted: 08/24/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Phenotypic heterogeneity of human carcinoma lesions, including heterogeneity in expression of tumor-associated antigens (TAAs), is a well-established phenomenon. Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), MUC1, and brachyury are diverse TAAs, each of which is expressed on a wide range of human tumors. We have previously reported on a novel adenovirus serotype 5 (Ad5) vector gene delivery platform (Ad5 [E1-, E2b-]) in which regions of the early 1 (E1), early 2 (E2b), and early 3 (E3) genes have been deleted. The unique deletions in this platform result in a dramatic decrease in late gene expression, leading to a marked reduction in host immune response to the vector. Ad5 [E1-, E2b-]-CEA vaccine (ETBX-011) has been employed in clinical studies as an active vaccine to induce immune responses to CEA in metastatic colorectal cancer patients. We report here the development of novel recombinant Ad5 [E1-, E2b-]-brachyury and-MUC1 vaccine constructs, each capable of activating antigen-specific human T cells in vitro and inducing antigen-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in vaccinated mice. We also describe the use of a combination of the three vaccines (designated Tri-Ad5) of Ad5 [E1-, E2b-]-CEA, Ad5 [E1-, E2b-]-brachyury and Ad5 [E1-, E2b-]-MUC1, and demonstrate that there is minimal to no “antigenic competition” in in vitro studies of human dendritic cells, or in murine vaccination studies. The studies reported herein support the rationale for the application of Tri-Ad5 as a therapeutic modality to induce immune responses to a diverse range of human TAAs for potential clinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kwong Yok Tsang
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Claudia Palena
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Justin M David
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Massimo Fantini
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Anna Kwilas
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | | | | | - James W Hodge
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - James L Gulley
- Genitourinary Malignancies Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Ravi A Madan
- Genitourinary Malignancies Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Christopher R Heery
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | | | | | - Jeffrey Schlom
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
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33
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Scheipl S, Barnard M, Cottone L, Jorgensen M, Drewry DH, Zuercher WJ, Turlais F, Ye H, Leite AP, Smith JA, Leithner A, Möller P, Brüderlein S, Guppy N, Amary F, Tirabosco R, Strauss SJ, Pillay N, Flanagan AM. EGFR inhibitors identified as a potential treatment for chordoma in a focused compound screen. J Pathol 2016; 239:320-34. [PMID: 27102572 PMCID: PMC4922416 DOI: 10.1002/path.4729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2015] [Revised: 03/11/2016] [Accepted: 04/10/2016] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Chordoma is a rare malignant bone tumour with a poor prognosis and limited therapeutic options. We undertook a focused compound screen (FCS) against 1097 compounds on three well-characterized chordoma cell lines; 154 compounds were selected from the single concentration screen (1 µm), based on their growth-inhibitory effect. Their half-maximal effective concentration (EC50 ) values were determined in chordoma cells and normal fibroblasts. Twenty-seven of these compounds displayed chordoma selective cell kill and 21/27 (78%) were found to be EGFR/ERBB family inhibitors. EGFR inhibitors in clinical development were then studied on an extended cell line panel of seven chordoma cell lines, four of which were sensitive to EGFR inhibition. Sapitinib (AstraZeneca) emerged as the lead compound, followed by gefitinib (AstraZeneca) and erlotinib (Roche/Genentech). The compounds were shown to induce apoptosis in the sensitive cell lines and suppressed phospho-EGFR and its downstream pathways in a dose-dependent manner. Analysis of substituent patterns suggested that EGFR-inhibitors with small aniline substituents in the 4-position of the quinazoline ring were more effective than inhibitors with large substituents in that position. Sapitinib showed significantly reduced tumour growth in two xenograft mouse models (U-CH1 xenograft and a patient-derived xenograft, SF8894). One of the resistant cell lines (U-CH2) was shown to express high levels of phospho-MET, a known bypass signalling pathway to EGFR. Neither amplifications (EGFR, ERBB2, MET) nor mutations in EGFR, ERBB2, ERBB4, PIK3CA, BRAF, NRAS, KRAS, PTEN, MET or other cancer gene hotspots were detected in the cell lines. Our findings are consistent with the reported (p-)EGFR expression in the majority of clinical samples, and provide evidence for exploring the efficacy of EGFR inhibitors in the treatment of patients with chordoma and studying possible resistance mechanisms to these compounds in vitro and in vivo. © 2016 The Authors. The Journal of Pathology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susanne Scheipl
- University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK
- Department of Orthopaedics and Orthopaedic Surgery, Medical University of Graz, Austria
| | - Michelle Barnard
- University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK
- Cancer Research Technology Discovery Laboratories, Cambridge, UK
- CRUK-MedImmune Alliance Laboratory, Cambridge, UK
| | - Lucia Cottone
- University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK
| | | | - David H Drewry
- GlaxoSmithKline, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
- SGC-UNC, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - William J Zuercher
- GlaxoSmithKline, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
- SGC-UNC, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Fabrice Turlais
- Cancer Research Technology Discovery Laboratories, Cambridge, UK
| | - Hongtao Ye
- Department of Histopathology, Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, Stanmore, UK
| | - Ana P Leite
- University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK
| | - James A Smith
- Cancer Research Technology Discovery Laboratories, Cambridge, UK
| | - Andreas Leithner
- Department of Orthopaedics and Orthopaedic Surgery, Medical University of Graz, Austria
| | | | | | - Naomi Guppy
- University College London Advanced Diagnostics, London, UK
| | - Fernanda Amary
- Department of Histopathology, Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, Stanmore, UK
| | - Roberto Tirabosco
- Department of Histopathology, Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, Stanmore, UK
| | | | - Nischalan Pillay
- University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK
- Department of Histopathology, Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, Stanmore, UK
| | - Adrienne M Flanagan
- University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK
- Department of Histopathology, Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, Stanmore, UK
- University College London Advanced Diagnostics, London, UK
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Weber DC, Malyapa R, Albertini F, Bolsi A, Kliebsch U, Walser M, Pica A, Combescure C, Lomax AJ, Schneider R. Long term outcomes of patients with skull-base low-grade chondrosarcoma and chordoma patients treated with pencil beam scanning proton therapy. Radiother Oncol 2016; 120:169-74. [PMID: 27247057 DOI: 10.1016/j.radonc.2016.05.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 106] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2016] [Revised: 04/26/2016] [Accepted: 05/16/2016] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To evaluate the long term tumor control and toxicity of skull base tumors treated with pencil beam scanning proton therapy (PT). MATERIALS AND METHODS PT was delivered to 151 (68%) and 71 (32%) chordoma and chondrosarcoma (ChSa) patients, respectively. Mean age of patients was 40.8±18.4years and the male to female ratio was 0.53. The postoperative tumor was abutting the brainstem or optic apparatus in 71 (32.0%) patients. The postoperative mean gross tumor volume (GTV) was 35.7±29.1cm(3). The delivered mean PT dose was 72.5±2.2GyRBE. RESULTS After a mean follow-up of 50 (range, 4-176) months, 35 local (15.8%) failures were observed between 10.9 and 85.4months. The estimated 7-year LC rate for chordoma (70.9%; CI95% 61.5-81.8) was significantly lower compared to the LC rate for ChSa patients (93.6%; 95%CI 87.8-99.9; P=0.014). The estimated 7-year distant metastasis-free- and overall survival rate was 91.6% (95%CI 91.6-98.6) and 81.7% (95%CI 74.7-89.5), respectively. On multivariate analysis, optic apparatus and/or brainstem compression, histology and GTV were independent prognostic factors for LC and OS. The 7-year high grade toxicity-free survival was 87.2 (95%CI 82.4-92.3). CONCLUSIONS PBS PT is an effective treatment for skull base tumors with acceptable late toxicity. Optic apparatus and/or brainstem compression, histology and GTV allow independent prediction of the risk of local failure and death in skull base tumor patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Damien C Weber
- Center for Proton Therapy, Paul Scherrer Institute, Switzerland; University of Bern, Switzerland; University of Zürich, Switzerland.
| | - Robert Malyapa
- Center for Proton Therapy, Paul Scherrer Institute, Switzerland
| | | | | | - Ulrike Kliebsch
- Center for Proton Therapy, Paul Scherrer Institute, Switzerland
| | - Marc Walser
- Center for Proton Therapy, Paul Scherrer Institute, Switzerland
| | - Alessia Pica
- Center for Proton Therapy, Paul Scherrer Institute, Switzerland
| | | | - Antony J Lomax
- Center for Proton Therapy, Paul Scherrer Institute, Switzerland; ETH, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Ralf Schneider
- Center for Proton Therapy, Paul Scherrer Institute, Switzerland
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35
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Pinto F, Campanella NC, Abrahão-Machado LF, Scapulatempo-Neto C, de Oliveira AT, Brito MJ, Andrade RP, Guimarães DP, Reis RM. The embryonic Brachyury transcription factor is a novel biomarker of GIST aggressiveness and poor survival. Gastric Cancer 2016; 19:651-659. [PMID: 25995035 DOI: 10.1007/s10120-015-0505-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2014] [Accepted: 04/29/2015] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The T-box transcription factor Brachyury was recently reported to be upregulated and associated with prognosis in solid tumors. Here, we proposed to evaluate the potential use of Brachyury protein expression as a new prognostic biomarker in gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST). METHODS Brachyury protein expression was analyzed by immunohistochemistry in a cohort of 63 bona fide GIST patients. Brachyury expression profiles were correlated with patients' clinicopathological features and prognostic impact. Additionally, an in silico analysis was performed using the Oncomine database to assess Brachyury alterations at DNA and mRNA levels in GISTs. RESULTS We found that Brachyury was overexpressed in the majority (81.0 %) of primary GISTs. We observed Brachyury staining in the nucleus alone in 4.8 % of cases, 23.8 % depicted only cytoplasm staining, and 52.4 % of cases exhibited both nucleus and cytoplasm immunostaining. The presence of Brachyury was associated with aggressive GIST clinicopathological features. Particularly, Brachyury nuclear (with or without cytoplasm) staining was associated with the presence of metastasis, while cytoplasm sublocalization alone was correlated with poor patient survival. CONCLUSIONS Herein, we demonstrate that Brachyury is overexpressed in GISTs and is associated with worse outcome, constituting a novel prognostic biomarker and a putative target for GIST treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filipe Pinto
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Nathalia C Campanella
- Molecular Oncology Research Center, Barretos Cancer Hospital, Rua Antenor Duarte Villela, 1331, Barretos, CEP 14784 400, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Cristovam Scapulatempo-Neto
- Molecular Oncology Research Center, Barretos Cancer Hospital, Rua Antenor Duarte Villela, 1331, Barretos, CEP 14784 400, Sao Paulo, Brazil
- Department of Pathology, Barretos Cancer Hospital, Barretos, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Antonio T de Oliveira
- Molecular Oncology Research Center, Barretos Cancer Hospital, Rua Antenor Duarte Villela, 1331, Barretos, CEP 14784 400, Sao Paulo, Brazil
- Upper Digestive Surgery Department, Barretos Cancer Hospital, Barretos, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Maria J Brito
- Department of Pathology, Hospital Garcia de Orta, Almada, Portugal
| | - Raquel P Andrade
- Regenerative Medicine Program, Department of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Algarve, Faro, Portugal
| | - Denise P Guimarães
- Molecular Oncology Research Center, Barretos Cancer Hospital, Rua Antenor Duarte Villela, 1331, Barretos, CEP 14784 400, Sao Paulo, Brazil
- Department of Endoscopy, Barretos Cancer Hospital, Barretos, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Rui M Reis
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.
- ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Guimarães, Portugal.
- Molecular Oncology Research Center, Barretos Cancer Hospital, Rua Antenor Duarte Villela, 1331, Barretos, CEP 14784 400, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
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Hamilton DH, Fernando RI, Schlom J, Palena C. Aberrant expression of the embryonic transcription factor brachyury in human tumors detected with a novel rabbit monoclonal antibody. Oncotarget 2016; 6:4853-62. [PMID: 25605015 PMCID: PMC4467120 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.3086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2014] [Accepted: 12/17/2014] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The embryonic transcription factor brachyury is overexpressed in a variety of human tumors, including lung, breast, colon and prostate carcinomas, chordomas and hemangioblastomas. In human carcinoma cells, overexpression of brachyury associates with the occurrence of the phenomenon of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), acquisition of metastatic propensity and resistance to a variety of anti-cancer therapeutics. Brachyury is preferentially expressed in human tumors vs. normal adult tissues, and high levels of this molecule associate with poor prognosis in patients with lung, colon and prostate carcinomas, and in breast cancer patients treated with adjuvant tamoxifen. Brachyury is immunogenic in humans and vaccines against this novel oncotarget are currently undergoing clinical investigation. While our group and others have employed various anti-brachyury antibodies to interrogate the above findings, we report here on the development and thorough characterization of a novel rabbit monoclonal antibody (MAb 54-1) that reacts with distinct high affinity and specificity with human brachyury. MAb 54-1 was successfully used in ELISA, western blot, immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry assays to evaluate expression of brachyury in various human tumor cell lines and tissues. We propose the use of this antibody to assist in research studies of EMT and in prognostic studies for a range of human tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Duane H Hamilton
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Romaine I Fernando
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Jeffrey Schlom
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Claudia Palena
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
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37
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David JM, Hamilton DH, Palena C. MUC1 upregulation promotes immune resistance in tumor cells undergoing brachyury-mediated epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Oncoimmunology 2016; 5:e1117738. [PMID: 27141403 PMCID: PMC4839328 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2015.1117738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2015] [Revised: 10/30/2015] [Accepted: 11/02/2015] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a molecular and cellular program in which epithelial cells lose their well-differentiated phenotype and adopt mesenchymal characteristics. This process, which occurs naturally during embryogenesis, has also been shown to be associated with cancer progression and with tumor recurrence following conventional therapies. Brachyury is a transcription factor that mediates EMT during development, and is aberrantly expressed in various human cancers where it promotes tumor cell EMT, metastatic dissemination, and resistance to conventional therapies. We have recently shown that very high expression of brachyury can protect tumor cells against immune cell-mediated cytotoxicity. In seeking to elucidate mechanisms of immunotherapy resistance, we have discovered a novel positive association between brachyury and mucin-1 (MUC1). MUC1 is overexpressed in the majority of carcinomas, and it has been shown to mediate oncogenic signaling and confer resistance to genotoxic agents. We found that MUC1 is concomitantly upregulated in tumor cell lines that highly express brachyury due to an enhancement of MUC1 mRNA stability. Analysis of patient lung tumor tissues also identified a positive association between these two proteins in the majority of samples. Inhibition of MUC1 by siRNA-based gene silencing markedly enhanced the susceptibility of brachyury-expressing cancer cells to killing by tumor necrosis-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) and to perforin/granzyme-dependent lysis by immune cytotoxic cells. These studies confirm a protective role for MUC1 in brachyury-expressing cancer cells, and suggest that inhibition of MUC1 can restore the susceptibility of mesenchymal-like cancer cells to immune attack.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin M David
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health , Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Duane H Hamilton
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health , Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Claudia Palena
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health , Bethesda, MD, USA
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King TH, Guo Z, Hermreck M, Bellgrau D, Rodell TC. Construction and Immunogenicity Testing of Whole Recombinant Yeast-Based T-Cell Vaccines. Methods Mol Biol 2016; 1404:529-545. [PMID: 27076321 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-3389-1_35] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
GlobeImmune's Tarmogen(®) immunotherapy platform utilizes recombinant Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast as a vaccine vector to deliver heterologous antigens for activation of disease-specific, targeted cellular immunity. The vaccines elicit immune-mediated killing of target cells expressing viral and cancer antigens in vivo via a CD8(+) CTL-mediated mechanism. Tarmogens are not neutralized by host immune responses and can be administered repeatedly to boost antigen-specific immunity. Production of the vaccines yields stable off-the-shelf products that avoid the need for patient-specific manufacturing found with other immunotherapeutic approaches. Tarmogens for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B and C and various cancers were well tolerated and immunogenic in phase 1 and 2 clinical trials encompassing >600 subjects. The platform is being widely utilized in basic vaccine research and the most rapid path to success in these endeavors follows from optimal immunoassay selection and execution. This chapter provides detailed methods for the construction and preclinical immunogenicity testing of yeast-based immunotherapeutic products to support the rapid and efficient use of this versatile technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas H King
- GlobeImmune, Inc., 1450 Infinite Drive, Louisville, CO, 80027, USA.
| | - Zhimin Guo
- GlobeImmune, Inc., 1450 Infinite Drive, Louisville, CO, 80027, USA
| | - Melanie Hermreck
- GlobeImmune, Inc., 1450 Infinite Drive, Louisville, CO, 80027, USA
| | - Donald Bellgrau
- GlobeImmune, Inc., 1450 Infinite Drive, Louisville, CO, 80027, USA
- Integrated Department of Immunology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Timothy C Rodell
- GlobeImmune, Inc., 1450 Infinite Drive, Louisville, CO, 80027, USA
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Vacchelli E, Aranda F, Bloy N, Buqué A, Cremer I, Eggermont A, Fridman WH, Fucikova J, Galon J, Spisek R, Zitvogel L, Kroemer G, Galluzzi L. Trial Watch-Immunostimulation with cytokines in cancer therapy. Oncoimmunology 2015; 5:e1115942. [PMID: 27057468 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2015.1115942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2015] [Accepted: 10/29/2015] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
During the past decade, great efforts have been dedicated to the development of clinically relevant interventions that would trigger potent (and hence potentially curative) anticancer immune responses. Indeed, developing neoplasms normally establish local and systemic immunosuppressive networks that inhibit tumor-targeting immune effector cells, be them natural or elicited by (immuno)therapy. One possible approach to boost anticancer immunity consists in the (generally systemic) administration of recombinant immunostimulatory cytokines. In a limited number of oncological indications, immunostimulatory cytokines mediate clinical activity as standalone immunotherapeutic interventions. Most often, however, immunostimulatory cytokines are employed as immunological adjuvants, i.e., to unleash the immunogenic potential of other immunotherapeutic agents, like tumor-targeting vaccines and checkpoint blockers. Here, we discuss recent preclinical and clinical advances in the use of some cytokines as immunostimulatory agents in oncological indications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erika Vacchelli
- INSERM, U1138, Paris, France; Université Paris Descartes/Paris V, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France; Université Pierre et Marie Curie/Paris VI, Paris, France; Equipe 11 labellisée par la Ligue Nationale contre le Cancer, Center de Recherche des Cordeliers, Paris, France; Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus, Villejuif, France
| | - Fernando Aranda
- Group of Immune receptors of the Innate and Adaptive System, Institut d'Investigacions Biomédiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS)
| | - Norma Bloy
- INSERM, U1138, Paris, France; Université Paris Descartes/Paris V, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France; Université Pierre et Marie Curie/Paris VI, Paris, France; Equipe 11 labellisée par la Ligue Nationale contre le Cancer, Center de Recherche des Cordeliers, Paris, France; Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus, Villejuif, France
| | - Aitziber Buqué
- INSERM, U1138, Paris, France; Université Paris Descartes/Paris V, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France; Université Pierre et Marie Curie/Paris VI, Paris, France; Equipe 11 labellisée par la Ligue Nationale contre le Cancer, Center de Recherche des Cordeliers, Paris, France; Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus, Villejuif, France
| | - Isabelle Cremer
- INSERM, U1138, Paris, France; Université Paris Descartes/Paris V, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France; Université Pierre et Marie Curie/Paris VI, Paris, France; Equipe 13, Center de Recherche des Cordeliers, Paris, France
| | | | - Wolf Hervé Fridman
- INSERM, U1138, Paris, France; Université Paris Descartes/Paris V, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France; Université Pierre et Marie Curie/Paris VI, Paris, France; Equipe 13, Center de Recherche des Cordeliers, Paris, France
| | - Jitka Fucikova
- Sotio, Prague, Czech Republic; Dept. of Immunology, 2nd Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Motol, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jérôme Galon
- INSERM, U1138, Paris, France; Université Paris Descartes/Paris V, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France; Université Pierre et Marie Curie/Paris VI, Paris, France; Laboratory of Integrative Cancer Immunology, Center de Recherche des Cordeliers, Paris, France
| | - Radek Spisek
- Sotio, Prague, Czech Republic; Dept. of Immunology, 2nd Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Motol, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Laurence Zitvogel
- Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus, Villejuif, France; INSERM, U1015, CICBT507, Villejuif, France
| | - Guido Kroemer
- INSERM, U1138, Paris, France; Université Paris Descartes/Paris V, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France; Université Pierre et Marie Curie/Paris VI, Paris, France; Equipe 11 labellisée par la Ligue Nationale contre le Cancer, Center de Recherche des Cordeliers, Paris, France; Pôle de Biologie, Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, AP-HP, Paris, France; Metabolomics and Cell Biology Platforms, Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus, Villejuif, France; Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Lorenzo Galluzzi
- INSERM, U1138, Paris, France; Université Paris Descartes/Paris V, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France; Université Pierre et Marie Curie/Paris VI, Paris, France; Equipe 11 labellisée par la Ligue Nationale contre le Cancer, Center de Recherche des Cordeliers, Paris, France; Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus, Villejuif, France
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Heery CR, Singh BH, Rauckhorst M, Marté JL, Donahue RN, Grenga I, Rodell TC, Dahut W, Arlen PM, Madan RA, Schlom J, Gulley JL. Phase I Trial of a Yeast-Based Therapeutic Cancer Vaccine (GI-6301) Targeting the Transcription Factor Brachyury. Cancer Immunol Res 2015; 3:1248-56. [PMID: 26130065 DOI: 10.1158/2326-6066.cir-15-0119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 95] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2015] [Accepted: 06/18/2015] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The nuclear transcription factor brachyury has previously been shown to be a strong mediator of the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in human carcinoma cells and a strong negative prognostic factor in several tumor types. Brachyury is overexpressed in a range of human carcinomas as well as in chordoma, a rare tumor for which there is no standard systemic therapy. Preclinical studies have shown that a recombinant Saccharomyces cerevisiae (yeast) vaccine encoding brachyury (GI-6301) can activate human T cells in vitro. A phase I dose-escalation (3+3 design) trial enrolled 34 patients at 4 dose levels [3, 3, 16, and 11 patients, respectively, at 4, 16, 40, and 80 yeast units (YU)]. Expansion cohorts were enrolled at 40- and 80-YU dose levels for analysis of immune response and clinical activity. We observed brachyury-specific T-cell immune responses in the majority of evaluable patients despite most having been heavily pretreated. No evidence of autoimmunity or other serious adverse events was observed. Two chordoma patients showed evidence of disease control (one mixed response and one partial response). A patient with colorectal carcinoma, who enrolled on study with a large progressing pelvic mass and rising carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), remains on study for greater than 1 year with stable disease, evidence of decreased tumor density, and decreased serum CEA. This is the first-in-human study to demonstrate the safety and immunogenicity of this therapeutic cancer vaccine and provides the rationale for exploration in phase II studies. A randomized phase II chordoma study is now enrolling patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher R Heery
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - B Harpreet Singh
- Genitourinary Malignancies Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Myrna Rauckhorst
- Genitourinary Malignancies Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Jennifer L Marté
- Genitourinary Malignancies Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Renee N Donahue
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Italia Grenga
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | | | - William Dahut
- Genitourinary Malignancies Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Philip M Arlen
- Genitourinary Malignancies Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Ravi A Madan
- Genitourinary Malignancies Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Jeffrey Schlom
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - James L Gulley
- Genitourinary Malignancies Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland.
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Bishop JL, Davies A, Ketola K, Zoubeidi A. Regulation of tumor cell plasticity by the androgen receptor in prostate cancer. Endocr Relat Cancer 2015; 22:R165-82. [PMID: 25934687 DOI: 10.1530/erc-15-0137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/27/2015] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Prostate cancer (PCa) has become the most common form of cancer in men in the developed world, and it ranks second in cancer-related deaths. Men that succumb to PCa have a disease that is resistant to hormonal therapies that suppress androgen receptor (AR) signaling, which plays a central role in tumor development and progression. Although AR continues to be a clinically relevant therapeutic target in PCa, selection pressures imposed by androgen-deprivation therapies promote the emergence of heterogeneous cell populations within tumors that dictate the severity of disease. This cellular plasticity, which is induced by androgen deprivation, is the focus of this review. More specifically, we address the emergence of cancer stem-like cells, epithelial-mesenchymal or myeloid plasticity, and neuroendocrine transdifferentiation as well as evidence that demonstrates how each is regulated by the AR. Importantly, because all of these cell phenotypes are associated with aggressive PCa, we examine novel therapeutic approaches for targeting therapy-induced cellular plasticity as a way of preventing PCa progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer L Bishop
- The Vancouver Prostate Centre2660 Oak Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6H-3Z6Department of Urologic SciencesUniversity of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada The Vancouver Prostate Centre2660 Oak Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6H-3Z6Department of Urologic SciencesUniversity of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Alastair Davies
- The Vancouver Prostate Centre2660 Oak Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6H-3Z6Department of Urologic SciencesUniversity of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada The Vancouver Prostate Centre2660 Oak Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6H-3Z6Department of Urologic SciencesUniversity of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Kirsi Ketola
- The Vancouver Prostate Centre2660 Oak Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6H-3Z6Department of Urologic SciencesUniversity of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada The Vancouver Prostate Centre2660 Oak Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6H-3Z6Department of Urologic SciencesUniversity of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Amina Zoubeidi
- The Vancouver Prostate Centre2660 Oak Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6H-3Z6Department of Urologic SciencesUniversity of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada The Vancouver Prostate Centre2660 Oak Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6H-3Z6Department of Urologic SciencesUniversity of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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Cao H, Xu E, Liu H, Wan L, Lai M. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition in colorectal cancer metastasis: A system review. Pathol Res Pract 2015; 211:557-69. [PMID: 26092594 DOI: 10.1016/j.prp.2015.05.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 275] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2015] [Accepted: 05/20/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Tumor metastasis is a multi-step process by which tumor cells disseminate from their primary site and form secondary tumors at a distant site. And metastasis is the major cause of death in the vast majority of cancer patients. However, the mechanisms underlying each step remain obscure. In the past decade, a developmental program epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) has been increasingly recognized to play pivotal and intricate roles in promoting carcinoma invasion and metastasis. The EMT process is very complex and controlled by various families of transcriptional regulators through different signaling pathways. In this system review, we focus on the molecular network of the EMT program and its malignant phenotypes associated with metastasis in colorectal cancer (CRC), including cancer stem cells, tumor budding, circulating tumor cells and drug resistance. A better understanding of the molecular regulation of the dynamic EMT program during tumor metastasis will help to provide much-needed therapeutic interventions to target this program when treating metastatic CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Cao
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China; Key Laboratory of Disease Proteomics of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Enping Xu
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China; Key Laboratory of Disease Proteomics of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Hong Liu
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China; Zhejiang Normal University-Jinhua People's Hospital Joint Center for Biomedical Research, Jinhua 321004, China
| | - Ledong Wan
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China; Key Laboratory of Disease Proteomics of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Maode Lai
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China; Key Laboratory of Disease Proteomics of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou 310058, China.
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43
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Palena C, Hamilton DH. Immune Targeting of Tumor Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition via Brachyury-Based Vaccines. Adv Cancer Res 2015. [PMID: 26216630 DOI: 10.1016/bs.acr.2015.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
As a manifestation of their inherent plasticity, carcinoma cells undergo profound phenotypic changes during progression toward metastasis. One such phenotypic modulation is the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), an embryonically relevant process that can be reinstated by tumor cells, resulting in the acquisition of metastatic propensity, stem-like cell properties, and resistance to a variety of anticancer therapies, including chemotherapy, radiation, and some small-molecule targeted therapies. Targeting of the EMT is emerging as a novel intervention against tumor progression. This review focuses on the potential use of cancer vaccine strategies targeting tumor cells that exhibit mesenchymal-like features, with an emphasis on the current status of development of vaccine platforms directed against the T-box transcription factor brachyury, a novel cancer target involved in tumor EMT, stemness, and resistance to therapies. Also presented is a summary of potential mechanisms of resistance to immune-mediated attack driven by EMT and the development of novel combinatorial strategies based on the use of agents that alleviate tumor EMT for an optimized targeting of plastic tumor cells that are responsible for tumor recurrence and the establishment of therapeutic refractoriness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Palena
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.
| | - Duane H Hamilton
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.
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Bloy N, Buqué A, Aranda F, Castoldi F, Eggermont A, Cremer I, Sautès-Fridman C, Fucikova J, Galon J, Spisek R, Tartour E, Zitvogel L, Kroemer G, Galluzzi L. Trial watch: Naked and vectored DNA-based anticancer vaccines. Oncoimmunology 2015; 4:e1026531. [PMID: 26155408 PMCID: PMC4485755 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2015.1026531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2015] [Accepted: 02/27/2015] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
One type of anticancer vaccine relies on the administration of DNA constructs encoding one or multiple tumor-associated antigens (TAAs). The ultimate objective of these preparations, which can be naked or vectored by non-pathogenic viruses, bacteria or yeast cells, is to drive the synthesis of TAAs in the context of an immunostimulatory milieu, resulting in the (re-)elicitation of a tumor-targeting immune response. In spite of encouraging preclinical results, the clinical efficacy of DNA-based vaccines employed as standalone immunotherapeutic interventions in cancer patients appears to be limited. Thus, efforts are currently being devoted to the development of combinatorial regimens that allow DNA-based anticancer vaccines to elicit clinically relevant immune responses. Here, we discuss recent advances in the preclinical and clinical development of this therapeutic paradigm.
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Key Words
- AFP, α-fetoprotein
- APC, antigen-presenting cell
- CDR, complementarity-determining region
- CEA, carcinoembryonic antigen
- CIN, cervical intraepithelial neoplasia
- CTLA4, cytotoxic T lymphocyte protein 4
- DAMP, damage-associated molecular pattern
- DC, dendritic cell
- FDA, Food and Drug Administration
- GM-CSF, granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor
- GX-188E
- HCC, hepatocellular carcinoma
- HNSCC, head and neck squamous cell carcinoma
- HPV, human papillomavirus
- IL, interleukin
- OS, overall survival
- OVA, ovalbumin
- PAP, prostate acid phosphatase
- SCGB2A2, secretoglobin, family 2A, member 2
- SOX2, SRY (sex determining region Y)-box 2
- T, brachyury homolog
- TAA, tumor-associated antigen
- TLR, Toll-like receptor
- TRA, tumor rejection antigen
- Treg, regulatory T cell
- VGX-3100
- WT1, Wilms tumor 1
- adjuvants
- dendritic cell
- electroporation
- mucosal immunity
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Affiliation(s)
- Norma Bloy
- Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus; Villejuif, France
- INSERM, U1138; Paris, France
- Equipe 11 labellisée par la Ligue Nationale contre le Cancer; Center de Recherche des Cordeliers; Paris, France
| | - Aitziber Buqué
- Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus; Villejuif, France
- INSERM, U1138; Paris, France
- Equipe 11 labellisée par la Ligue Nationale contre le Cancer; Center de Recherche des Cordeliers; Paris, France
| | - Fernando Aranda
- Group of Immune receptors of the Innate and Adaptive System; Institut d’Investigacions Biomédiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS); Barcelona, Spain
| | - Francesca Castoldi
- Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus; Villejuif, France
- INSERM, U1138; Paris, France
- Equipe 11 labellisée par la Ligue Nationale contre le Cancer; Center de Recherche des Cordeliers; Paris, France
- Faculté de Medicine; Université Paris Sud/Paris XI; Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France
- Sotio a.c; Prague, Czech Republic
| | | | - Isabelle Cremer
- INSERM, U1138; Paris, France
- Equipe 13; Center de Recherche des Cordeliers; Paris, France
- Université Pierre et Marie Curie/Paris VI; Paris, France
| | - Catherine Sautès-Fridman
- INSERM, U1138; Paris, France
- Equipe 13; Center de Recherche des Cordeliers; Paris, France
- Université Pierre et Marie Curie/Paris VI; Paris, France
| | - Jitka Fucikova
- Sotio a.c; Prague, Czech Republic
- Dept. of Immunology; 2 Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Motol; Charles University; Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jérôme Galon
- INSERM, U1138; Paris, France
- Université Pierre et Marie Curie/Paris VI; Paris, France
- Laboratory of Integrative Cancer Immunology; Center de Recherche des Cordeliers; Paris, France
- Université Paris Descartes/Paris V; Sorbonne Paris Cité; Paris, France
| | - Radek Spisek
- Sotio a.c; Prague, Czech Republic
- Dept. of Immunology; 2 Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Motol; Charles University; Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Eric Tartour
- Université Paris Descartes/Paris V; Sorbonne Paris Cité; Paris, France
- INSERM, U970; Paris, France
- Paris-Cardiovascular Research Center (PARCC); Paris, France
- Service d'Immunologie Biologique; Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou (HEGP); AP-HP; Paris, France
| | - Laurence Zitvogel
- Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus; Villejuif, France
- INSERM, U1015, CICBT507; Villejuif, France
| | - Guido Kroemer
- INSERM, U1138; Paris, France
- Equipe 11 labellisée par la Ligue Nationale contre le Cancer; Center de Recherche des Cordeliers; Paris, France
- Université Pierre et Marie Curie/Paris VI; Paris, France
- Université Paris Descartes/Paris V; Sorbonne Paris Cité; Paris, France
- Pôle de Biologie; Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou; AP-HP; Paris, France
- Metabolomics and Cell Biology Platforms; Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus; Villejuif, France
| | - Lorenzo Galluzzi
- Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus; Villejuif, France
- INSERM, U1138; Paris, France
- Equipe 11 labellisée par la Ligue Nationale contre le Cancer; Center de Recherche des Cordeliers; Paris, France
- Université Pierre et Marie Curie/Paris VI; Paris, France
- Université Paris Descartes/Paris V; Sorbonne Paris Cité; Paris, France
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Hartley ML, Marshall JL. The Ruesch Center Symposium 2014: Fighting a Smarter War against Cancer Using Immunotherapy. COLORECTAL CANCER 2015. [DOI: 10.2217/crc.15.10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The Ruesch Cancer Symposium, Washington DC, USA, 4–6 December 2014
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Affiliation(s)
- Marion L Hartley
- The Ruesch Center for the Cure of GI Cancers, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, 3800 Reservoir Road, NW 20007, USA
| | - John L Marshall
- The Ruesch Center for the Cure of GI Cancers, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, 3800 Reservoir Road, NW 20007, USA
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Xu K, Liu B, Liu Y. Impact of Brachyury on epithelial-mesenchymal transitions and chemosensitivity in non-small cell lung cancer. Mol Med Rep 2015; 12:995-1001. [PMID: 25683840 PMCID: PMC4438917 DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2015.3348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2014] [Accepted: 01/23/2015] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The objective of the current study was to investigate the impact of Brachyury on epithelial-mesenchymal transitions and chemosensitivity in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In 115 archived NSCLC tissue samples, the expression of Brachyury was observed to be significantly higher than that in adjacent normal lung tissues. In addition, the current study demonstrated that the expression of Brachyury is closely associated with TNM staging, lymph node metastasis and the prognosis of NSCLC, although not with patient age, gender or tumor differentiation. Brachyury expression is also accompanied by the downregulation of E-cadherin and the upregulation of N-cadherin. Brachyury may promote lung cancer through induction of epithelial-mesenchymal transition, which leads to metastasis and consequent poor prognosis in patients with lung cancer. Furthermore, the present study observed that interfering with Brachyury increases the sensitivity of cells to chemotherapeutic treatment with cisplatin. These results, in combination with those of additional studies, suggest that Brachyury may be used as a novel target for the prevention and treatment of lung cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ke Xu
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Liaoning Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shenyang, Liaoning 110042, P.R. China
| | - Bin Liu
- Department of Medical Oncology, Liaoning Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shenyang, Liaoning 110042, P.R. China
| | - Yongyu Liu
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Liaoning Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shenyang, Liaoning 110042, P.R. China
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Goyvaerts C, Kurt DG, Van Lint S, Heirman C, Van Ginderachter JA, De Baetselier P, Raes G, Thielemans K, Breckpot K. Immunogenicity of targeted lentivectors. Oncotarget 2015; 5:704-15. [PMID: 24519916 PMCID: PMC3996667 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.1680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
To increase the safety and possibly efficacy of HIV-1 derived lentivectors (LVs) as an anti-cancer vaccine, we recently developed the Nanobody (Nb) display technology to target LVs to antigen presenting cells (APCs). In this study, we extend these data with exclusive targeting of LVs to conventional dendritic cells (DCs), which are believed to be the main cross-presenting APCs for the induction of a TH1-conducted antitumor immune response. The immunogenicity of these DC-subtype targeted LVs was compared to that of broad tropism, general APC-targeted and non-infectious LVs. Intranodal immunization with ovalbumin encoding LVs induced proliferation of antigen specific CD4+ T cells, irrespective of the LVs' targeting ability. However, the cytokine secretion profile of the restimulated CD4+ T cells demonstrated that general APC targeting induced a similar TH1-profile as the broad tropism LVs while transduction of conventional DCs alone induced a similar and less potent TH1 profile as the non-infectious LVs. This observation contradicts the hypothesis that conventional DCs are the most important APCs and suggests that the activation of other APCs is also meaningful. Despite these differences, all targeted LVs were able to stimulate cytotoxic T lymphocytes, be it to a lesser extent than broad tropism LVs. Furthermore this induction was shown to be dependent on type I interferon for the targeted and non-infectious LVs, but not for broad tropism LVs. Finally we demonstrated that the APC-targeted LVs were as potent in therapy as broad tropism LVs and as such deliver on their promise as safer and efficacious LV-based vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cleo Goyvaerts
- Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Therapy, Department of Immunology-Physiology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
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Nouri M, Ratther E, Stylianou N, Nelson CC, Hollier BG, Williams ED. Androgen-targeted therapy-induced epithelial mesenchymal plasticity and neuroendocrine transdifferentiation in prostate cancer: an opportunity for intervention. Front Oncol 2014; 4:370. [PMID: 25566507 PMCID: PMC4274903 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2014.00370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2014] [Accepted: 12/04/2014] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Androgens regulate biological pathways to promote proliferation, differentiation, and survival of benign and malignant prostate tissue. Androgen receptor (AR) targeted therapies exploit this dependence and are used in advanced prostate cancer to control disease progression. Contemporary treatment regimens involve sequential use of inhibitors of androgen synthesis or AR function. Although targeting the androgen axis has clear therapeutic benefit, its effectiveness is temporary, as prostate tumor cells adapt to survive and grow. The removal of androgens (androgen deprivation) has been shown to activate both epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and neuroendocrine transdifferentiation (NEtD) programs. EMT has established roles in promoting biological phenotypes associated with tumor progression (migration/invasion, tumor cell survival, cancer stem cell-like properties, resistance to radiation and chemotherapy) in multiple human cancer types. NEtD in prostate cancer is associated with resistance to therapy, visceral metastasis, and aggressive disease. Thus, activation of these programs via inhibition of the androgen axis provides a mechanism by which tumor cells can adapt to promote disease recurrence and progression. Brachyury, Axl, MEK, and Aurora kinase A are molecular drivers of these programs, and inhibitors are currently in clinical trials to determine therapeutic applications. Understanding tumor cell plasticity will be important in further defining the rational use of androgen-targeted therapies clinically and provides an opportunity for intervention to prolong survival of men with metastatic prostate cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mannan Nouri
- Vancouver Prostate Centre , Vancouver, BC , Canada ; The University of British Columbia , Vancouver, BC , Canada
| | - Ellca Ratther
- Australian Prostate Cancer Research Centre Queensland, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Queensland University of Technology , Brisbane, QLD , Australia ; Australian Prostate Cancer Research Centre Queensland, Translational Research Institute, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Queensland University of Technology , Brisbane, QLD , Australia
| | - Nataly Stylianou
- Australian Prostate Cancer Research Centre Queensland, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Queensland University of Technology , Brisbane, QLD , Australia ; Australian Prostate Cancer Research Centre Queensland, Translational Research Institute, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Queensland University of Technology , Brisbane, QLD , Australia
| | - Colleen C Nelson
- Australian Prostate Cancer Research Centre Queensland, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Queensland University of Technology , Brisbane, QLD , Australia ; Australian Prostate Cancer Research Centre Queensland, Translational Research Institute, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Queensland University of Technology , Brisbane, QLD , Australia
| | - Brett G Hollier
- Australian Prostate Cancer Research Centre Queensland, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Queensland University of Technology , Brisbane, QLD , Australia ; Australian Prostate Cancer Research Centre Queensland, Translational Research Institute, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Queensland University of Technology , Brisbane, QLD , Australia
| | - Elizabeth D Williams
- Australian Prostate Cancer Research Centre Queensland, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Queensland University of Technology , Brisbane, QLD , Australia ; Australian Prostate Cancer Research Centre Queensland, Translational Research Institute, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Queensland University of Technology , Brisbane, QLD , Australia ; Department of Surgery, St Vincent's Hospital, The University of Melbourne , Melbourne, VIC , Australia ; Monash University , Melbourne, VIC , Australia
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Tucker JA, Jochems C, Boyerinas B, Fallon J, Greiner JW, Palena C, Rodell TC, Schlom J, Tsang KY. Identification and characterization of a cytotoxic T-lymphocyte agonist epitope of brachyury, a transcription factor involved in epithelial to mesenchymal transition and metastasis. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2014; 63:1307-17. [PMID: 25186612 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-014-1603-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2014] [Accepted: 08/12/2014] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
The transcription factor brachyury is a major driver of epithelial to mesenchymal transition in human carcinoma cells. It is overexpressed in several human tumor types versus normal adult tissues, except for testes and thyroid. Overexpression is associated with drug resistance and poor prognosis. Previous studies identified a brachyury HLA-A2 cytotoxic T-lymphocyte epitope. The studies reported here describe an enhancer epitope of brachyury. Compared to the native epitope, the agonist epitope: (a) has enhanced binding to MHC class I, (b) increased the IFN-γ production from brachyury-specific T cells, (c) generated brachyury-specific T cells with greater levels of perforin and increased proliferation, (d) generated T cells more proficient at lysing human carcinoma cells endogenously expressing the native epitope, and (e) achieved greater brachyury-specific T-cell responses in vivo in HLA-A2 transgenic mice. These studies also report the generation of a heat-killed recombinant Saccharomyces cerevisiae (yeast) vector expressing the full-length brachyury gene encoding the agonist epitope. Compared to yeast-brachyury (native) devoid of the agonist epitope, the yeast-brachyury (agonist) enhanced the activation of brachyury-specific T cells, which efficiently lysed human carcinoma cells. In addition to providing the rationale for the recombinant yeast-brachyury (agonist) as a potential vaccine in cancer therapy, these studies also provide the rationale for the use of the agonist in (a) dendritic cell (DC) vaccines, (b) adjuvant or liposomal vaccines, (c) recombinant viral and/or bacterial vaccines, (d) protein/polypeptide vaccines, (e) activation of T cells ex vivo in adoptive therapy protocols, and (f) generation of genetically engineered targeted T cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jo A Tucker
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, 10 Center Drive, Room 8B09, MSC 1750, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
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50
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Pinto F, Pértega-Gomes N, Pereira MS, Vizcaíno JR, Monteiro P, Henrique RM, Baltazar F, Andrade RP, Reis RM. T-box transcription factor brachyury is associated with prostate cancer progression and aggressiveness. Clin Cancer Res 2014; 20:4949-61. [PMID: 25009296 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-14-0421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Successful therapy of patients with prostate cancer is highly dependent on reliable diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers. Brachyury is considered a negative prognostic factor in colon and lung cancer; however, there are no reports on Brachyury's expression in prostate cancer. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN In this study, we aimed to assess the impact of Brachyury expression in prostate tumorigenesis using a large series of human prostate samples comprising benign tissue, prostate intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN) lesions, localized tumor, and metastatic tissues. The results obtained were compared with what can be inferred from the Oncomine database. In addition, multiple in vitro models of prostate cancer were used to dissect the biologic role of Brachyury in prostate cancer progression. RESULTS We found that Brachyury is significantly overexpressed in prostate cancer and metastatic tumors when compared with normal tissues, both at protein and at mRNA levels. Brachyury expression in the cytoplasm correlates with highly aggressive tumors, whereas the presence of Brachyury in the nucleus is correlated with tumor invasion. We found that Brachyury-positive cells present higher viability, proliferation, migration, and invasion rates than Brachyury-negative cells. Microarray analysis further showed that genes co-expressed with Brachyury are clustered in oncogenic-related pathways, namely cell motility, cell-cycle regulation, and cell metabolism. CONCLUSIONS Collectively, the present study suggests that Brachyury plays an important role in prostate cancer aggressiveness and points, for the first time, to Brachyury as a significant predictor of poor prostate cancer prognosis. Our work paves the way for future studies assessing Brachyury as a possible prostate cancer therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filipe Pinto
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal. ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Nelma Pértega-Gomes
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal. ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Márcia S Pereira
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal. ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - José R Vizcaíno
- Department of Pathology, Centro Hospitalar do Porto, Portugal
| | | | - Rui M Henrique
- Cancer Epigenetics Group - Research Center, Portuguese Oncology Institute-Porto, Porto, Portugal. Department of Pathology and Molecular Immunology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal. Department of Pathology, Portuguese Oncology Institute - Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Fátima Baltazar
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal. ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Raquel P Andrade
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal. ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Rui M Reis
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal. ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal. Molecular Oncology Research Center, Barretos Cancer Hospital, S. Paulo, Brazil.
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