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Chen S, Yang G, Shi Q, Wan N, Lin R, Wang L, Hu X, Zhuang X, Yu L, Sui M. Frizzled 6 endows high-grade serous ovarian cancer with stem-like properties and chemoresistance. Mol Carcinog 2024. [PMID: 39129468 DOI: 10.1002/mc.23789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2023] [Revised: 06/14/2024] [Accepted: 06/25/2024] [Indexed: 08/13/2024]
Abstract
Stem-like properties contribute to tumor growth, metastasis, and chemoresistance. High-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) exhibits a very aggressive phenotype characterized by extensive metastasis, rapid progression, and therapy resistance. Frizzled 6 (FZD6) is overexpressed in HGSOC, and higher levels of FZD6 have been associated with shorter survival times in patients with HGSOC. Functionally, FZD6 promotes HGSOC growth and peritoneal metastasis. It endues HGSOC cells with stem-like properties by modulating POU5F1, ALDH1, and EPCAM. It can also desensitize HGSOC cells to certain chemical drugs. As a putative ligand for FZD6, WNT7B is also implicated in cell proliferation, stem-like properties, invasion and migration, and chemoresistance. SMAD7 is a downstream component of FZD6 signaling that is thought to mediate FZD6-associated phenotypes, at least in part. Therefore, FZD6/WNT7B-SMAD7 can be considered a tumor-promoting signaling pathway in HGSOC that may be responsible for tumor growth, peritoneal metastasis, and chemoresistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaorong Chen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Quanzhou, China
| | - Guang Yang
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Quanzhou, China
| | - Qirong Shi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Quanzhou, China
| | - Ningning Wan
- Department of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Quanzhou, China
| | - Ruyin Lin
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Quanzhou, China
| | - Lianhua Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Quanzhou, China
| | - Xinxin Hu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Quanzhou, China
| | - Xuanxuan Zhuang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Quanzhou, China
| | - Liying Yu
- Central Laboratory, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Quanzhou, China
| | - Ming Sui
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Quanzhou, China
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2
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Zhang Z, Lin X, Wei L, Wu Y, Xu L, Wu L, Wei X, Zhao S, Zhu X, Xu F. A framework for Frizzled-G protein coupling and implications to the PCP signaling pathways. Cell Discov 2024; 10:3. [PMID: 38182578 PMCID: PMC10770037 DOI: 10.1038/s41421-023-00627-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2023] [Accepted: 11/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/07/2024] Open
Abstract
The ten Frizzled receptors (FZDs) are essential in Wnt signaling and play important roles in embryonic development and tumorigenesis. Among these, FZD6 is closely associated with lens development. Understanding FZD activation mechanism is key to unlock these emerging targets. Here we present the cryo-EM structures of FZD6 and FZD3 which are known to relay non-canonical planar cell polarity (PCP) signaling pathways as well as FZD1 in their G protein-coupled states and in the apo inactive states, respectively. Comparison of the three inactive/active pairs unveiled a shared activation framework among all ten FZDs. Mutagenesis along with imaging and functional analysis on the human lens epithelial tissues suggested potential crosstalk between the G-protein coupling of FZD6 and the PCP signaling pathways. Together, this study provides an integrated understanding of FZD structure and function, and lays the foundation for developing therapeutic modulators to activate or inhibit FZD signaling for a range of disorders including cancers and cataracts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhibin Zhang
- iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xi Lin
- iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ling Wei
- Eye Institute and Department of Ophthalmology, Eye & ENT Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yiran Wu
- iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
| | - Lu Xu
- iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
| | - Lijie Wu
- iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaohu Wei
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
| | - Suwen Zhao
- iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiangjia Zhu
- Eye Institute and Department of Ophthalmology, Eye & ENT Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Fei Xu
- iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China.
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China.
- Shanghai Clinical Research and Trial Center, Shanghai, China.
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3
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Sarabia-Sánchez MA, Robles-Flores M. WNT Signaling in Stem Cells: A Look into the Non-Canonical Pathway. Stem Cell Rev Rep 2024; 20:52-66. [PMID: 37804416 PMCID: PMC10799802 DOI: 10.1007/s12015-023-10610-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 10/09/2023]
Abstract
Tissue homeostasis is crucial for multicellular organisms, wherein the loss of cells is compensated by generating new cells with the capacity for proliferation and differentiation. At the origin of these populations are the stem cells, which have the potential to give rise to cells with both capabilities, and persevere for a long time through the self-renewal and quiescence. Since the discovery of stem cells, an enormous effort has been focused on learning about their functions and the molecular regulation behind them. Wnt signaling is widely recognized as essential for normal and cancer stem cell. Moreover, β-catenin-dependent Wnt pathway, referred to as canonical, has gained attention, while β-catenin-independent Wnt pathways, known as non-canonical, have remained conspicuously less explored. However, recent evidence about non-canonical Wnt pathways in stem cells begins to lay the foundations of a conceivably vast field, and on which we aim to explain this in the present review. In this regard, we addressed the different aspects in which non-canonical Wnt pathways impact the properties of stem cells, both under normal conditions and also under disease, specifically in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel Angel Sarabia-Sánchez
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Martha Robles-Flores
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Mexico City, Mexico.
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4
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Ahmad MH, Ghosh B, Rizvi MA, Ali M, Kaur L, Mondal AC. Neural crest cells development and neuroblastoma progression: Role of Wnt signaling. J Cell Physiol 2023; 238:306-328. [PMID: 36502519 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.30931] [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: 05/12/2022] [Revised: 09/19/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Neuroblastoma (NB) is one of the most common heterogeneous extracranial cancers in infancy that arises from neural crest (NC) cells of the sympathetic nervous system. The Wnt signaling pathway, both canonical and noncanonical pathway, is a highly conserved signaling pathway that regulates the development and differentiation of the NC cells during embryogenesis. Reports suggest that aberrant activation of Wnt ligands/receptors in Wnt signaling pathways promote progression and relapse of NB. Wnt signaling pathways regulate NC induction and migration in a similar manner; it regulates proliferation and metastasis of NB. Inhibiting the Wnt signaling pathway or its ligands/receptors induces apoptosis and abrogates proliferation and tumorigenicity in all major types of NB cells. Here, we comprehensively discuss the Wnt signaling pathway and its mechanisms in regulating the development of NC and NB pathogenesis. This review highlights the implications of aberrant Wnt signaling in the context of etiology, progression, and relapse of NB. We have also described emerging strategies for Wnt-based therapies against the progression of NB that will provide new insights into the development of Wnt-based therapeutic strategies for NB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mir Hilal Ahmad
- School of Life Sciences, Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology, School of Life Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India.,Genome Biology Lab, Department of Biosciences, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, India
| | - Balaram Ghosh
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Midnapore Medical College & Hospital, West Bengal, Medinipur, India
| | - Moshahid Alam Rizvi
- Genome Biology Lab, Department of Biosciences, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, India
| | - Mansoor Ali
- School of Life Sciences, Cancer Biology Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
| | - Loveleena Kaur
- Division of Cancer Pharmacology, Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (IIIM), Srinagar, India
| | - Amal Chandra Mondal
- School of Life Sciences, Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology, School of Life Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
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5
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Zhou X, Wang X, Li N, Guo Y, Yang X, Lei Y. Therapy resistance in neuroblastoma: Mechanisms and reversal strategies. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1114295. [PMID: 36874032 PMCID: PMC9978534 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1114295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Neuroblastoma is one of the most common pediatric solid tumors that threaten the health of children, accounting for about 15% of childhood cancer-related mortality in the United States. Currently, multiple therapies have been developed and applied in clinic to treat neuroblastoma including chemotherapy, radiotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy. However, the resistance to therapies is inevitable following long-term treatment, leading to treatment failure and cancer relapse. Hence, to understand the mechanisms of therapy resistance and discover reversal strategies have become an urgent task. Recent studies have demonstrated numerous genetic alterations and dysfunctional pathways related to neuroblastoma resistance. These molecular signatures may be potential targets to combat refractory neuroblastoma. A number of novel interventions for neuroblastoma patients have been developed based on these targets. In this review, we focus on the complicated mechanisms of therapy resistance and the potential targets such as ATP-binding cassette transporters, long non-coding RNAs, microRNAs, autophagy, cancer stem cells, and extracellular vesicles. On this basis, we summarized recent studies on the reversal strategies to overcome therapy resistance of neuroblastoma such as targeting ATP-binding cassette transporters, MYCN gene, cancer stem cells, hypoxia, and autophagy. This review aims to provide novel insight in how to improve the therapy efficacy against resistant neuroblastoma, which may shed light on the future directions that would enhance the treatment outcomes and prolong the survival of patients with neuroblastoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xia Zhou
- Shenzhen Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xiaokang Wang
- Department of Pharmacy, Shenzhen Longhua District Central Hospital, Shenzhen, China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Research and Development of Natural Drugs, School of Pharmacy, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, China.,The Marine Biomedical Research Institute of Guangdong Zhanjiang, Zhanjiang, China
| | - Nan Li
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yu Guo
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaolin Yang
- Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yuhe Lei
- Shenzhen Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen, China
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6
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Zinc finger protein 501 maintains glioblastoma cell growth through enhancing Frizzled-6 expression. Neurosci Res 2022; 182:15-24. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neures.2022.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2021] [Revised: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 06/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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7
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Assidi M, Buhmeida A, Al-Zahrani MH, Al-Maghrabi J, Rasool M, Naseer MI, Alkhatabi H, Alrefaei AF, Zari A, Elkhatib R, Abuzenadah A, Pushparaj PN, Abu-Elmagd M. The Prognostic Value of the Developmental Gene FZD6 in Young Saudi Breast Cancer Patients: A Biomarkers Discovery and Cancer Inducers OncoScreen Approach. Front Mol Biosci 2022; 9:783735. [PMID: 35237656 PMCID: PMC8883113 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2022.783735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2021] [Accepted: 01/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Wnt signalling receptors, Frizzleds (FZDs), play a pivotal role in many cellular events during embryonic development and cancer. Female breast cancer (BC) is currently the worldwide leading incident cancer type that cause 1 in 6 cancer-related death. FZD receptors expression in cancer was shown to be associated with tumour development and patient outcomes including recurrence and survival. FZD6 received little attention for its role in BC and hence we analysed its expression pattern in a Saudi BC cohort to assess its prognostic potential and unravel the impacted signalling pathway. Paraffin blocks from approximately 405 randomly selected BC patients aged between 25 and 70 years old were processed for tissue microarray using an automated tissue arrayer and then subjected to FZD6 immunohistochemistry staining using the Ventana platform. Besides, Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) knowledgebase was used to decipher the upstream and downstream regulators of FZD6 in BC. TargetScan and miRabel target-prediction databases were used to identify the potential microRNA to regulate FZD6 expression in BC. Results showed that 60% of the BC samples had a low expression pattern while 40% showed a higher expression level. FZD6 expression analysis showed a significant correlation with tumour invasion (p < 0.05), and borderline significance with tumour grade (p = 0.07). FZD6 expression showed a highly significant association with the BC patients’ survival outcomes. This was mainly due to the overall patients’ cohort where tumours with FZD6 elevated expression showed higher recurrence rates (DFS, p < 0.0001, log-rank) and shorter survival times (DSS, p < 0.02, log-rank). Interestingly, the FZD6 prognostic value was more potent in younger BC patients as compared to those with late onset of the disease. TargetScan microRNA target-prediction analysis and validated by miRabel showed that FZD6 is a potential target for a considerable number of microRNAs expressed in BC. The current study demonstrates a potential prognostic role of FZD6 expression in young BC female patients and provides a better understanding of the involved molecular silencing machinery of the Wnt/FZD6 signalling. Our results should provide a better understanding of FZD6 role in BC by adding more knowledge that should help in BC prevention and theranostics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mourad Assidi
- Center of Excellence in Genomic Medicine Research, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdelbaset Buhmeida
- Center of Excellence in Genomic Medicine Research, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Maryam H. Al-Zahrani
- Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Jaudah Al-Maghrabi
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mahmood Rasool
- Center of Excellence in Genomic Medicine Research, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Muhammad I. Naseer
- Center of Excellence in Genomic Medicine Research, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Heba Alkhatabi
- Center of Excellence in Genomic Medicine Research, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdulmajeed F. Alrefaei
- Department of Biology, Jamoum University College, Umm Al-Qura University, Mecca, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ali Zari
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Razan Elkhatib
- Center of Excellence in Genomic Medicine Research, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Adel Abuzenadah
- Center of Excellence in Genomic Medicine Research, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Peter N. Pushparaj
- Center of Excellence in Genomic Medicine Research, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- Center for Transdisciplinary Research, Department of Pharmacology, Saveetha Dental College and Hospital, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Chennai, India
| | - Muhammad Abu-Elmagd
- Center of Excellence in Genomic Medicine Research, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- *Correspondence: Muhammad Abu-Elmagd,
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8
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Fu L, Fan J, Maity S, McFadden G, Shi Y, Kong W. PD-L1 interacts with Frizzled 6 to activate β-catenin and form a positive feedback loop to promote cancer stem cell expansion. Oncogene 2022; 41:1100-1113. [PMID: 35034965 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-021-02144-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2020] [Revised: 11/19/2021] [Accepted: 11/30/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Cancer stem cells (CSCs) drive tumor initiation, progression, metastasis, and drug resistance. We report here that programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) is constitutively expressed in cancer cells to maintain and expand CSC through a novel mechanism in addition to promoting cancer cell immune evasion. We discovered that PD-L1 interacts with receptor Frizzled 6 to activate β-catenin signaling and increase β-catenin-targeted gene expression, such as a putative stem cell marker leucine-rich-repeat-containing G-protein-coupled receptor 5. Blockage of PD-L1 function, using a specific small hairpin RNA or a specific antibody, inhibits disease progression by reducing the CSC population in both colorectal and breast tumors. Moreover, β-catenin conversely regulates PD-L1 expression through a β-catenin complex binding site in the PD-L1 promoter. Our discoveries reveal that besides assistant tumor cell immune escaping, PD-L1 and β-catenin signaling form a positive feedback loop to promote cancer progression through CSC maintenance and expansion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lingchen Fu
- Biodesign Center for Immunotherapy, Vaccines and Virotherapy, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - Jia Fan
- Center for Cellular and Molecular Diagnostics, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Sudipa Maity
- Center for Cellular and Molecular Diagnostics, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Grant McFadden
- Biodesign Center for Immunotherapy, Vaccines and Virotherapy, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - Yixin Shi
- Biodesign Center for Immunotherapy, Vaccines and Virotherapy, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA.
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA.
| | - Wei Kong
- Biodesign Center for Immunotherapy, Vaccines and Virotherapy, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA.
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9
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Hafezi N, Alizadeh-Navaei R, Golpour M, Zafari P, Ajami A. Role of Frizzled receptor expression on patients' survival with gastrointestinal cancers: A systematic review with meta-analysis. CASPIAN JOURNAL OF INTERNAL MEDICINE 2022; 13:1-9. [PMID: 35178201 PMCID: PMC8797823 DOI: 10.22088/cjim.13.1.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2021] [Revised: 04/11/2021] [Accepted: 07/03/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Frizzled receptors (FZD) play a pivotal role in the initiation and progression of a wide array of cancers. Dysregulated expression of FZD receptors is correlated with higher metastasis and invasive potential, as well as short survival in many malignancies. In this meta-analysis, we aimed to verify the prognostic value of FZD receptor expression on patients' survival with different types of gastrointestinal (GI) cancers, including gastric, colorectal, and esophageal cancers. METHODS A systematic search was performed using PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science from 2000 to November 2020. Fourteen studies, including 2997 patients met our inclusion criteria, in which nine articles were considered FZD7 while the rest were about other FZD members. The fixed-effect model was used to estimate the pooled hazard ratio (HR) and the 5-year overall survival (OS) rate. We used the Newcastle-Ottawa scale of cohort articles to determine the quality of included studies. RESULTS The results showed that high expression of FZD receptors is associated with the poor survival in patients with GI cancers (HR= 1.83, 95% CI: 1.5-2.17). Moreover, multivariate analysis indicated that FZD receptors could be considered as an independent prognostic factor (HR = 1.76, 95% CI: 1.37-2.16). CONCLUSION According to our results, overexpression of FZD receptors predicts a poor prognosis in patients with GI cancers and could be used as a useful therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nasim Hafezi
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
- Molecular and Cell Biology Research Center, Student Research Committee, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Reza Alizadeh-Navaei
- Gastrointestinal Cancer Research Center, Non-Communicable Diseases Institute, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Monireh Golpour
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
- Molecular and Cell Biology Research Center, Student Research Committee, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Parisa Zafari
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Abolghasem Ajami
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
- Molecular and Cell Biology Research Center, Student Research Committee, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Antimicrobial Resistance Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
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10
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Sompel K, Elango A, Smith AJ, Tennis MA. Cancer chemoprevention through Frizzled receptors and EMT. Discov Oncol 2021; 12:32. [PMID: 34604862 PMCID: PMC8429367 DOI: 10.1007/s12672-021-00429-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Frizzled (FZD) transmembrane receptors are well known for their role in β-catenin signaling and development and now understanding of their role in the context of cancer is growing. FZDs are often associated with the process of epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) through β-catenin, but some also influence EMT through non-canonical pathways. With ten different FZDs, there is a wide range of activity from oncogenic to tumor suppressive depending on the tissue context. Alterations in FZD signaling can occur during development of premalignant lesions, supporting their potential as targets of chemoprevention agents. Agonizing or antagonizing FZD activity may affect EMT, which is a key process in lesion progression often targeted by chemoprevention agents. Recent studies identified a specific FZD as important for activity of an EMT inhibiting chemopreventive agent and other studies have highlighted the previously unrecognized potential for targeting small molecules to FZD receptors. This work demonstrates the value of investigating FZDs in chemoprevention and here we provide a review of FZDs in cancer EMT and their potential as chemoprevention targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- K. Sompel
- Division of Pulmonary Sciences and Critical Care Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, 12700 E 19th AVE, RC2 Box C272, Aurora, CO 80045 USA
| | - A. Elango
- Division of Pulmonary Sciences and Critical Care Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, 12700 E 19th AVE, RC2 Box C272, Aurora, CO 80045 USA
| | - A. J. Smith
- Division of Pulmonary Sciences and Critical Care Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, 12700 E 19th AVE, RC2 Box C272, Aurora, CO 80045 USA
| | - M. A. Tennis
- Division of Pulmonary Sciences and Critical Care Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, 12700 E 19th AVE, RC2 Box C272, Aurora, CO 80045 USA
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11
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Farina AR, Cappabianca LA, Zelli V, Sebastiano M, Mackay AR. Mechanisms involved in selecting and maintaining neuroblastoma cancer stem cell populations, and perspectives for therapeutic targeting. World J Stem Cells 2021; 13:685-736. [PMID: 34367474 PMCID: PMC8316860 DOI: 10.4252/wjsc.v13.i7.685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2021] [Revised: 03/09/2021] [Accepted: 04/14/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Pediatric neuroblastomas (NBs) are heterogeneous, aggressive, therapy-resistant embryonal tumours that originate from cells of neural crest (NC) origin and in particular neuroblasts committed to the sympathoadrenal progenitor cell lineage. Therapeutic resistance, post-therapeutic relapse and subsequent metastatic NB progression are driven primarily by cancer stem cell (CSC)-like subpopulations, which through their self-renewing capacity, intermittent and slow cell cycles, drug-resistant and reversibly adaptive plastic phenotypes, represent the most important obstacle to improving therapeutic outcomes in unfavourable NBs. In this review, dedicated to NB CSCs and the prospects for their therapeutic eradication, we initiate with brief descriptions of the unique transient vertebrate embryonic NC structure and salient molecular protagonists involved NC induction, specification, epithelial to mesenchymal transition and migratory behaviour, in order to familiarise the reader with the embryonic cellular and molecular origins and background to NB. We follow this by introducing NB and the potential NC-derived stem/progenitor cell origins of NBs, before providing a comprehensive review of the salient molecules, signalling pathways, mechanisms, tumour microenvironmental and therapeutic conditions involved in promoting, selecting and maintaining NB CSC subpopulations, and that underpin their therapy-resistant, self-renewing metastatic behaviour. Finally, we review potential therapeutic strategies and future prospects for targeting and eradication of these bastions of NB therapeutic resistance, post-therapeutic relapse and metastatic progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonietta Rosella Farina
- Department of Applied Clinical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila 67100, AQ, Italy
| | - Lucia Annamaria Cappabianca
- Department of Applied Clinical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila 67100, AQ, Italy
| | - Veronica Zelli
- Department of Applied Clinical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila 67100, AQ, Italy
| | - Michela Sebastiano
- Department of Applied Clinical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila 67100, AQ, Italy
| | - Andrew Reay Mackay
- Department of Applied Clinical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila 67100, AQ, Italy.
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12
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Hu L, Chen Y, Yang CP, Huang Y, Song NN, Chen JY, Sun YL, Ding YQ, Lang B. Ulk4, a Newly Discovered Susceptibility Gene for Schizophrenia, Regulates Corticogenesis in Mice. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:645368. [PMID: 34235142 PMCID: PMC8255617 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.645368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2020] [Accepted: 04/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Schizophrenia (SCZ) is a chronic and severe mental disease that affects around 1% of the population. The precise etiology of SCZ still remains largely unknown, and no conclusive mechanisms are firmly established. Recent advances in epidemiological and clinical investigation support an overwhelmingly strong neurodevelopmental origin for SCZ. Here, we demonstrated that Unc-51-like kinase 4 (Ulk4), a novel risk factor for major mental disorders including schizophrenia, is involved in the corticogenesis. Deletion of Ulk4 in mice led to significantly thinner layers of II–III, and V in the cerebral cortex, which was confirmed in conditional Ulk4 deletion mice achieved by Cre-loxp strategy. This abnormality might be caused by decreased intermediate neural progenitors and increased apoptosis. Thus, our data suggest that Ulk4 manipulates the behaviors of neural progenitors during brain development and, when functionally defective, leads to the reduction of specific cortical layers. This anomaly may increase predisposition to a range of neurodevelopmental disorders, including SCZ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yi Chen
- Key Laboratory of Arrhythmias, Ministry of Education, East Hospital, and Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Cui-Ping Yang
- Key Laboratory of Arrhythmias, Ministry of Education, East Hospital, and Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Ying Huang
- Department of Laboratory Animal Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ning-Ning Song
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jia-Yin Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yu-Ling Sun
- Key Laboratory of Arrhythmias, Ministry of Education, East Hospital, and Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yu-Qiang Ding
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,Key Laboratory of Arrhythmias, Ministry of Education, East Hospital, and Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Department of Laboratory Animal Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Bing Lang
- National Clinical Research Centre for Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
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13
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The Expression of Selected Wnt Pathway Members (FZD6, AXIN2 and β-Catenin) in Canine Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Acanthomatous Ameloblastoma. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11061615. [PMID: 34072517 PMCID: PMC8228298 DOI: 10.3390/ani11061615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2021] [Revised: 05/18/2021] [Accepted: 05/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The Wnt signaling pathway is well known to be involved in many types of human cancer; however, in veterinary medicine, the investigation of individual Wnt members' expression, and their role in or association with oral tumor pathogenesis, is still underevaluated. We aim to determine the expression pattern of Frizzled-6 (FZD6) as one of the Wnt receptors in two of the most common canine oral neoplastic lesions-canine oral squamous cell carcinoma (COSCC) and canine acanthomatous ameloblastoma (CAA). While COSCC is a malignant tumor with aggressive biological behavior and a tendency to metastasize, CAA is a benign tumor with high local invasiveness. In CAA, the expression of FZD6 was mostly located in the center of the epithelial tumorous tissue, and cells exhibiting features of squamous metaplasia were strongly positive. In well-differentiated COSCC, FZD6 was expressed in the tumorous epithelium as well as the tumorous stroma. There was a negative correlation between cytokeratin expression and FZD6 expression in COSCC, where the central parts of the epithelial tumorous tissue were often FZD6-negative. The non-differentiated COSCC with low expression of cytokeratin exhibited a diffuse FZD6 signal. The invasive front with areas of tumor budding exhibited high FZD6 expression with a loss of cytokeratin expression. Moreover, the expression of β-catenin and AXIN2 was increased in comparison to gingiva. In conclusion, our study revealed significant differences in the expression patterns and the levels of FZD6 between COSCC and CAA, indicating the differential engagement of the Wnt pathway in these tumors.
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14
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Kadioglu O, Saeed MEM, Mahmoud N, Azawi S, Mrasek K, Liehr T, Efferth T. Identification of novel drug resistance mechanisms by genomic and transcriptomic profiling of glioblastoma cells with mutation-activated EGFR. Life Sci 2021; 284:119601. [PMID: 33991550 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2021.119601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2020] [Revised: 04/29/2021] [Accepted: 05/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
AIMS Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is not only involved in carcinogenesis, but also in chemoresistance. We characterized U87.MGΔEGFR glioblastoma cells with constitutively active EGFR due to deletion at the ligand binding domain in terms of gene expression profiling and chromosomal aberrations. Wild-type U87.MG cells served as control. MATERIALS AND METHODS RNA sequencing and network analyses (Ingenuity Pathway Analysis) were performed to identify novel drug resistance mechanisms related to expression of mutation activated EGFR. Chromosomal aberrations were characterized by multicolor fluorescence in situ hybridization (mFISH) and array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH). KEY FINDINGS U87.MGΔEGFR cells presented much more chromosomal aberrations, amplifications and deletions than wild-type U87.MG cells. Still, both cell lines were near-triploid. Numerous genes were overexpressed in U87.MGΔEGFR cells, some of which have been already linked to drug resistance. PXDN, which is associated with epithelial mesenchymal transition, was the most upregulated gene (901.8-fold). TENM1 was 331.6-fold upregulated, and it was previously reported to modulate neural development. EGFR-AS1 (161.2-fold upregulated) has been reported to increase the EGFR mRNA stability and its expression - in accordance with that of EGFR - was upregulated (85.5-fold). In addition to well-known resistance genes, numerous novel genes and genomic aberrations were identified. ANGPT2 upregulation and CPM downregulation were validated by Western blotting. SIGNIFICANCE Transcriptomics and genomics analyses in U87.MGΔEGFR cells unraveled a range of novel drug resistance mechanisms including apoptosis, DNA repair, ferroptosis, glutathione related gene activities, heat shock, oxidative stress, transcription factor activities, which may have important implications for future treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Onat Kadioglu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biology, Institute of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany
| | - Mohamed E M Saeed
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biology, Institute of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany
| | - Nuha Mahmoud
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biology, Institute of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany
| | - Shaymaa Azawi
- Jena University Hospital, Friedrich Schiller University, Institute of Human Genetics, Jena, Germany
| | - Kristin Mrasek
- Jena University Hospital, Friedrich Schiller University, Institute of Human Genetics, Jena, Germany
| | - Thomas Liehr
- Jena University Hospital, Friedrich Schiller University, Institute of Human Genetics, Jena, Germany
| | - Thomas Efferth
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biology, Institute of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany.
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15
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Zafar A, Wang W, Liu G, Wang X, Xian W, McKeon F, Foster J, Zhou J, Zhang R. Molecular targeting therapies for neuroblastoma: Progress and challenges. Med Res Rev 2020; 41:961-1021. [PMID: 33155698 PMCID: PMC7906923 DOI: 10.1002/med.21750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 153] [Impact Index Per Article: 38.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2020] [Revised: 09/25/2020] [Accepted: 10/28/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
There is an urgent need to identify novel therapies for childhood cancers. Neuroblastoma is the most common pediatric solid tumor, and accounts for ~15% of childhood cancer‐related mortality. Neuroblastomas exhibit genetic, morphological and clinical heterogeneity, which limits the efficacy of existing treatment modalities. Gaining detailed knowledge of the molecular signatures and genetic variations involved in the pathogenesis of neuroblastoma is necessary to develop safer and more effective treatments for this devastating disease. Recent studies with advanced high‐throughput “omics” techniques have revealed numerous genetic/genomic alterations and dysfunctional pathways that drive the onset, growth, progression, and resistance of neuroblastoma to therapy. A variety of molecular signatures are being evaluated to better understand the disease, with many of them being used as targets to develop new treatments for neuroblastoma patients. In this review, we have summarized the contemporary understanding of the molecular pathways and genetic aberrations, such as those in MYCN, BIRC5, PHOX2B, and LIN28B, involved in the pathogenesis of neuroblastoma, and provide a comprehensive overview of the molecular targeted therapies under preclinical and clinical investigations, particularly those targeting ALK signaling, MDM2, PI3K/Akt/mTOR and RAS‐MAPK pathways, as well as epigenetic regulators. We also give insights on the use of combination therapies involving novel agents that target various pathways. Further, we discuss the future directions that would help identify novel targets and therapeutics and improve the currently available therapies, enhancing the treatment outcomes and survival of patients with neuroblastoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atif Zafar
- Department of Pharmacological and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Wei Wang
- Department of Pharmacological and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, USA.,Drug Discovery Institute, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Gang Liu
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Chemical Biology Program, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Xinjie Wang
- Department of Pharmacological and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Wa Xian
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, Stem Cell Center, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Frank McKeon
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, Stem Cell Center, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Jennifer Foster
- Department of Pediatrics, Texas Children's Hospital, Section of Hematology-Oncology Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Jia Zhou
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Chemical Biology Program, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Ruiwen Zhang
- Department of Pharmacological and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, USA.,Drug Discovery Institute, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, USA
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16
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Sun Y, Wang W, Zhao C. Frizzled Receptors in Tumors, Focusing on Signaling, Roles, Modulation Mechanisms, and Targeted Therapies. Oncol Res 2020; 28:661-674. [PMID: 32998794 PMCID: PMC7962935 DOI: 10.3727/096504020x16014648664459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Wnt molecules play crucial roles in development and adult homeostasis through their receptors Frizzled proteins (Fzds). Fzds mediate canonical β-catenin pathway and various noncanonical β-catenin-independent pathways. Aberrant Fzd signaling is involved in many diseases including cancer. Wnt/β-catenin is a well-established oncogenic pathway involved in almost every aspect of tumor development. However, Fzd-mediated noncanonical Wnt pathways function as both tumor promoters and tumor suppressors depending on cellular context. Fzd-targeted therapies have proven to be effective on cultured tumor cells, tumor cell xenografts, mouse tumor models, and patient-derived xenografts (PDX). Moreover, Fzd-targeted therapies synergize with chemotherapy in preclinical models. However, the occurrence of fragility fractures in patients treated with Fzd-targeted agents such as OMP-54F28 and OMP-18R5 limits the development of this combination. Along with new insights on signaling, roles, and modulation mechanisms of Fzds in human tumors, more Fzd-related therapeutic targets will be developed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Sun
- Department of Pathophysiology, College of Basic Medical Science, China Medical UniversityShenyangP.R. China
| | - Wei Wang
- Department of Pathophysiology, College of Basic Medical Science, China Medical UniversityShenyangP.R. China
| | - Chenghai Zhao
- Department of Pathophysiology, College of Basic Medical Science, China Medical UniversityShenyangP.R. China
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17
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Ognibene M, Pezzolo A. Roniciclib down-regulates stemness and inhibits cell growth by inducing nucleolar stress in neuroblastoma. Sci Rep 2020; 10:12902. [PMID: 32737364 PMCID: PMC7395171 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-69499-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2020] [Accepted: 07/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuroblastoma, an embryonic tumor arising from neuronal crest progenitor cells, has been shown to contain a population of undifferentiated stem cells responsible for the malignant state and the unfavorable prognosis. Although many previous studies have analyzed neuroblastoma stem cells and their therapeutic targeting, this topic appears still open to novel investigations. Here we found that neurospheres derived from neuroblastoma stem-like cells showed a homogeneous staining for several key nucleolar proteins, such as Nucleolin, Nucleophosmin-1, Glypican-2 and PES-1. We investigated the effects of Roniciclib (BAY 1000394), an anticancer stem cells agent, on neurospheres and on an orthotopic neuroblastoma mouse model, discovering an impressive inhibition of tumor growth and indicating good chances for the use of Roniciclib in vivo. We demonstrated that Roniciclib is not only a Wnt/β-catenin signaling inhibitor, but also a nucleolar stress inducer, revealing a possible novel mechanism underlying Roniciclib-mediated repression of cell proliferation. Furthermore, we found that high expression of Nucleophosmin-1 correlates with patients’ short survival. The co-expression of several stem cell surface antigens such as CD44v6 and CD114, together with the nucleolar markers here described, extends new possibilities to isolate undifferentiated subpopulations from neuroblastoma and identify new targets for the treatment of this childhood malignancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marzia Ognibene
- Laboratorio Cellule Staminali Post Natali e Terapie Cellulari, IRCCS Istituto Gaslini, 16147, Genova, Italy. .,Unità di Genetica Medica, IRCCS Istituto Gaslini, 16147, Genova, Italy.
| | - Annalisa Pezzolo
- Laboratorio Cellule Staminali Post Natali e Terapie Cellulari, IRCCS Istituto Gaslini, 16147, Genova, Italy.
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18
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A Genome-Wide Screen in Mice To Identify Cell-Extrinsic Regulators of Pulmonary Metastatic Colonisation. G3-GENES GENOMES GENETICS 2020; 10:1869-1877. [PMID: 32245826 PMCID: PMC7263671 DOI: 10.1534/g3.120.401128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Metastatic colonization, whereby a disseminated tumor cell is able to survive and proliferate at a secondary site, involves both tumor cell-intrinsic and -extrinsic factors. To identify tumor cell-extrinsic (microenvironmental) factors that regulate the ability of metastatic tumor cells to effectively colonize a tissue, we performed a genome-wide screen utilizing the experimental metastasis assay on mutant mice. Mutant and wildtype (control) mice were tail vein-dosed with murine metastatic melanoma B16-F10 cells and 10 days later the number of pulmonary metastatic colonies were counted. Of the 1,300 genes/genetic locations (1,344 alleles) assessed in the screen 34 genes were determined to significantly regulate pulmonary metastatic colonization (15 increased and 19 decreased; P < 0.005 and genotype effect <-55 or >+55). While several of these genes have known roles in immune system regulation (Bach2, Cyba, Cybb, Cybc1, Id2, Igh-6, Irf1, Irf7, Ncf1, Ncf2, Ncf4 and Pik3cg) most are involved in a disparate range of biological processes, ranging from ubiquitination (Herc1) to diphthamide synthesis (Dph6) to Rho GTPase-activation (Arhgap30 and Fgd4), with no previous reports of a role in the regulation of metastasis. Thus, we have identified numerous novel regulators of pulmonary metastatic colonization, which may represent potential therapeutic targets.
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19
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Hypoxia in the Initiation and Progression of Neuroblastoma Tumours. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 21:ijms21010039. [PMID: 31861671 PMCID: PMC6982287 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21010039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2019] [Revised: 12/16/2019] [Accepted: 12/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuroblastoma is the most frequent extracranial solid tumour in children, causing 10% of all paediatric oncology deaths. It arises in the embryonic neural crest due to an uncontrolled behaviour of sympathetic nervous system progenitors, giving rise to heterogeneous tumours. Low local or systemic tissue oxygen concentration has emerged as a cellular stimulus with important consequences for tumour initiation, evolution and progression. In neuroblastoma, several evidences point towards a role of hypoxia in tumour initiation during development, tumour cell differentiation, survival and metastatic spreading. However, the heterogeneous nature of the disease, its developmental origin and the lack of suitable experimental models have complicated a clear understanding of the effect of hypoxia in neuroblastoma tumour progression and the molecular mechanisms implicated. In this review, we have compiled available evidences to try to shed light onto this important field. In particular, we explore the effect of hypoxia in neuroblastoma cell transformation and differentiation. We also discuss the experimental models available and the emerging alternatives to study this problem, and we present hypoxia-related therapeutic avenues being explored in the field.
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20
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Zhang J, Wang JL, Zhang CY, Ma YF, Zhao R, Wang YY. The prognostic role of FZD6 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma patients. Clin Transl Oncol 2019; 22:1172-1179. [PMID: 31748958 DOI: 10.1007/s12094-019-02243-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2019] [Accepted: 11/03/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is a kind of cancer with heterogeneous biological characteristics, which is affected by a complex network of gene interactions. Identification of molecular biomarkers paves the way for individualized therapy based on gene expression profiles, which can overcome the heterogeneity of ESCC. METHODS In this study, GSE20347, GSE23400 and GSE45670 datasets were retrieved from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, and the overlapping differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in three datasets were screened. Then the overlapping DEGs function was annotated by Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway-enrichment analysis. The prognostic value of the top five KEGG pathway-related genes were further validated in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. After extensive statistical analysis, four genes (CDC25B, CXCL8, FZD6 and MCM4) were identified as potential prognostic markers. Among the four candidate genes, the prognostic value of FZD6 in ESCC patients has not been evaluated. Therefore, we finally used immunohistochemistry method to evaluate the effect of FZD6 on the prognosis of patients with ESCC. Additionally, we detected the expression level of FZD6 in ESCC cell line and normal esophageal epithelial cell line, and observed the cell viability of ESCC cell line after FZD6 knockdown. RESULTS The results showed that the overexpression of FZD6 predicted poor overall survival (OS) (P = 0.005) and progression-free survival (PFS) (P = 0.004) in ESCC patients. COX regression analysis showed that N stage (P = 0.026) and FZD6 expression level (P = 0.001) were independent prognostic factors of OS for ESCC patients. Furthermore, compared with normal esophageal epithelial cell line, the up-regulation of FZD6 was detected in ESCC cell line. Knockdown of FZD6 could significantly inhibit the proliferation of ESCC cells (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION CDC25B, CXCL8, FZD6 and MCM4 were screened as candidate genes for prognosis assessment of patients with ESCC. The prognostic role of FZD6 in ESCC patients was confirmed in current study.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Zhang
- Graduate School, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, 750004, Ningxia, China.,The First Peoples Hospital of Yinchuan, Yinchuan, 750001, Ningxia, China
| | - J-L Wang
- Graduate School, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, 750004, Ningxia, China
| | - C-Y Zhang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, No.804 Shengli Str., Yinchuan, 750004, Ningxia, China.,Department of Radiation Oncology, General Hospital of Chinese Armed Police Force Border Defence Force, Shenzhen, 518000, Guangdong, China
| | - Y-F Ma
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, 750004, Ningxia, China
| | - R Zhao
- Department of Radiation Oncology, General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, No.804 Shengli Str., Yinchuan, 750004, Ningxia, China
| | - Y-Y Wang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, No.804 Shengli Str., Yinchuan, 750004, Ningxia, China.
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21
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Aravindan N, Jain D, Somasundaram DB, Herman TS, Aravindan S. Cancer stem cells in neuroblastoma therapy resistance. CANCER DRUG RESISTANCE (ALHAMBRA, CALIF.) 2019; 2:948-967. [PMID: 31867574 PMCID: PMC6924637 DOI: 10.20517/cdr.2019.72] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Neuroblastoma (NB) is the most common cancer of infancy and accounts for nearly one tenth of pediatric cancer deaths. This mortality rate has been attributed to the > 50% frequency of relapse despite intensive, multimodal clinical therapy in patients with progressive NB. Given the disease’s heterogeneity and developed resistance, attaining a cure after relapse of progressive NB is highly challenging. A rapid decrease in the timeline between successive recurrences is likely due to the ongoing acquisition of genetic rearrangements in undifferentiated NB-cancer stem cells (CSCs). In this review, we present the current understanding of NB-CSCs, their intrinsic role in tumorigenesis, their function in disease progression, and their influence on acquired therapy resistance and tumor evolution. In particular, this review focus on the intrinsic involvement of stem cells and signaling in the genesis of NB, the function of pre-existing CSCs in NB progression and therapy response, the formation and influence of induced CSCs (iCSCs) in drug resistance and tumor evolution, and the development of a CSC-targeted therapeutic approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natarajan Aravindan
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA.,Department of Pathology, The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA.,Department of Anesthesiology, The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA
| | - Drishti Jain
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA
| | - Dinesh Babu Somasundaram
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA
| | - Terence S Herman
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA.,Stephenson Cancer Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA
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22
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Becker J, Wilting J. WNT Signaling in Neuroblastoma. Cancers (Basel) 2019; 11:cancers11071013. [PMID: 31331081 PMCID: PMC6679057 DOI: 10.3390/cancers11071013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2019] [Revised: 07/17/2019] [Accepted: 07/18/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The term WNT (wingless-type MMTV integration site family) signaling comprises a complex molecular pathway consisting of ligands, receptors, coreceptors, signal transducers and transcriptional modulators with crucial functions during embryonic development, including all aspects of proliferation, morphogenesis and differentiation. Its involvement in cancer biology is well documented. Even though WNT signaling has been divided into mainly three distinct branches in the past, increasing evidence shows that some molecular hubs can act in various branches by exchanging interaction partners. Here we discuss developmental and clinical aspects of WNT signaling in neuroblastoma (NB), an embryonic tumor with an extremely broad clinical spectrum, ranging from spontaneous differentiation to fatal outcome. We discuss implications of WNT molecules in NB onset, progression, and relapse due to chemoresistance. In the light of the still too high number of NB deaths, new pathways must be considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juergen Becker
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University Medical School Goettingen, Kreuzbergring 36, 37075 Goettingen, Germany.
| | - Joerg Wilting
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University Medical School Goettingen, Kreuzbergring 36, 37075 Goettingen, Germany
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23
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Bahmad HF, Chamaa F, Assi S, Chalhoub RM, Abou-Antoun T, Abou-Kheir W. Cancer Stem Cells in Neuroblastoma: Expanding the Therapeutic Frontier. Front Mol Neurosci 2019; 12:131. [PMID: 31191243 PMCID: PMC6546065 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2019.00131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2019] [Accepted: 05/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuroblastoma (NB) is the most common extracranial solid tumor often diagnosed in childhood. Despite intense efforts to develop a successful treatment, current available therapies are still challenged by high rates of resistance, recurrence and progression, most notably in advanced cases and highly malignant tumors. Emerging evidence proposes that this might be due to a subpopulation of cancer stem cells (CSCs) or tumor-initiating cells (TICs) found in the bulk of the tumor. Therefore, the development of more targeted therapy is highly dependent on the identification of the molecular signatures and genetic aberrations characteristic to this subpopulation of cells. This review aims at providing an overview of the key molecular players involved in NB CSCs and focuses on the experimental evidence from NB cell lines, patient-derived xenografts and primary tumors. It also provides some novel approaches of targeting multiple drivers governing the stemness of CSCs to achieve better anti-tumor effects than the currently used therapeutic agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hisham F Bahmad
- Department of Anatomy, Cell Biology and Physiological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Farah Chamaa
- Department of Anatomy, Cell Biology and Physiological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Sahar Assi
- Department of Anatomy, Cell Biology and Physiological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Reda M Chalhoub
- Department of Anatomy, Cell Biology and Physiological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Tamara Abou-Antoun
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Lebanese American University, Byblos, Lebanon
| | - Wassim Abou-Kheir
- Department of Anatomy, Cell Biology and Physiological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
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24
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Szemes M, Greenhough A, Malik K. Wnt Signaling Is a Major Determinant of Neuroblastoma Cell Lineages. Front Mol Neurosci 2019; 12:90. [PMID: 31040767 PMCID: PMC6476918 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2019.00090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2018] [Accepted: 03/21/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The neural crest (NC), which has been referred to as the fourth germ layer, comprises a multipotent cell population which will specify diverse cells and tissues, including craniofacial cartilage and bones, melanocytes, the adrenal medulla and the peripheral nervous system. These cell fates are known to be determined by gene regulatory networks (GRNs) acting at various stages of NC development, such as induction, specification, and migration. Although transcription factor hierarchies and some of their interplay with morphogenetic signaling pathways have been characterized, the full complexity of activities required for regulated development remains uncharted. Deregulation of these pathways may contribute to tumorigenesis, as in the case of neuroblastoma, a frequently lethal embryonic cancer thought to arise from the sympathoadrenal lineage of the NC. In this “Hypothesis and Theory” article, we utilize the next generation sequencing data from neuroblastoma cells and tumors to evaluate the possible influences of Wnt signaling on NC GRNs and on neuroblastoma cell lineages. We propose that Wnt signaling is a major determinant of regulatory networks that underlie mesenchymal/neural crest cell (NCC)-like cell identities through PRRX1 and YAP/TAZ transcription factors. Furthermore, Wnt may also co-operate with Hedgehog signaling in driving proneural differentiation programmes along the adrenergic (ADRN) lineage. Elucidation of Signaling Regulatory Networks can augment and complement GRNs in characterizing cell identities, which may in turn contribute to the design of improved therapeutics tailored to primary and relapsing neuroblastoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marianna Szemes
- Cancer Epigenetics Laboratory, School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Alexander Greenhough
- Cancer Epigenetics Laboratory, School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Karim Malik
- Cancer Epigenetics Laboratory, School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
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25
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Kars MD, Yıldırım G. Determination of the target proteins in chemotherapy resistant breast cancer stem cell-like cells by protein array. Eur J Pharmacol 2019; 848:23-29. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2019.01.052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2018] [Revised: 01/22/2019] [Accepted: 01/29/2019] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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26
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Tan M, Asad M, Heong V, Wong MK, Tan TZ, Ye J, Kuay KT, Thiery JP, Scott C, Huang RYJ. The FZD7-TWIST1 axis is responsible for anoikis resistance and tumorigenesis in ovarian carcinoma. Mol Oncol 2019; 13:757-780. [PMID: 30548372 PMCID: PMC6441896 DOI: 10.1002/1878-0261.12425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2018] [Revised: 10/24/2018] [Accepted: 11/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Frizzled family receptor 7 (FZD7), a Wnt signaling receptor, is associated with the maintenance of stem cell properties and cancer progression. FZD7 has emerged as a potential therapeutic target because it is capable of transducing both canonical and noncanonical Wnt signals. In this study, we investigated the regulatory pathway downstream of FZD7 and its functional roles. We found that FZD7 expression was crucial to the maintenance of the mesenchymal phenotype, anoikis resistance, and spheroid and tumor formation in ovarian cancer (OC). We identified TWIST1 as the crucial downstream effector of the FZD7 pathway. TWIST1, a basic helix loop helix transcription factor, is known to associate with mesenchymal and cancer stem cell phenotypes. Manipulating TWIST1 expression mimicked the functional consequences observed in the FZD7 model, and overexpression of TWIST1 partially rescued the functional phenotypes abolished by FZD7 knockdown. We further proved that FZD7 regulated TWIST1 expression through epigenetic modifications of H3K4me3 and H3K27ac at the TWIST1 proximal promoter. We also identified that the FZD7‐TWIST1 axis regulates the expression of BCL2, a gene that controls apoptosis. Identification of this FZD7‐TWIST1‐BCL2 pathway reaffirms the mechanism of anoikis resistance in OC. We subsequently showed that the FZD7‐TWIST1 axis can be targeted by using a small molecule inhibitor of porcupine, an enzyme essential for secretion and functional activation of Wnts. In conclusion, our results identified that the FZD7‐TWIST1 axis is important for tumorigenesis and anoikis resistance, and therapeutic inhibition results in cell death in OCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming Tan
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, Singapore.,Center for Translational Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Mohammad Asad
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, Singapore.,Center for Translational Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, National University Hospital of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Valerie Heong
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, Singapore.,Center for Translational Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore.,Department of Haematology-Oncology, National University Cancer Institute Singapore, Singapore.,Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Australia
| | - Meng Kang Wong
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, Singapore.,Center for Translational Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Tuan Zea Tan
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, Singapore.,Center for Translational Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Jieru Ye
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, Singapore.,Center for Translational Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Kuee Theng Kuay
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, Singapore.,Center for Translational Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Jean Paul Thiery
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, Singapore.,Center for Translational Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore.,Department of Biochemistry, National University of Singapore, Singapore.,Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, A*STAR, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Clare Scott
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Australia
| | - Ruby Yun-Ju Huang
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, Singapore.,Center for Translational Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, National University Hospital of Singapore, Singapore.,Department of Anatomy, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
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27
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Abstract
Research endeavors originally generated stem cell definitions for the purpose of describing normally sustainable developmental and tissue turnover processes in various species, including humans. The notion of investigating cells that possess a vague capacity of “stamm (phylum)” can be traced back to the late 19th century, mainly concentrating on cells that could produce the germline or the entire blood system. Lately, such undertakings have been recapitulated for oncogenesis, tumor growth, and cancer cell resistance to oncolytic therapies. However, due to the complexity and basic life-origin mechanisms comprising the genetic and epigenetic repertoire of the stemness in every developing or growing cell, presently there are ongoing debates regarding the biological essentials of the stem cell-like tumor initiation cells (ie, cancer stem cells; CSCs). This conceptual analysis focuses on the potential pitfalls of extrapolating that CSCs bear major traits of stemness. We propose a novel nomenclature of Tumor Survival Cells (TSCs) to further define tumor cells behaving like CSCs, based on the ruthless and detrimental features of Cancer Cell Survivology that appears fundamentally different from stem cell biology. Hence, precise academic separation of TSCs from all the stem cell-related labels applied to these unique tumor cells may help to improve scientific reasoning and strategies to decode the desperado-like survival behaviors of TSCs to eventually overcome cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang D Teng
- 1 Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Harvard Medical School and Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital Network, Brigham and Women's Hospital, and Massachusetts General Hospital , Boston, Massachusetts.,2 Department of Neurosurgery, Harvard Medical School , Boston, Massachusetts.,3 Division of SCI Research, VA Boston Healthcare System , Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Lei Wang
- 1 Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Harvard Medical School and Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital Network, Brigham and Women's Hospital, and Massachusetts General Hospital , Boston, Massachusetts.,2 Department of Neurosurgery, Harvard Medical School , Boston, Massachusetts.,3 Division of SCI Research, VA Boston Healthcare System , Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Serdar Kabatas
- 1 Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Harvard Medical School and Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital Network, Brigham and Women's Hospital, and Massachusetts General Hospital , Boston, Massachusetts.,2 Department of Neurosurgery, Harvard Medical School , Boston, Massachusetts.,3 Division of SCI Research, VA Boston Healthcare System , Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Henning Ulrich
- 4 Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química , Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Ross D Zafonte
- 1 Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Harvard Medical School and Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital Network, Brigham and Women's Hospital, and Massachusetts General Hospital , Boston, Massachusetts
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28
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Distinct Molecular Signatures of Quiescent and Activated Adult Neural Stem Cells Reveal Specific Interactions with Their Microenvironment. Stem Cell Reports 2018; 11:565-577. [PMID: 29983386 PMCID: PMC6092681 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2018.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2017] [Revised: 06/06/2018] [Accepted: 06/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Deciphering the mechanisms that regulate the quiescence of adult neural stem cells (NSCs) is crucial for the development of therapeutic strategies based on the stimulation of their endogenous regenerative potential in the damaged brain. We show that LeXbright cells sorted from the adult mouse subventricular zone exhibit all the characteristic features of quiescent NSCs. Indeed, they constitute a subpopulation of slowly dividing cells that is able to enter the cell cycle to regenerate the irradiated niche. Comparative transcriptomic analyses showed that they express hallmarks of NSCs but display a distinct molecular signature from activated NSCs (LeX+EGFR+ cells). Particularly, numerous membrane receptors are expressed on quiescent NSCs. We further revealed a different expression pattern of Syndecan-1 between quiescent and activated NSCs and demonstrated its role in the proliferation of activated NSCs. Our data highlight the central role of the stem cell microenvironment in the regulation of quiescence in adult neurogenic niches. Transcriptome analysis reveals molecular hallmarks of activated and quiescent NSCs Data resource of putative markers and/or regulators of NSC quiescence Quiescent NSCs integrate various signals from the microenvironment Syndecan-1 is involved in proliferation of NSCs
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29
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Luteolin attenuates Wnt signaling via upregulation of FZD6 to suppress prostate cancer stemness revealed by comparative proteomics. Sci Rep 2018; 8:8537. [PMID: 29867083 PMCID: PMC5986741 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-26761-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2017] [Accepted: 05/15/2018] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The mechanisms underlying luteolin-induced inhibition of prostate cancer (PCa) stemness have remained elusive. Here, we report that luteolin suppresses PCa stemness through Wnt signaling by upregulation of FZD6 (frizzled class receptor 6). Luteolin inhibits PCa cell proliferation, migration, self-renewal as well as the expression of prostate cancer stem cell markers in vitro. Through iTRAQ-based quantitative proteomics study, we identified 208 differentially expressed proteins in luteolin-treated PC-3 cells. Subsequent mechanistic analysis revealed that luteolin inhibits Wnt signaling by transcriptional upregulation of FZD6, and thereby suppressing the stemness of PCa cells. Furthermore, we identified FZD6 as a tumor suppressor that can abolish PCa stemness. In summary, our findings demonstrate that suppression of Wnt signaling by upregulation of FZD6 is a mechanism underlying luteolin-induced inhibition of PCa stemness. Our work suggests a new therapeutic strategy against human prostate cancer caused by aberrant activation of Wnt signaling.
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30
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Frizzled Receptors as Potential Therapeutic Targets in Human Cancers. Int J Mol Sci 2018; 19:ijms19051543. [PMID: 29789460 PMCID: PMC5983605 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19051543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2018] [Revised: 05/12/2018] [Accepted: 05/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Frizzled receptors (FZDs) are a family of seven-span transmembrane receptors with hallmarks of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) that serve as receptors for secreted Wingless-type (WNT) ligands in the WNT signaling pathway. Functionally, FZDs play crucial roles in regulating cell polarity, embryonic development, cell proliferation, formation of neural synapses, and many other processes in developing and adult organisms. In this review, we will introduce the basic structural features and review the biological function and mechanism of FZDs in the progression of human cancers, followed by an analysis of clinical relevance and therapeutic potential of FZDs. We will focus on the development of antibody-based and small molecule inhibitor-based therapeutic strategies by targeting FZDs for human cancers.
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31
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Szemes M, Greenhough A, Melegh Z, Malik S, Yuksel A, Catchpoole D, Gallacher K, Kollareddy M, Park JH, Malik K. Wnt Signalling Drives Context-Dependent Differentiation or Proliferation in Neuroblastoma. Neoplasia 2018; 20:335-350. [PMID: 29505958 PMCID: PMC5909736 DOI: 10.1016/j.neo.2018.01.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2017] [Revised: 01/17/2018] [Accepted: 01/21/2018] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Neuroblastoma is one of the commonest and deadliest solid tumours of childhood, and is thought to result from disrupted differentiation of the developing sympathoadrenergic lineage of the neural crest. Neuroblastoma exhibits intra- and intertumoural heterogeneity, with high risk tumours characterised by poor differentiation, which can be attributable to MYCN-mediated repression of genes involved in neuronal differentiation. MYCN is known to co-operate with oncogenic signalling pathways such as Alk, Akt and MEK/ERK signalling, and, together with c-MYC has been shown to be activated by Wnt signalling in various tissues. However, our previous work demonstrated that Wnt3a/Rspo2 treatment of some neuroblastoma cell lines can, paradoxically, decrease c-MYC and MYCN proteins. This prompted us to define the neuroblastoma-specific Wnt3a/Rspo2-driven transcriptome using RNA sequencing, and characterise the accompanying changes in cell biology. Here we report the identification of ninety Wnt target genes, and show that Wnt signalling is upstream of numerous transcription factors and signalling pathways in neuroblastoma. Using live-cell imaging, we show that Wnt signalling can drive differentiation of SK-N-BE(2)-C and SH-SY5Y cell-lines, but, conversely, proliferation of SK-N-AS cells. We show that cell-lines that differentiate show induction of pro-differentiation BMP4 and EPAS1 proteins, which is not apparent in the SK-N-AS cells. In contrast, SK-N-AS cells show increased CCND1, phosphorylated RB and E2F1 in response to Wnt3a/Rspo2, consistent with their proliferative response, and these proteins are not increased in differentiating lines. By meta-analysis of the expression of our 90 genes in primary tumour gene expression databases, we demonstrate discrete expression patterns of our Wnt genes in patient cohorts with different prognosis. Furthermore our analysis reveals interconnectivity within subsets of our Wnt genes, with one subset comprised of novel putative drivers of neuronal differentiation repressed by MYCN. Assessment of β-catenin immunohistochemistry shows high levels of β-catenin in tumours with better differentiation, further supporting a role for canonical Wnt signalling in neuroblastoma differentiation.
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Key Words
- alk, anaplastic lymphoma kinase
- atra, all-trans-retinoic acid
- bmp4, bone morphogenetic protein 4
- ccnd1, cyclin d1
- egf, epidermal growth factor
- epas1, endothelial pas domain protein 1
- erk, extracellular signal-regulated kinases
- emt, epithelial-mesenchymal transition
- kegg, kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes
- mapk, mitogen-activated protein kinase
- mek, mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase
- pbs, phosphate-buffered saline
- qrt-pcr, quantitative reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction
- rb, retinoblastoma
- rnaseq, rna sequencing
- rspo2, r-spondin-2
- sds-page, sodium-dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis
- tcf/lef, t-cell factor/lymphoid enhancer binding factor
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Affiliation(s)
- Marianna Szemes
- Cancer Epigenetics Laboratory, School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Alexander Greenhough
- Cancer Epigenetics Laboratory, School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Zsombor Melegh
- Department of Cellular Pathology, Southmead Hospital, Bristol, UK
| | - Sally Malik
- Cancer Epigenetics Laboratory, School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Aysen Yuksel
- The Kids Research Institute, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Westmead, Westmead NSW, 2145, Australia
| | - Daniel Catchpoole
- The Kids Research Institute, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Westmead, Westmead NSW, 2145, Australia
| | - Kelli Gallacher
- Cancer Epigenetics Laboratory, School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Madhu Kollareddy
- Cancer Epigenetics Laboratory, School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Ji Hyun Park
- Cancer Epigenetics Laboratory, School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Karim Malik
- Cancer Epigenetics Laboratory, School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
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32
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Becker J, Wilting J. WNT signaling, the development of the sympathoadrenal-paraganglionic system and neuroblastoma. Cell Mol Life Sci 2018; 75:1057-1070. [PMID: 29058015 PMCID: PMC5814469 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-017-2685-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2017] [Revised: 09/22/2017] [Accepted: 10/11/2017] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
Neuroblastoma (NB) is a tumor of the sympathoadrenal system arising in children under 15 years of age. In Germany, NB accounts for 7% of childhood cancer cases, but 11% of cancer deaths. It originates from highly migratory progenitor cells that leave the dorsal neural tube and contribute neurons and glial cells to sympathetic ganglia, and chromaffin and supportive cells to the adrenal medulla and paraganglia. Clinically, histologically and molecularly, NBs present as extremely heterogeneous, ranging from very good to very poor prognosis. The etiology of NB still remains unclear and needs to be elucidated, however, aberrant auto- and paracrine embryonic cell communications seem to be likely candidates to initiate or facilitate the emergence, progression and regression of NB. The wingless-type MMTV integration site (WNT) family of proteins represents an evolutionary highly conserved signaling system that orchestrates embryogenesis. At least 19 ligands in the human, numerous receptors and co-receptors are known, which control not only proliferation, but also cell polarity, migration and differentiation. Here we seek to interconnect aspects of WNT signaling with sympathoadrenal and paraganglionic development to define new WNT signaling cues in the etiology and progression of NB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jürgen Becker
- Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University Medical School Göttingen, 37075, Göttingen, Germany.
| | - Jörg Wilting
- Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University Medical School Göttingen, 37075, Göttingen, Germany
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33
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Duffy DJ, Krstic A, Schwarzl T, Halasz M, Iljin K, Fey D, Haley B, Whilde J, Haapa-Paananen S, Fey V, Fischer M, Westermann F, Henrich KO, Bannert S, Higgins DG, Kolch W. Wnt signalling is a bi-directional vulnerability of cancer cells. Oncotarget 2018; 7:60310-60331. [PMID: 27531891 PMCID: PMC5312386 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.11203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2015] [Accepted: 07/26/2016] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Wnt signalling is involved in the formation, metastasis and relapse of a wide array of cancers. However, there is ongoing debate as to whether activation or inhibition of the pathway holds the most promise as a therapeutic treatment for cancer, with conflicting evidence from a variety of tumour types. We show that Wnt/β-catenin signalling is a bi-directional vulnerability of neuroblastoma, malignant melanoma and colorectal cancer, with hyper-activation or repression of the pathway both representing a promising therapeutic strategy, even within the same cancer type. Hyper-activation directs cancer cells to undergo apoptosis, even in cells oncogenically driven by β-catenin. Wnt inhibition blocks proliferation of cancer cells and promotes neuroblastoma differentiation. Wnt and retinoic acid co-treatments synergise, representing a promising combination treatment for MYCN-amplified neuroblastoma. Additionally, we report novel cross-talks between MYCN and β-catenin signalling, which repress normal β-catenin mediated transcriptional regulation. A β-catenin target gene signature could predict patient outcome, as could the expression level of its DNA binding partners, the TCF/LEFs. This β-catenin signature provides a tool to identify neuroblastoma patients likely to benefit from Wnt-directed therapy. Taken together, we show that Wnt/β-catenin signalling is a bi-directional vulnerability of a number of cancer entities, and potentially a more broadly conserved feature of malignant cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- David J Duffy
- Systems Biology Ireland, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, Ireland.,Current address: The Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience, University of Florida, St. Augustine, Florida, USA
| | - Aleksandar Krstic
- Systems Biology Ireland, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Thomas Schwarzl
- Systems Biology Ireland, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, Ireland.,Current address: European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Melinda Halasz
- Systems Biology Ireland, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, Ireland
| | | | - Dirk Fey
- Systems Biology Ireland, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Bridget Haley
- Systems Biology Ireland, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Jenny Whilde
- Systems Biology Ireland, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, Ireland
| | | | - Vidal Fey
- VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, Espoo, Finland
| | - Matthias Fischer
- Department of Paediatric Haematology and Oncology and Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), University Hospital Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Frank Westermann
- Division of NB Genomics, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Kai-Oliver Henrich
- Division of NB Genomics, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Steffen Bannert
- Division of NB Genomics, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Desmond G Higgins
- Systems Biology Ireland, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, Ireland.,Conway Institute of Biomolecular and Biomedical Research, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, Ireland.,School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Walter Kolch
- Systems Biology Ireland, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, Ireland.,Conway Institute of Biomolecular and Biomedical Research, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, Ireland.,School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, Ireland
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34
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Tomolonis JA, Agarwal S, Shohet JM. Neuroblastoma pathogenesis: deregulation of embryonic neural crest development. Cell Tissue Res 2017; 372:245-262. [PMID: 29222693 DOI: 10.1007/s00441-017-2747-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2017] [Accepted: 11/21/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Neuroblastoma (NB) is an aggressive pediatric cancer that originates from neural crest tissues of the sympathetic nervous system. NB is highly heterogeneous both from a clinical and a molecular perspective. Clinically, this cancer represents a wide range of phenotypes ranging from spontaneous regression of 4S disease to unremitting treatment-refractory progression and death of high-risk metastatic disease. At a cellular level, the heterogeneous behavior of NB likely arises from an arrest and deregulation of normal neural crest development. In the present review, we summarize our current knowledge of neural crest development as it relates to pathways promoting 'stemness' and how deregulation may contribute to the development of tumor-initiating CSCs. There is an emerging consensus that such tumor subpopulations contribute to the evolution of drug resistance, metastasis and relapse in other equally aggressive malignancies. As relapsed, refractory disease remains the primary cause of death for neuroblastoma, the identification and targeting of CSCs or other primary drivers of tumor progression remains a critical, clinically significant goal for neuroblastoma. We will critically review recent and past evidence in the literature supporting the concept of CSCs as drivers of neuroblastoma pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie A Tomolonis
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Hematology-Oncology, Texas Children's Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.,Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.,Translational Biology & Molecular Medicine (TBMM) Graduate Program, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Saurabh Agarwal
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Hematology-Oncology, Texas Children's Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.,Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Jason M Shohet
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Hematology-Oncology, Texas Children's Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA. .,Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA. .,Neuroblastoma Research Program, Texas Children's Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
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35
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Alshareef A, Gupta N, Zhang HF, Wu C, Haque M, Lai R. High expression of β-catenin contributes to the crizotinib resistant phenotype in the stem-like cell population in neuroblastoma. Sci Rep 2017; 7:16863. [PMID: 29203817 PMCID: PMC5715105 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-17319-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2017] [Accepted: 11/14/2017] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
ALK has been identified as a novel therapeutic target in neuroblastoma (NB), but resistance to ALK inhibitors (such as crizotinib) is well recognized. We recently published that the crizotinib sensitivity in NB cells strongly correlates with the crizotinib—ALK binding, and β-catenin effectively hinders this interaction and confers crizotinib resistance. Here, we asked if these observations hold true for the stem-like cells in NB cells, which were purified based on their responsiveness to a Sox2 reporter. Compared to bulk, reporter unresponsive (RU) cells, reporter responsive (RR) cells had significantly higher neurosphere formation ability, expression of CD133/nestin and chemo-resistance. Using the cellular thermal shift assay, we found that RR cells exhibited significantly weaker crizotinib—ALK binding and higher crizotinib resistance than RU cells. The suboptimal crizotinib—ALK binding in RR cells can be attributed to their high β-catenin expression, since siRNA knockdown of β-catenin restored the crizotinib—ALK binding and lowered the crizotinib resistance to the level of RU cells. Enforced expression of β-catenin in RU cells resulted in the opposite effects. To conclude, high expression of β-catenin in the stem-like NB cells contributes to their crizotinib resistance. Combining β-catenin inhibitors and ALK inhibitors may be useful in treating NB patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdulraheem Alshareef
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.,Department of Applied Medical Sciences, Taibah University, Almedinah, P.O. Box 41477, Saudi Arabia
| | - Nidhi Gupta
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Hai-Feng Zhang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Chengsheng Wu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Moinul Haque
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Raymond Lai
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. .,Department of Oncology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. .,DynaLIFE Medical Laboratories, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
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36
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Gallik KL, Treffy RW, Nacke LM, Ahsan K, Rocha M, Green-Saxena A, Saxena A. Neural crest and cancer: Divergent travelers on similar paths. Mech Dev 2017; 148:89-99. [PMID: 28888421 PMCID: PMC5811199 DOI: 10.1016/j.mod.2017.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2017] [Revised: 08/20/2017] [Accepted: 08/24/2017] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Neural crest cells are multipotent progenitors that dynamically interpret diverse microenvironments to migrate significant distances as a loosely associated collective and contribute to many tissues in the developing vertebrate embryo. Uncovering details of neural crest migration has helped to inform a general understanding of collective cell migration, including that which occurs during cancer metastasis. Here, we discuss several commonalities and differences of neural crest and cancer cell migration and behavior. First, we focus on some of the molecular pathways required for the initial specification and potency of neural crest cells and the roles of many of these pathways in cancer progression. We also describe epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, which plays a critical role in initiating both neural crest migration and cancer metastasis. Finally, we evaluate studies that demonstrate myriad forms of cell-cell and cell-environment communication during neural crest and cancer collective migration to highlight the remarkable similarities in their molecular and cell biological regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristin L Gallik
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
| | - Randall W Treffy
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
| | - Lynne M Nacke
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
| | - Kamil Ahsan
- Department of Organismal Biology and Anatomy, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Manuel Rocha
- Department of Organismal Biology and Anatomy, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Abigail Green-Saxena
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
| | - Ankur Saxena
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA.
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37
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Katoh M, Katoh M. Molecular genetics and targeted therapy of WNT-related human diseases (Review). Int J Mol Med 2017; 40:587-606. [PMID: 28731148 PMCID: PMC5547940 DOI: 10.3892/ijmm.2017.3071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 96] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2017] [Accepted: 07/12/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Canonical WNT signaling through Frizzled and LRP5/6 receptors is transduced to the WNT/β-catenin and WNT/stabilization of proteins (STOP) signaling cascades to regulate cell fate and proliferation, whereas non-canonical WNT signaling through Frizzled or ROR receptors is transduced to the WNT/planar cell polarity (PCP), WNT/G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) and WNT/receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) signaling cascades to regulate cytoskeletal dynamics and directional cell movement. WNT/β-catenin signaling cascade crosstalks with RTK/SRK and GPCR-cAMP-PKA signaling cascades to regulate β-catenin phosphorylation and β-catenin-dependent transcription. Germline mutations in WNT signaling molecules cause hereditary colorectal cancer, bone diseases, exudative vitreoretinopathy, intellectual disability syndrome and PCP-related diseases. APC or CTNNB1 mutations in colorectal, endometrial and prostate cancers activate the WNT/β-catenin signaling cascade. RNF43, ZNRF3, RSPO2 or RSPO3 alterations in breast, colorectal, gastric, pancreatic and other cancers activate the WNT/β-catenin, WNT/STOP and other WNT signaling cascades. ROR1 upregulation in B-cell leukemia and solid tumors and ROR2 upregulation in melanoma induce invasion, metastasis and therapeutic resistance through Rho-ROCK, Rac-JNK, PI3K-AKT and YAP signaling activation. WNT signaling in cancer, stromal and immune cells dynamically orchestrate immune evasion and antitumor immunity in a cell context-dependent manner. Porcupine (PORCN), RSPO3, WNT2B, FZD5, FZD10, ROR1, tankyrase and β-catenin are targets of anti-WNT signaling therapy, and ETC-159, LGK974, OMP-18R5 (vantictumab), OMP-54F28 (ipafricept), OMP-131R10 (rosmantuzumab), PRI-724 and UC-961 (cirmtuzumab) are in clinical trials for cancer patients. Different classes of anti-WNT signaling therapeutics are necessary for the treatment of APC/CTNNB1-, RNF43/ZNRF3/RSPO2/RSPO3- and ROR1-types of human cancers. By contrast, Dickkopf-related protein 1 (DKK1), SOST and glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β) are targets of pro-WNT signaling therapy, and anti-DKK1 (BHQ880 and DKN-01) and anti-SOST (blosozumab, BPS804 and romosozumab) monoclonal antibodies are being tested in clinical trials for cancer patients and osteoporotic post-menopausal women. WNT-targeting therapeutics have also been applied as reagents for in vitro stem-cell processing in the field of regenerative medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Masaru Katoh
- Department of Omics Network, National Cancer Center, Tokyo 104-0045, Japan
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38
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Corda G, Sala A. Non-canonical WNT/PCP signalling in cancer: Fzd6 takes centre stage. Oncogenesis 2017; 6:e364. [PMID: 28737757 PMCID: PMC5541719 DOI: 10.1038/oncsis.2017.69] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2017] [Revised: 06/08/2017] [Accepted: 06/14/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Frizzled receptors are the mediators of the wnt canonical and non-canonical pathways, which play fundamental roles in cell differentiation and organism development. A large body of work indicates that dysregulation of wnt signalling is a feature of oncogenic transformation, but most of the studies published so far focus on the assessment of the consequences of aberrations of the canonical pathway in human cancer. In this review, we discuss the emerging role of the wnt non-canonical pathway regulated by frizzled receptor 6 (Fzd6) in the pathogenesis of different types of human malignancies. The function played by Fzd6 in the physiology of normal and cancer cells has been highlighted in the view that an increased knowledge of the signalling pathways upstream and downstream of this receptor could ultimately result in the identification of new targets for cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Corda
- College of Health and Life Sciences, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, UK.,Institute of Environment, Health and Societies, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, UK
| | - A Sala
- College of Health and Life Sciences, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, UK.,Institute of Environment, Health and Societies, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, UK.,Dipartimento di Scienze Psicologiche, della Salute e del Territorio, University 'G d'Annunzio' Chieti-Pescara, Centro Studi sull'Invecchiamento, Chieti, Italy
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39
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Liu M, Xu P, O'Brien T, Shen S. Multiple roles of Ulk4 in neurogenesis and brain function. NEUROGENESIS 2017; 4:e1313646. [PMID: 28596978 DOI: 10.1080/23262133.2017.1313646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2016] [Revised: 11/27/2016] [Accepted: 01/18/2017] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Neurogenesis is essential for proper brain formation and function, and abnormal neural proliferation is an underlying neuropathology of many brain disorders. Recent advances on adult neurogenesis demonstrate that neural stem cells (NSCs) at the subventricular zone (SVZ) are largely derived during mid-embryonic neurogenesis from a subset of cells, which slow down in their pace of cell division,1 become quiescent cells and can be reactivated in need.2 The NSCs at birth constitute the stem cell pool for both postnatal oligodendrogenesis3 and adult neurogenesis.1,2 However, little is known about factors that control the size of NSC pool. The article published in Stem Cells on Jun 14, 2016 by Liu and colleagues described a member of the Unc-51-like serine/threonine kinase family, Ulk4, which plays a critical role in regulating the NSC pool size.4 Authors presented evidence of cell cycle-dependent Ulk4 expression in vitro and in vivo, and reduced NSC pool in targetedly disrupted Ulk4 newborn mice, with disturbed pathways of cell cycle regulation and WNT signaling (Fig. 1), suggesting that ULK4 may be associated with neurodevelopmental, neuropsychiatric as well as neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Liu
- Regenerative Medicine Institute, School of Medicine, National University of Ireland (NUI) Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Ping Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Proteomics, National Center for Protein Sciences, Beijing Proteome Research Center, National Engineering Research Center for Protein Drugs, Beijing Institute of Radiation Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Timothy O'Brien
- Regenerative Medicine Institute, School of Medicine, National University of Ireland (NUI) Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Sanbing Shen
- Regenerative Medicine Institute, School of Medicine, National University of Ireland (NUI) Galway, Galway, Ireland
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40
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Corda G, Sala G, Lattanzio R, Iezzi M, Sallese M, Fragassi G, Lamolinara A, Mirza H, Barcaroli D, Ermler S, Silva E, Yasaei H, Newbold RF, Vagnarelli P, Mottolese M, Natali PG, Perracchio L, Quist J, Grigoriadis A, Marra P, Tutt AN, Piantelli M, Iacobelli S, De Laurenzi V, Sala A. Functional and prognostic significance of the genomic amplification of frizzled 6 (FZD6) in breast cancer. J Pathol 2016; 241:350-361. [PMID: 27859262 PMCID: PMC5248601 DOI: 10.1002/path.4841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2016] [Revised: 09/09/2016] [Accepted: 10/18/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Frizzled receptors mediate Wnt ligand signalling, which is crucially involved in regulating tissue development and differentiation, and is often deregulated in cancer. In this study, we found that the gene encoding the Wnt receptor frizzled 6 (FZD6) is frequently amplified in breast cancer, with an increased incidence in the triple‐negative breast cancer (TNBC) subtype. Ablation of FZD6 expression in mammary cancer cell lines: (1) inhibited motility and invasion; (2) induced a more symmetrical shape of organoid three‐dimensional cultures; and (3) inhibited bone and liver metastasis in vivo. Mechanistically, FZD6 signalling is required for the assembly of the fibronectin matrix, interfering with the organization of the actin cytoskeleton. Ectopic delivery of fibronectin in FZD6‐depleted, triple‐negative MDA‐MB‐231 cells rearranged the actin cytoskeleton and restored epidermal growth factor‐mediated invasion. In patients with localized, lymph node‐negative (early) breast cancer, positivity of tumour cells for FZD6 protein identified patients with reduced distant relapse‐free survival. Multivariate analysis indicated an independent prognostic significance of FZD6 expression in TNBC tumours, predicting distant, but not local, relapse. We conclude that the FZD6–fibronectin actin axis identified in our study could be exploited for drug development in highly metastatic forms of breast cancer, such as TNBC. © 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)
- Gabriele Corda
- College of Health and Life Sciences, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, UK.,Institute of Environment, Health and Societies, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, UK
| | - Gianluca Sala
- MediaPharma srl, Chieti, Italy.,Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche, Orali e Biotecnologiche, CESI-MeT, University G. D'Annunzio, Chieti, Italy
| | - Rossano Lattanzio
- Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche, Orali e Biotecnologiche, CESI-MeT, University G. D'Annunzio, Chieti, Italy
| | - Manuela Iezzi
- Dipartimento di Medicina e Scienze dell'Invecchiamento, CESI-MeT, University G. D'Annunzio, Chieti, Italy
| | - Michele Sallese
- Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche, Orali e Biotecnologiche, CESI-MeT, University G. D'Annunzio, Chieti, Italy.,Fondazione Mario Negri Sud, S. Maria Imbaro, Italy
| | - Giorgia Fragassi
- Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche, Orali e Biotecnologiche, CESI-MeT, University G. D'Annunzio, Chieti, Italy.,Fondazione Mario Negri Sud, S. Maria Imbaro, Italy
| | - Alessia Lamolinara
- Dipartimento di Medicina e Scienze dell'Invecchiamento, CESI-MeT, University G. D'Annunzio, Chieti, Italy
| | - Hasan Mirza
- Breast Cancer Now Unit, Research Oncology, King's Health Partners AHSC, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Daniela Barcaroli
- Dipartimento di Scienze Psicologiche, della Salute e del Territorio, CESI-MeT, University G. D'Annunzio, Chieti, Italy
| | - Sibylle Ermler
- College of Health and Life Sciences, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, UK.,Institute of Environment, Health and Societies, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, UK
| | - Elisabete Silva
- College of Health and Life Sciences, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, UK.,Institute of Environment, Health and Societies, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, UK
| | - Hemad Yasaei
- College of Health and Life Sciences, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, UK
| | - Robert F Newbold
- College of Health and Life Sciences, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, UK.,Institute of Environment, Health and Societies, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, UK
| | - Paola Vagnarelli
- College of Health and Life Sciences, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, UK.,Institute of Environment, Health and Societies, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, UK
| | | | | | | | - Jelmar Quist
- Breast Cancer Now Unit, Research Oncology, King's Health Partners AHSC, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Anita Grigoriadis
- Breast Cancer Now Unit, Research Oncology, King's Health Partners AHSC, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Pierfrancesco Marra
- Breast Cancer Now Unit, Research Oncology, King's Health Partners AHSC, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Andrew N Tutt
- Breast Cancer Now Unit, Research Oncology, King's Health Partners AHSC, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, King's College London, London, UK.,Breast Cancer Now, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
| | - Mauro Piantelli
- Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche, Orali e Biotecnologiche, CESI-MeT, University G. D'Annunzio, Chieti, Italy
| | - Stefano Iacobelli
- MediaPharma srl, Chieti, Italy.,Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche, Orali e Biotecnologiche, CESI-MeT, University G. D'Annunzio, Chieti, Italy
| | - Vincenzo De Laurenzi
- Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche, Orali e Biotecnologiche, CESI-MeT, University G. D'Annunzio, Chieti, Italy
| | - Arturo Sala
- College of Health and Life Sciences, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, UK.,Institute of Environment, Health and Societies, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, UK.,Dipartimento di Scienze Psicologiche, della Salute e del Territorio, CESI-MeT, University G. D'Annunzio, Chieti, Italy
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41
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Gonzalez-Fernandez C, Arevalo-Martin A, Paniagua-Torija B, Ferrer I, Rodriguez FJ, Garcia-Ovejero D. Wnts Are Expressed in the Ependymal Region of the Adult Spinal Cord. Mol Neurobiol 2016; 54:6342-6355. [PMID: 27722925 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-016-0132-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2016] [Accepted: 09/14/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The Wnt family of proteins plays key roles during central nervous system development and in several physiological processes during adulthood. Recently, experimental evidence has linked Wnt-related genes to regulation and maintenance of stem cells in the adult neurogenic niches. In the spinal cord, the ependymal cells surrounding the central canal form one of those niches, but little is known about their Wnt expression patterns. Using microdissection followed by TaqMan® low-density arrays, we show here that the ependymal regions of young, mature rats and adult humans express several Wnt-related genes, including ligands, conventional and non-conventional receptors, co-receptors, and soluble inhibitors. We found 13 genes shared between rats and humans, 4 exclusively expressed in rats and 9 expressed only in humans. Also, we observed a reduction with age on spontaneous proliferation of ependymal cells in rats paralleled by a decrease in the expression of Fzd1, Fzd8, and Fzd9. Our results suggest a role for Wnts in the regulation of the adult spinal cord neurogenic niche and provide new data on the specific differences in this region between humans and rodents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Gonzalez-Fernandez
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurology, Hospital Nacional de Paraplejicos (SESCAM), Finca La Peraleda s/n, 45071, Toledo, Spain
| | - Angel Arevalo-Martin
- Laboratory of Neuroinflammation, Hospital Nacional de Paraplejicos (SESCAM), Finca La Peraleda s/n, 45071, Toledo, Spain
| | - Beatriz Paniagua-Torija
- Laboratory of Neuroinflammation, Hospital Nacional de Paraplejicos (SESCAM), Finca La Peraleda s/n, 45071, Toledo, Spain
| | - Isidro Ferrer
- Institut de Neuropatologia, Serveid'AnatomiaPatològica, IDIBELL-Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, Universitat de Barcelona, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain
| | - Francisco J Rodriguez
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurology, Hospital Nacional de Paraplejicos (SESCAM), Finca La Peraleda s/n, 45071, Toledo, Spain.
| | - Daniel Garcia-Ovejero
- Laboratory of Neuroinflammation, Hospital Nacional de Paraplejicos (SESCAM), Finca La Peraleda s/n, 45071, Toledo, Spain.
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42
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Huang T, Alvarez AA, Pangeni RP, Horbinski CM, Lu S, Kim SH, James CD, J Raizer J, A Kessler J, Brenann CW, Sulman EP, Finocchiaro G, Tan M, Nishikawa R, Lu X, Nakano I, Hu B, Cheng SY. A regulatory circuit of miR-125b/miR-20b and Wnt signalling controls glioblastoma phenotypes through FZD6-modulated pathways. Nat Commun 2016; 7:12885. [PMID: 27698350 PMCID: PMC5059456 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms12885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2016] [Accepted: 08/11/2016] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Molecularly defined subclassification is associated with phenotypic malignancy of glioblastoma (GBM). However, current understanding of the molecular basis of subclass conversion that is often involved in GBM recurrence remain rudimentary at best. Here we report that canonical Wnt signalling that is active in proneural (PN) but inactive in mesenchymal (MES) GBM, along with miR-125b and miR-20b that are expressed at high levels in PN compared with MES GBM, comprise a regulatory circuit involving TCF4-miR-125b/miR-20b-FZD6. FZD6 acts as a negative regulator of this circuit by activating CaMKII–TAK1–NLK signalling, which, in turn, attenuates Wnt pathway activity while promoting STAT3 and NF-κB signalling that are important regulators of the MES-associated phenotype. These findings are confirmed by targeting differentially enriched pathways in PN versus MES GBM that results in inhibition of distinct GBM subtypes. Correlative expressions of the components of this circuit are prognostic relevant for clinical GBM. Our findings provide insights for understanding GBM pathogenesis and for improving treatment of GBM. Glioblastoma (GBM) is classified as proneural (PN), neural, mesenchymal (MES) and classical GBM. Here the authors show that Wnt signalling, miR-125b and miR-20b establish a regulatory circuitry including FZD6 which distinguishes PN from the MES subtype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianzhi Huang
- Department of Neurology, Northwestern Brain Tumor Institute, The Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois 60611, USA
| | - Angel A Alvarez
- Department of Neurology, Northwestern Brain Tumor Institute, The Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois 60611, USA
| | - Rajendra P Pangeni
- Department of Neurology, Northwestern Brain Tumor Institute, The Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois 60611, USA
| | - Craig M Horbinski
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Northwestern Brain Tumor Institute, The Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois 60611, USA
| | - Songjian Lu
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15206, USA
| | - Sung-Hak Kim
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama 35294, USA
| | - C David James
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Northwestern Brain Tumor Institute, The Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois 60611, USA
| | - Jeffery J Raizer
- Department of Neurology, Northwestern Brain Tumor Institute, The Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois 60611, USA
| | - John A Kessler
- Department of Neurology, Northwestern Brain Tumor Institute, The Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois 60611, USA
| | - Cameron W Brenann
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Department of Neurosurgery, Brain Tumor Center, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York 10065, USA
| | - Erik P Sulman
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Gaetano Finocchiaro
- Unit of Molecular Neuro-Oncology, Department of Neuro-Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico, Via Celoria 11, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Ming Tan
- Mitchell Cancer Institute, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama 36604, USA
| | - Ryo Nishikawa
- Department of Neuro-Oncology/Neurosurgery, Saitama Medical University International Medical Center, Saitama, 350-1298, Japan
| | - Xinghua Lu
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15206, USA
| | - Ichiro Nakano
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama 35294, USA
| | - Bo Hu
- Department of Neurology, Northwestern Brain Tumor Institute, The Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois 60611, USA
| | - Shi-Yuan Cheng
- Department of Neurology, Northwestern Brain Tumor Institute, The Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois 60611, USA
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43
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Skoda J, Hermanova M, Loja T, Nemec P, Neradil J, Karasek P, Veselska R. Co-Expression of Cancer Stem Cell Markers Corresponds to a Pro-Tumorigenic Expression Profile in Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0159255. [PMID: 27414409 PMCID: PMC4945008 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0159255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2015] [Accepted: 06/29/2016] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remains one of the most lethal malignancies. Its dismal prognosis is often attributed to the presence of cancer stem cells (CSCs) that have been identified in PDAC using various markers. However, the co-expression of all of these markers has not yet been evaluated. Furthermore, studies that compare the expression levels of CSC markers in PDAC tumor samples and in cell lines derived directly from those tumors are lacking. Here, we analyzed the expression of putative CSC markers—CD24, CD44, epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM), CD133, and nestin—by immunofluorescence, flow cytometry and quantitative PCR in 3 PDAC-derived cell lines and by immunohistochemistry in 3 corresponding tumor samples. We showed high expression of the examined CSC markers among all of the cell lines and tumor samples, with the exception of CD24 and CD44, which were enriched under in vitro conditions compared with tumor tissues. The proportions of cells positive for the remaining markers were comparable to those detected in the corresponding tumors. Co-expression analysis using flow cytometry revealed that CD24+/CD44+/EpCAM+/CD133+ cells represented a significant population of the cells (range, 43 to 72%) among the cell lines. The highest proportion of CD24+/CD44+/EpCAM+/CD133+ cells was detected in the cell line derived from the tumor of a patient with the shortest survival. Using gene expression profiling, we further identified the specific pro-tumorigenic expression profile of this cell line compared with the profiles of the other two cell lines. Together, CD24+/CD44+/EpCAM+/CD133+ cells are present in PDAC cell lines derived from primary tumors, and their increased proportion corresponds with a pro-tumorigenic gene expression profile.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Skoda
- Laboratory of Tumor Biology, Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, University Hospital Brno and Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
- International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne’s University Hospital and Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Marketa Hermanova
- 1st Department of Pathological Anatomy, St. Anne’s University Hospital and Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Tomas Loja
- Laboratory of Tumor Biology, Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Pavel Nemec
- Laboratory of Tumor Biology, Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jakub Neradil
- Laboratory of Tumor Biology, Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, University Hospital Brno and Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
- International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne’s University Hospital and Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Karasek
- Department of Complex Oncology Care, Masaryk Memorial Cancer Institute, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Renata Veselska
- Laboratory of Tumor Biology, Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, University Hospital Brno and Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
- International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne’s University Hospital and Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
- * E-mail:
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44
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Liu M, Guan Z, Shen Q, Flinter F, Domínguez L, Ahn JW, Collier DA, O'Brien T, Shen S. Ulk4 Regulates Neural Stem Cell Pool. Stem Cells 2016; 34:2318-31. [PMID: 27300315 DOI: 10.1002/stem.2423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2016] [Revised: 03/29/2016] [Accepted: 04/24/2016] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
The size of neural stem cell (NSC) pool at birth determines the starting point of adult neurogenesis. Aberrant neurogenesis is associated with major mental illness, in which ULK4 is proposed as a rare risk factor. Little is known about factors regulating the NSC pool, or function of the ULK4. Here, we showed that Ulk4(tm1a/tm1a) mice displayed a dramatically reduced NSC pool at birth. Ulk4 was expressed in a cell cycle-dependent manner and peaked in G2/M phases. Targeted disruption of the Ulk4 perturbed mid-neurogenesis and significantly reduced cerebral cortex in postnatal mice. Pathway analyses of dysregulated genes in Ulk4(tm1a/tm1a) mice revealed Ulk4 as a key regulator of cell cycle and NSC proliferation, partially through regulation of the Wnt signaling. In addition, we identified hemizygous deletion of ULK4 gene in 1.2/1,000 patients with pleiotropic symptoms including severe language delay and learning difficulties. ULK4, therefore, may significantly contribute to neurodevelopmental, neuropsychiatric, and neurodegenerative disorders. Stem Cells 2016;34:2318-2331.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Liu
- Regenerative Medicine Institute, School of Medicine, National University of Ireland (NUI) Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Zhenlong Guan
- Department of Physiology, College of Life Science, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, People's Republic of China
| | - Qin Shen
- Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Center for Life Sciences, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Frances Flinter
- Genetics Department, Guy's & St. Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, Guy's Hospital, Great Maze Pond, London, United Kingdom
| | - Laura Domínguez
- Regenerative Medicine Institute, School of Medicine, National University of Ireland (NUI) Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Joo Wook Ahn
- Genetics Laboratories, Guy's Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | - David A Collier
- Eli Lilly and Company Ltd. Erl Wood Manor, Windlesham, Surrey, United Kingdom
| | - Timothy O'Brien
- Regenerative Medicine Institute, School of Medicine, National University of Ireland (NUI) Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Sanbing Shen
- Regenerative Medicine Institute, School of Medicine, National University of Ireland (NUI) Galway, Galway, Ireland. sanbing.shen@nuigalway
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45
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Yan J, Liu T, Zhou X, Dang Y, Yin C, Zhang G. FZD6, targeted by miR-21, represses gastric cancer cell proliferation and migration via activating non-canonical wnt pathway. Am J Transl Res 2016; 8:2354-2364. [PMID: 27347343 PMCID: PMC4891448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2015] [Accepted: 01/22/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
FZD6 plays crucial roles in human tumorigenesis. However, its mechanism in regulating cancers has not been fully elucidated. In the study, we found that FZD6 repressed gastric cancer cell proliferation and migration via activating non-canonical wnt pathway. In addition, non-canonical wnt pathway ameliorated expression of canonical wnt pathway. We also demonstrated that the FZD6 was involved in miR-21-dependent effects in the canonical and non-canonical wnt pathways in gastric cancer. These findings provide a better understanding of the development and progression of gastric cancer and may be an important implication for future therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin Yan
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital with Nanjing Medical UniversityNanjing, Jiangsu 210000, China
- The First Clinical Medical College, Nanjing Medical UniversityNanjing, Jiangsu 210000, China
| | - Tingyu Liu
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital with Nanjing Medical UniversityNanjing, Jiangsu 210000, China
- The First Clinical Medical College, Nanjing Medical UniversityNanjing, Jiangsu 210000, China
| | - Xiaoying Zhou
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital with Nanjing Medical UniversityNanjing, Jiangsu 210000, China
- The First Clinical Medical College, Nanjing Medical UniversityNanjing, Jiangsu 210000, China
| | - Yini Dang
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital with Nanjing Medical UniversityNanjing, Jiangsu 210000, China
- The First Clinical Medical College, Nanjing Medical UniversityNanjing, Jiangsu 210000, China
| | - Chengqiang Yin
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital with Nanjing Medical UniversityNanjing, Jiangsu 210000, China
- The First Clinical Medical College, Nanjing Medical UniversityNanjing, Jiangsu 210000, China
| | - Guoxin Zhang
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital with Nanjing Medical UniversityNanjing, Jiangsu 210000, China
- The First Clinical Medical College, Nanjing Medical UniversityNanjing, Jiangsu 210000, China
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Keerthikumar S, Gangoda L, Liem M, Fonseka P, Atukorala I, Ozcitti C, Mechler A, Adda CG, Ang CS, Mathivanan S. Proteogenomic analysis reveals exosomes are more oncogenic than ectosomes. Oncotarget 2016; 6:15375-96. [PMID: 25944692 PMCID: PMC4558158 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.3801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 200] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2015] [Accepted: 03/18/2015] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) include the exosomes (30-100 nm) that are produced through the endocytic pathway via the multivesicular bodies and the ectosomes (100-1000 nm) that are released through the budding of the plasma membrane. Despite the differences in the mode of biogenesis and size, reliable markers that can distinguish between exosomes and ectosomes are non-existent. Moreover, the precise functional differences between exosomes and ectosomes remains poorly characterised. Here, using label-free quantitative proteomics, we highlight proteins that could be exploited as markers to discriminate between exosomes and ectosomes. For the first time, a global proteogenomics analysis unveiled the secretion of mutant proteins that are implicated in cancer progression through tumor-derived EVs. Follow up integrated bioinformatics analysis highlighted the enrichment of oncogenic cargo in exosomes and ectosomes. Interestingly, exosomes induced significant cell proliferation and migration in recipient cells compared to ectosomes confirming the oncogenic nature of exosomes. These findings ascertain that cancer cells facilitate oncogenesis by the secretion of mutant and oncoproteins into the tumor microenvironment via exosomes and ectosomes. The integrative proteogenomics approach utilized in this study has the potential to identify disease biomarker candidates which can be later assayed in liquid biopsies obtained from cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shivakumar Keerthikumar
- Department of Biochemistry, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Lahiru Gangoda
- Department of Biochemistry, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Michael Liem
- Department of Biochemistry, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Pamali Fonseka
- Department of Biochemistry, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Ishara Atukorala
- Department of Biochemistry, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Cemil Ozcitti
- Department of Biochemistry, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Adam Mechler
- Department of Chemistry, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Christopher G Adda
- Department of Biochemistry, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Ching-Seng Ang
- Bio21 Institute, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Suresh Mathivanan
- Department of Biochemistry, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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47
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Kim BK, Yoo HI, Kim I, Park J, Kim Yoon S. FZD6 expression is negatively regulated by miR-199a-5p in human colorectal cancer. BMB Rep 2016; 48:360-6. [PMID: 25772759 PMCID: PMC4578624 DOI: 10.5483/bmbrep.2015.48.6.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2015] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC), the third most common cancer worldwide, also has the highest rate of cancer-related morbidity and mortality. WNT signaling is initiated by binding of WNT to various receptors, including frizzleds (FZDs), and plays a critical role in CRC and other tumor development by regulating proliferation, differentiation, migration, apoptosis, and polarity. Among the members of the FZD family, FZD6 is broadly expressed in various tissues, and its overexpression has been reported in several cancers, suggesting an important role in cancer development. In this study, we investigated the expression of FZD6 in patients with CRC and found it to be increased in tumors, as compared to paired adjacent non-tumor tissues. Additionally, we found that FZD6 expression was negatively regulated by miR199a5p in CRC cells. These results suggest that overexpression of FZD6, mediated by reduced expression of miR-199a-5p, may play an important role in the development of CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bong-Kyu Kim
- Department of Medical Lifesciences, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 137-701, Korea
| | - Hye-In Yoo
- Department of Medical Lifesciences, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 137-701, Korea
| | - Injung Kim
- Department of Medical Lifesciences, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 137-701, Korea
| | - Jongkeun Park
- Department of Medical Lifesciences, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 137-701, Korea
| | - Sungjoo Kim Yoon
- Department of Medical Lifesciences, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 137-701, Korea
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48
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Osteopontin promotes a cancer stem cell-like phenotype in hepatocellular carcinoma cells via an integrin-NF-κB-HIF-1α pathway. Oncotarget 2016; 6:6627-40. [PMID: 25749383 PMCID: PMC4466639 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.3113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2014] [Accepted: 01/08/2015] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
There is increasing evidence to suggest that hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) are sustained by a distinct subpopulation of self-renewing cells known as cancer stem cells. However, the precise signals required for maintenance of stemness-like properties of these cells are yet to be elucidated. Here, we demonstrated that the level of oncoprotein osteopontin (OPN) in tumor cells of the edge of bulk tumors was significantly correlated with the clinical prognosis of patients with HCC. OPN was highly expressed in side population fractions of HCC cell lines, as well as in dormant cells, spheroids and chemo-resistant cancer cells, all of which are considered as having stemness-like cellular features. Depletion of OPN in HCC cell lines resulted in a reduction in the proportion of side population fractions, formation of hepato-spheroids, expression of stem-cell-associated genes and decreased tumorigenecity in immunodeficient mice. Mechanistically, OPN was demonstrated to bind to integrin αvβ3 and activate the transcription factor NF-κB, which resulted in upregulation of HIF-1α transcription and its downstream gene, BMI1, to mediate maintenance of the stemness-like phenotype. Suppression of the αvβ3–NF-κB–HIF-1α pathway decreased OPN-mediated self-renewal capabilities. Levels of OPN protein expression were significantly correlated with HIF-1α protein levels in HCC tumor tissue samples. OPN might promote a cancer stem cell-like phenotype via the αvβ3–NF-κB–HIF-1α pathway. Our findings offer strong support for OPN requirement in maintaining stem-like properties in HCC cells.
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Roos J, Grösch S, Werz O, Schröder P, Ziegler S, Fulda S, Paulus P, Urbschat A, Kühn B, Maucher I, Fettel J, Vorup-Jensen T, Piesche M, Matrone C, Steinhilber D, Parnham MJ, Maier TJ. Regulation of tumorigenic Wnt signaling by cyclooxygenase-2, 5-lipoxygenase and their pharmacological inhibitors: A basis for novel drugs targeting cancer cells? Pharmacol Ther 2016; 157:43-64. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2015.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
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50
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Garner EF, Beierle EA. Cancer Stem Cells and Their Interaction with the Tumor Microenvironment in Neuroblastoma. Cancers (Basel) 2015; 8:cancers8010005. [PMID: 26729169 PMCID: PMC4728452 DOI: 10.3390/cancers8010005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2015] [Revised: 12/16/2015] [Accepted: 12/21/2015] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuroblastoma, a solid tumor arising from neural crest cells, accounts for over 15% of all pediatric cancer deaths. The interaction of neuroblastoma cancer-initiating cells with their microenvironment likely plays an integral role in the maintenance of resistant disease and tumor relapse. In this review, we discuss the interaction between neuroblastoma cancer-initiating cells and the elements of the tumor microenvironment and how these interactions may provide novel therapeutic targets for this difficult to treat disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evan F Garner
- Department of Surgery, Division of Pediatric Surgery, University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA.
| | - Elizabeth A Beierle
- Department of Surgery, Division of Pediatric Surgery, University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA.
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