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Hintelmann K, Petersen C, Borgmann K. Radiotherapeutic Strategies to Overcome Resistance of Breast Cancer Brain Metastases by Considering Immunogenic Aspects of Cancer Stem Cells. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 15:211. [PMID: 36612206 PMCID: PMC9818478 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15010211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2022] [Revised: 12/23/2022] [Accepted: 12/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer is the most diagnosed cancer in women, and symptomatic brain metastases (BCBMs) occur in 15-20% of metastatic breast cancer cases. Despite technological advances in radiation therapy (RT), the prognosis of patients is limited. This has been attributed to radioresistant breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs), among other factors. The aim of this review article is to summarize the evidence of cancer-stem-cell-mediated radioresistance in brain metastases of breast cancer from radiobiologic and radiation oncologic perspectives to allow for the better interpretability of preclinical and clinical evidence and to facilitate its translation into new therapeutic strategies. To this end, the etiology of brain metastasis in breast cancer, its radiotherapeutic treatment options, resistance mechanisms in BCSCs, and effects of molecularly targeted therapies in combination with radiotherapy involving immune checkpoint inhibitors are described and classified. This is considered in the context of the central nervous system (CNS) as a particular metastatic niche involving the blood-brain barrier and the CNS immune system. The compilation of this existing knowledge serves to identify possible synergistic effects between systemic molecularly targeted therapies and ionizing radiation (IR) by considering both BCSCs' relevant resistance mechanisms and effects on normal tissue of the CNS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katharina Hintelmann
- Department of Radiotherapy and Radiation Oncology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
- Laboratory of Radiobiology and Experimental Radiooncology, Center of Oncology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Cordula Petersen
- Department of Radiotherapy and Radiation Oncology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Kerstin Borgmann
- Laboratory of Radiobiology and Experimental Radiooncology, Center of Oncology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
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2
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Metabolomic and Mitochondrial Fingerprinting of the Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) in Non-Tumorigenic and Tumorigenic Human Breast Cells. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14246214. [PMID: 36551699 PMCID: PMC9776482 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14246214] [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: 11/05/2022] [Revised: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is key to tumor aggressiveness, therapy resistance, and immune escape in breast cancer. Because metabolic traits might be involved along the EMT continuum, we investigated whether human breast epithelial cells engineered to stably acquire a mesenchymal phenotype in non-tumorigenic and H-RasV12-driven tumorigenic backgrounds possess unique metabolic fingerprints. We profiled mitochondrial-cytosolic bioenergetic and one-carbon (1C) metabolites by metabolomic analysis, and then questioned the utilization of different mitochondrial substrates by EMT mitochondria and their sensitivity to mitochondria-centered inhibitors. "Upper" and "lower" glycolysis were the preferred glucose fluxes activated by EMT in non-tumorigenic and tumorigenic backgrounds, respectively. EMT in non-tumorigenic and tumorigenic backgrounds could be distinguished by the differential contribution of the homocysteine-methionine 1C cycle to the transsulfuration pathway. Both non-tumorigenic and tumorigenic EMT-activated cells showed elevated mitochondrial utilization of glycolysis end-products such as lactic acid, β-oxidation substrates including palmitoyl-carnitine, and tricarboxylic acid pathway substrates such as succinic acid. Notably, mitochondria in tumorigenic EMT cells distinctively exhibited a significant alteration in the electron flow intensity from succinate to mitochondrial complex III as they were highly refractory to the inhibitory effects of antimycin A and myxothiazol. Our results show that the bioenergetic/1C metabolic signature, the utilization rates of preferred mitochondrial substrates, and sensitivity to mitochondrial drugs significantly differs upon execution of EMT in non-tumorigenic and tumorigenic backgrounds, which could help to resolve the relationship between EMT, malignancy, and therapeutic resistance in breast cancer.
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3
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Cuyàs E, Verdura S, Martin-Castillo B, Menendez JA. Circulating levels of MOTS-c in patients with breast cancer treated with metformin. Aging (Albany NY) 2022; 15:892-897. [PMID: 36490309 PMCID: PMC10008497 DOI: 10.18632/aging.204423] [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: 10/08/2022] [Accepted: 11/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The mitokine MOTS-c is a mitochondrially-encoded "exercise-mimetic peptide" expressed in multiple tissues, particularly skeletal muscles, which can be detected as a circulating hormone in the blood. MOTS-c mechanisms of action (MoA) involve insulin sensitization, enhanced glucose utilization, suppression of mitochondrial respiration, and targeting of the folate-AICAR-AMPK pathway. Although MOTS-c MoA largely overlap those of the anti-diabetic biguanide metformin, the putative regulatory actions of metformin on MOTS-c have not yet been evaluated in detail. Here, we measured circulating MOTS-c in paired baseline and post-treatment sera obtained from HER2-positive breast cancer patients randomized to receive either metformin combined with neoadjuvant chemotherapy and trastuzumab or an equivalent regimen without metformin. We failed to find any significant alteration of circulating MOTS-c -as measured using the commercially available competitive ELISA CEX132Hu- in response to 24 weeks of a neoadjuvant chemotherapy/trastuzumab regimen with or without daily metformin. Changes in circulating MOTS-c levels failed to reach statistical significance when comparing patients achieving pathological complete response (pCR), irrespective of metformin treatment. The inability of metformin to target skeletal muscle, the major tissue for MOTS-c production and secretion, might limit its regulatory effects on circulating MOTS-c. Further studies are needed to definitely elucidate the nature of the interaction between metformin and MOTS-c in cancer and non-cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabet Cuyàs
- Metabolism and Cancer Group, Program Against Cancer Therapeutic Resistance (ProCURE), Catalan Institute of Oncology, Girona 17005, Spain.,Girona Biomedical Research Institute, Girona 17190, Spain
| | - Sara Verdura
- Metabolism and Cancer Group, Program Against Cancer Therapeutic Resistance (ProCURE), Catalan Institute of Oncology, Girona 17005, Spain.,Girona Biomedical Research Institute, Girona 17190, Spain
| | - Begoña Martin-Castillo
- Girona Biomedical Research Institute, Girona 17190, Spain.,Clinical Research Unit, Catalan Institute of Oncology, Girona 17005, Spain
| | - Javier A Menendez
- Metabolism and Cancer Group, Program Against Cancer Therapeutic Resistance (ProCURE), Catalan Institute of Oncology, Girona 17005, Spain.,Girona Biomedical Research Institute, Girona 17190, Spain
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Menendez JA, Lupu R. Fatty acid synthase: A druggable driver of breast cancer brain metastasis. Expert Opin Ther Targets 2022; 26:427-444. [PMID: 35545806 DOI: 10.1080/14728222.2022.2077189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Brain metastasis (BrM) is a key contributor to morbidity and mortality in breast cancer patients, especially among high-risk epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive (HER2+) and triple-negative/basal-like molecular subtypes. Optimal management of BrM is focused on characterizing a "BrM dependency map" to prioritize targetable therapeutic vulnerabilities. AREAS COVERED We review recent studies addressing the targeting of BrM in the lipid-deprived brain environment, which selects for brain-tropic breast cancer cells capable of cell-autonomously generating fatty acids by upregulating de novo lipogenesis via fatty acid synthase (FASN). Disruption of FASN activity impairs breast cancer growth in the brain, but not extracranially, and mapping of the molecular causes of organ-specific patterns of metastasis has uncovered an enrichment of lipid metabolism signatures in brain metastasizing cells. Targeting SREBP1-the master regulator of lipogenic gene transcription-curtails the ability of breast cancer cells to survive in the brain microenvironment. EXPERT OPINION Targeting FASN represents a new therapeutic opportunity for patients with breast cancer and BrM. Delivery of brain-permeable FASN inhibitors and identifying strategies to target metabolic plasticity that might compensate for impaired brain FASN activity are two potential roadblocks that may hinder FASN-centered strategies against BrM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javier A Menendez
- Metabolism and Cancer Group, Program Against Cancer Therapeutic Resistance (ProCURE), Catalan Institute of Oncology, 17007 Girona, Spain.,Girona Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBGI), 17190 Girona, Spain
| | - Ruth Lupu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Division of Experimental Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Laboratory, Mayo Clinic Minnesota, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.,Mayo Clinic Cancer Center, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
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5
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De Santis F, Romero-Cordoba SL, Castagnoli L, Volpari T, Faraci S, Fucà G, Tagliabue E, De Braud F, Pupa SM, Di Nicola M. BCL6 and the Notch pathway: a signaling axis leading to a novel druggable biotarget in triple negative breast cancer. Cell Oncol (Dordr) 2022; 45:257-274. [PMID: 35357654 DOI: 10.1007/s13402-022-00663-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/05/2022] [Indexed: 01/22/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The transcriptional repressor B-cell lymphoma 6 (BCL6) is dysregulated in several neoplasms, but its role in triple negative breast cancer (TNBC), a highly aggressive subtype which lacks effective treatment, is unclear. The presence of intratumoral cancer stem cells (CSCs) is a main cause of tumor relapse. The Notch signaling pathway is crucial for regulating CSC self-renewal and promoting breast cancer (BC) development and resistance to anticancer therapies. Here, we investigated signaling cascades of BCL6 in the CSC compartment of TNBCs, and the mechanisms that govern its activity, mainly through Notch signaling. METHODS Gene expression, somatic copy number alterations and clinical data from the Cancer Genome Atlas and METABRIC were accessed through the Xena and cbioportal browsers. Public transcriptome profiles from TNBC datasets were retrieved from the Gene Expression Omnibus. Mammosphere formation efficiency was calculated after BCL6 knockdown via transient siRNA transfection, stable silencing or pharmacological inhibition. The effects exhibited via BCL6 inhibition in putative TNBC stem-like cells were evaluated by immunofluorescence and qRT-PCR analyses. Chromatin immunoprecipitation experiments were performed to validate a putative BCL6 responsive element located in the first intron of the Numb gene and to define the circuit of corepressors engaged by BCL6 following its inhibition. Immunoprecipitation assays were carried out to investigate a novel interaction at the basis of BCL6 control of CSC activity in TNBC. RESULTS In silico analyses of benchmarked public datasets revealed a significant enrichment of BCL6 in cancer stemness related pathways, particularly of Notch signaling in TNBC. In vitro stable inhibition of BCL6 significantly reduced tumor cell growth and, accordingly, we found that the mammosphere formation efficiency of BCL6 silenced cells was significantly impaired by pharmacological inhibition of Notch signaling. BCL6 was found to be expressed at significantly higher levels in TNBC mammospheres than in their adherent counterparts, and loss of BCL6 function significantly decreased mammosphere formation with preferential targeting of CD44-positive versus ALDH-positive stem-like cells. Functional interplay between BCL6 and the chromatin remodeling factor EZH2 triggered the BCL6/Notch stemness signaling axis via inhibition of Numb transcription. CONCLUSIONS Our results may be instrumental for the prospective design of combination treatment strategies that selectively target novel TNBC-associated biomarker(s) whose activity is implicated in the regulation of cancer stemness (such as BCL6) and molecules in developmentally conserved signaling pathways (such as Notch) to achieve long-lasting tumor control and improve patient outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca De Santis
- Unit of Immunotherapy and Anticancer Innovative Therapeutics, Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology Fondazione, IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - Sandra L Romero-Cordoba
- Department of Genomic Medicine and Toxicology, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico.,Biochemistry Department, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas Y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Lorenzo Castagnoli
- Molecular Targeting Unit, Department of Research, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - Tatiana Volpari
- The New York Stem Cell Foundation Research Institute, New York, NY, USA
| | - Simona Faraci
- Molecular Targeting Unit, Department of Research, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - Giovanni Fucà
- Unit of Immunotherapy and Anticancer Innovative Therapeutics, Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology Fondazione, IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - Elda Tagliabue
- Molecular Targeting Unit, Department of Research, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - Filippo De Braud
- Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Dei Tumori, Milan, Italy.,Department of Oncology and Oncohematology, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Serenella M Pupa
- Molecular Targeting Unit, Department of Research, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - Massimo Di Nicola
- Unit of Immunotherapy and Anticancer Innovative Therapeutics, Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology Fondazione, IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Dei Tumori, Milan, Italy.
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Blocking Gi/o-Coupled Signaling Eradicates Cancer Stem Cells and Sensitizes Breast Tumors to HER2-Targeted Therapies to Inhibit Tumor Relapse. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14071719. [PMID: 35406489 PMCID: PMC8997047 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14071719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2022] [Revised: 03/24/2022] [Accepted: 03/24/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are associated with therapeutic resistance and tumor relapse but effective approaches for eliminating CSCs are still lacking. The aim of this study was to assess the role of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) in regulating CSCs in breast cancer. We showed that a subgroup of GPCRs that coupled to Gi/o proteins (Gi/o-GPCRs) was required for maintaining the tumor-forming capability of CSCs in HER2+ breast cancer. Targeting Gi/o-GPCRs or their downstream PI3K/AKT and Src pathways was able to enhance HER2-targeted elimination of CSCs and therapeutic efficacy. These findings suggest that targeting Gi/o-GPCR signaling is an effective strategy for eradicating CSCs, enhancing HER2+ targeted therapy and blocking tumor recurrence. Abstract Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are a small subpopulation of cells within tumors that are resistant to anti-tumor therapies, making them a likely origin of tumor relapse after treatment. In many cancers including breast cancer, CSC function is regulated by G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), making GPCR signaling an attractive target for new therapies designed to eradicate CSCs. Yet, CSCs overexpress multiple GPCRs that are redundant in maintaining CSC function, so it is unclear how to target all the various GPCRs to prevent relapse. Here, in a model of HER2+ breast cancer (i.e., transgenic MMTV-Neu mice), we were able to block the tumorsphere- and tumor-forming capability of CSCs by targeting GPCRs coupled to Gi/o proteins (Gi/o-GPCRs). Similarly, in HER2+ breast cancer cells, blocking signaling downstream of Gi/o-GPCRs in the PI3K/AKT and Src pathways also enhanced HER2-targeted elimination of CSCs. In a proof-of-concept study, when CSCs were selectively ablated (via a suicide gene construct), loss of CSCs from HER2+ breast cancer cell populations mimicked the effect of targeting Gi/o-GPCR signaling, suppressing their capacity for tumor initiation and progression and enhancing HER2-targeted therapy. Thus, targeting Gi/o-GPCR signaling in HER2+ breast cancer is a promising approach for eradicating CSCs, enhancing HER2+ targeted therapy and blocking tumor reemergence.
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7
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Uprety B, Abrahamse H. Targeting Breast Cancer and Their Stem Cell Population through AMPK Activation: Novel Insights. Cells 2022; 11:576. [PMID: 35159385 PMCID: PMC8834477 DOI: 10.3390/cells11030576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2021] [Revised: 01/24/2022] [Accepted: 01/25/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite some significant advancements, breast cancer has become the most prevalent cancer in the world. One of the main reasons for failure in treatment and metastasis has been attributed to the presence of cancer initiating cells-cancer stem cells. Consequently, research is now being focussed on targeting cancer cells along with their stem cell population. Non-oncology drugs are gaining increasing attention for their potent anticancer activities. Metformin, a drug commonly used to treat type 2 diabetes, is the best example in this regard. It exerts its therapeutic action by activating 5' adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK). Activated AMPK subsequently phosphorylates and targets several cellular pathways involved in cell growth and proliferation and the maintenance of stem-like properties of cancer stem cells. Therefore, AMPK is emerging as a target of choice for developing effective anticancer drugs. Vanadium compounds are well-known PTP inhibitors and AMPK activators. They find extensive applications in treatment of diabetes and obesity via PTP1B inhibition and AMPK-mediated inhibition of adipogenesis. However, their role in targeting cancer stem cells has not been explored yet. This review is an attempt to establish the applications of insulin mimetic vanadium compounds for the treatment of breast cancer by AMPK activation and PTP1B inhibition pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bhawna Uprety
- Laser Research Centre, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Johannesburg, P.O. Box 17011, Doornfontein 2028, South Africa;
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Naz F, Shi M, Sajid S, Yang Z, Yu C. Cancer stem cells: a major culprit of intra-tumor heterogeneity. Am J Cancer Res 2021; 11:5782-5811. [PMID: 35018226 PMCID: PMC8727794] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2021] [Accepted: 08/25/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer is recognized as a preeminent factor of the world's mortality. Although various modalities have been designed to cure this life-threatening ailment, a significant impediment in the effective output of cancer treatment is heterogeneity. Cancer is characterized as a heterogeneous health disorder that comprises a distinct group of transformed cells to assist anomalous proliferation of affected cells. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are a leading cause of cancer heterogeneity that is continually transformed by cellular extrinsic and intrinsic factors. They intensify neoplastic cells aggressiveness by strengthening their dissemination, relapse and therapy resistance. Considering this viewpoint, in this review article we have discussed some intrinsic (transcription factors, cell signaling pathways, genetic alterations, epigenetic modifications, non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) and epitranscriptomics) and extrinsic factors (tumor microenvironment (TME)) that contribute to CSC heterogeneity and plasticity, which may help scientists to meddle these processes and eventually improve cancer research and management. Besides, the potential role of CSCs heterogeneity in establishing metastasis and therapy resistance has been articulated which signifies the importance of developing novel anticancer therapies to target CSCs along with targeting bulk tumor mass to achieve an effective output.
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Affiliation(s)
- Faiza Naz
- College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical TechnologyBeijing 100029, China
| | - Mengran Shi
- College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical TechnologyBeijing 100029, China
| | - Salvia Sajid
- Department of Biotechnology, Jinnah University for WomenKarachi 74600, Pakistan
| | - Zhao Yang
- College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical TechnologyBeijing 100029, China
- College of Life Science, Key Laboratory of Protection and Utilization of Biological Resources in Tarim Basin of Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, Tarim UniversityAlar 843300, Xinjiang, China
| | - Changyuan Yu
- College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical TechnologyBeijing 100029, China
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Zhao D, Fu X, Rohr J, Wang Y, Li M, Zhang X, Qin J, Xu M, Li C, Sun G, Wang Z, Guo S. Poor histologic tumor response after adjuvant therapy in basal-like HER2-positive breast carcinoma. Pathol Res Pract 2021; 228:153677. [PMID: 34775151 DOI: 10.1016/j.prp.2021.153677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2021] [Revised: 10/27/2021] [Accepted: 10/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
AIMS HER2-positive breast carcinomas are all treated with first-line anti-HER2 therapy. However, immunohistochemical and molecular profiling demonstrates significant heterogeneity among HER2-positive carcinomas. Basal-like HER2-positive breast carcinomas are poorly differentiated from pure HER2-positive breast carcinomas. MATERIALS AND METHODS Seventy-five patients with HER2-positive, ER- and PR-negative breast carcinomas who received anti-HER2 based neoadjuvant therapy were retrospectively analyzed. Thirty-seven cases were classified as basal-like HER2-positive breast carcinoma with any positivity for CK5/6, and thirty-eight cases were classified as pure HER2-positive breast carcinoma with completely negativity for CK5/6. The clinicopathological features and tumor responses after neoadjuvant therapy and outcomes were analyzed. RESULTS Compared to non-basal HER2-positive breast carcinoma, basal-like HER2-positive breast carcinoma showed distinctive histologic features including poor differentiation and syncytial tumor cells with pushing, invasive borders and a significantly higher proportion of apocrine metaplasia. They also demonstrated significantly higher histologic grade; 18/37 (48.6%) of basal-like carcinomas were grade 3, whereas only 5/38 (13.2%) of non-basal carcinomas were grade 3 (p = 0.001), Furthermore, basal-like HER2-positive breast carcinomas were more likely to be positive or completely negative for p53 (p = 0.009), and demonstrated a higher percentage of TP53 mutation (p = 0.17). These tumors were less responsive to anti-HER2 based neoadjuvant therapy, with Miller-Payne grades 1-3 higher than pure HER2-positive breast carcinoma (25/37 [67.6%] vs 16/38 [42.1%]), and the percentage of grade 4-5 was lower (12/37 [32.4%] vs 22/38 [57.9%]; p = 0.027). CONCLUSIONS Basal-like HER2-positive breast carcinoma has distinctive clinicopathological features and less histologic tumor response after neoadjuvant therapy. There is urgent need to recognize basal-like HER2-positive breast carcinoma to be treated precisely.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danhui Zhao
- Department of Pathology, the First Affinity Hospital of the Air Force Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaan Xi Province, 710032, China
| | - Xin Fu
- Department of Pathology, the First Affinity Hospital of the Air Force Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaan Xi Province, 710032, China
| | - Joseph Rohr
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, 68105, NE, USA
| | - Yingmei Wang
- Department of Pathology, the First Affinity Hospital of the Air Force Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaan Xi Province, 710032, China
| | - Mingyang Li
- Department of Pathology, the First Affinity Hospital of the Air Force Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaan Xi Province, 710032, China
| | - Xiuming Zhang
- Department of Pathology, the First Affinity Hospital of the Air Force Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaan Xi Province, 710032, China
| | - Junhui Qin
- Department of Pathology, the First Affinity Hospital of the Air Force Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaan Xi Province, 710032, China
| | - Mengwei Xu
- Department of Pathology, the First Affinity Hospital of the Air Force Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaan Xi Province, 710032, China
| | - Chao Li
- Department of Pathology, the First Affinity Hospital of the Air Force Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaan Xi Province, 710032, China
| | - Guorui Sun
- Department of Pathology, the First Affinity Hospital of the Air Force Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaan Xi Province, 710032, China
| | - Zhe Wang
- Department of Pathology, the First Affinity Hospital of the Air Force Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaan Xi Province, 710032, China.
| | - Shuangping Guo
- Department of Pathology, the First Affinity Hospital of the Air Force Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaan Xi Province, 710032, China.
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Pupa SM, Ligorio F, Cancila V, Franceschini A, Tripodo C, Vernieri C, Castagnoli L. HER2 Signaling and Breast Cancer Stem Cells: The Bridge behind HER2-Positive Breast Cancer Aggressiveness and Therapy Refractoriness. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13194778. [PMID: 34638263 PMCID: PMC8507865 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13194778] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2021] [Revised: 09/15/2021] [Accepted: 09/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Breast cancer (BC) is not a single disease, but a group of different tumors, and altered HER2 expression defines a particularly aggressive subtype. Although HER2 pharmacological inhibition has dramatically improved the prognosis of HER2-positive BC patients, there is still an urgent need for improved knowledge of HER2 biology and mechanisms underlying HER2-driven aggressiveness and drug susceptibility. Emerging data suggest that the clinical efficacy of molecularly targeted therapies is related to their ability to target breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs), a population that is not only self-sustaining and able to differentiate into distinct lineages, but also contributes to tumor growth, aggressiveness, metastasis and treatment resistance. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of how the full-length HER2 receptor, the d16HER2 splice variant and the truncated p95HER2 variants are involved in the regulation and maintenance of BCSCs. Abstract HER2 overexpression/amplification occurs in 15–20% of breast cancers (BCs) and identifies a highly aggressive BC subtype. Recent clinical progress has increased the cure rates of limited-stage HER2-positive BC and significantly prolonged overall survival in patients with advanced disease; however, drug resistance and tumor recurrence remain major concerns. Therefore, there is an urgent need to increase knowledge regarding HER2 biology and implement available treatments. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) represent a subset of malignant cells capable of unlimited self-renewal and differentiation and are mainly considered to contribute to tumor onset, aggressiveness, metastasis, and treatment resistance. Seminal studies have highlighted the key role of altered HER2 signaling in the maintenance/enrichment of breast CSCs (BCSCs) and elucidated its bidirectional communication with stemness-related pathways, such as the Notch and Wingless/β-catenin cascades. d16HER2, a splice variant of full-length HER2 mRNA, has been identified as one of the most oncogenic HER2 isoform significantly implicated in tumorigenesis, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)/stemness and the response to targeted therapy. In addition, expression of a heterogeneous collection of HER2 truncated carboxy-terminal fragments (CTFs), collectively known as p95HER2, identifies a peculiar subgroup of HER2-positive BC with poor prognosis, with the p95HER2 variants being able to regulate CSC features. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the current evidence regarding HER2-/d16HER2-/p95HER2-positive BCSCs in the context of the signaling pathways governing their properties and describes the future prospects for targeting these components to achieve long-lasting tumor control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serenella M. Pupa
- Molecular Targeting Unit, Department of Research, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, AmadeoLab, Via Amadeo 42, 20133 Milan, Italy; (A.F.); (L.C.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-022-390-2573; Fax: +39-022-390-2692
| | - Francesca Ligorio
- Medical Oncology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Via Venezian 1, 20133 Milan, Italy; (F.L.); or (C.V.)
| | - Valeria Cancila
- Tumor Immunology Unit, University of Palermo, Corso Tukory 211, 90134 Palermo, Italy; (V.C.); (C.T.)
| | - Alma Franceschini
- Molecular Targeting Unit, Department of Research, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, AmadeoLab, Via Amadeo 42, 20133 Milan, Italy; (A.F.); (L.C.)
| | - Claudio Tripodo
- Tumor Immunology Unit, University of Palermo, Corso Tukory 211, 90134 Palermo, Italy; (V.C.); (C.T.)
| | - Claudio Vernieri
- Medical Oncology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Via Venezian 1, 20133 Milan, Italy; (F.L.); or (C.V.)
- IFOM the FIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology, Via Adamello 16, 20139 Milan, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Castagnoli
- Molecular Targeting Unit, Department of Research, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, AmadeoLab, Via Amadeo 42, 20133 Milan, Italy; (A.F.); (L.C.)
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Qiu Y, Yang L, Liu H, Luo X. Cancer stem cell-targeted therapeutic approaches for overcoming trastuzumab resistance in HER2-positive breast cancer. STEM CELLS (DAYTON, OHIO) 2021; 39:1125-1136. [PMID: 33837587 DOI: 10.1002/stem.3381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2021] [Accepted: 03/25/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Application of the anti-HER2 drug trastuzumab has significantly improved the prognosis of patients with the HER2-positive subtype of breast cancer. However, 50% of patients with HER2 amplification relapse due to trastuzumab resistance. Accumulating evidence indicates that breast cancer is driven by a small subset of cancer-initiating cells or breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs), which have the capacity to self-renew and differentiate to regenerate the tumor cell hierarchy. Increasing data suggest that BCSCs are resistant to conventional therapy, including chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and endocrine therapy, which drives distant metastasis and breast cancer relapse. In recent years, the trastuzumab resistance of breast cancer has been closely related to the prevalence of BCSCs. Here, our primary focus is to discuss the role of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of BCSCs in the setting of trastuzumab resistance and approaches of reducing or eradicating BCSCs in HER2-positive breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Qiu
- Department of Pathology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, People's Republic of China
| | - Libo Yang
- Department of Pathology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, People's Republic of China
| | - Honghong Liu
- Department of Clinical Research Management, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, People's Republic of China.,Institute of Clinical Pathology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaobo Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Research Unit of Oral Carcinogenesis and Management, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, People's Republic of China
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12
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Mimetics of extra virgin olive oil phenols with anti-cancer stem cell activity. Aging (Albany NY) 2020; 12:21057-21075. [PMID: 33168787 PMCID: PMC7695371 DOI: 10.18632/aging.202154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2020] [Accepted: 09/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
The extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) dihydroxy-phenol oleacein is a natural inhibitor of multiple metabolic and epigenetic enzymes capable of suppressing the functional traits of cancer stem cells (CSC). Here, we used a natural product-inspired drug discovery approach to identify new compounds that phenotypically mimic the anti-CSC activity of oleacein. We coupled 3D quantitative structure-activity relationship-based virtual profiling with phenotypic analysis using 3D tumorsphere formation as a gold standard for assessing the presence of CSC. Among the top 20 computationally-predicted oleacein mimetics, four fulfilled the phenotypic endpoint of specifically suppressing the tumorsphere-initiating capacity of CSC, in the absence of significant cytotoxicity against differentiated cancer cells growing in 2D cultures in the same low micromolar concentration range. Of these, 3,4-dihydrophenetyl butyrate –a lipophilic ester conjugate of the hydroxytyrosol moiety of oleacein– and (E)-N-allyl-2-((5-nitrofuran-2-yl)methylene)hydrazinecarbothioamide) –an inhibitor of Trypanosoma cruzi triosephosphate isomerase– were also highly effective at significantly reducing the proportion of aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH)-positive CSC-like proliferating cells. Preservation of the mTOR/DNMT binding mode of oleacein was dispensable for suppression of the ALDH+-CSC functional phenotype in hydroxytyrosol-unrelated mimetics. The anti-CSC chemistry of complex EVOO phenols such as oleacein can be phenocopied through the use of mimetics capturing its physico-chemical properties.
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13
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Laurito S, Branham MT, Campoy E, Real S, Cueto J, Urrutia G, Gago F, Tello O, Glatstein T, De la Iglesia P, Atanesyan L, Savola S, Roqué M. Working together for the family: determination of HER oncogene co-amplifications in breast cancer. Oncotarget 2020; 11:2774-2792. [PMID: 32733648 PMCID: PMC7367656 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.27671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2020] [Accepted: 06/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
HER2 is a well-studied tyrosine kinase (TK) membrane receptor which functions as a therapeutic target in invasive ductal breast carcinomas (IDC). The standard of care for the treatment of HER2-positive breast is the antibody trastuzumab. Despite specific treatment unfortunately, 20% of primary and 70% of metastatic HER2 tumors develop resistance. HER2 belongs to a gene family, with four members (HER1-4) and these members could be involved in resistance to anti-HER2 therapies. In this study we designed a probemix to detect the amplification of the four HER oncogenes in a single reaction. In addition, we developed a protocol based on the combination of MLPA with ddPCR to detect the tumor proportion of co-amplified HERs. On 111 IDC, the HER2 MLPA results were validated by FISH (Adjusted r 2 = 0,91, p < 0,0001), CISH (Adjusted r 2 = 0,938, p < 0,0001) and IHC (Adjusted r 2 = 0,31, p < 0,0001). HER1-4 MLPA results were validated by RT-qPCR assays (Spearman Rank test p < 0,05). Of the 111 samples, 26% presented at least one HER amplified, of which 23% showed co-amplifications with other HERs. The percentage of cells with HER2 co-amplified varied among the tumors (from 2-72,6%). Independent in-silico findings show that the outcome of HER2+ patients is conditioned by the status of HER3 and HER4. Our results encourage further studies to investigate the relationship with patient's response to single or combined treatment. The approach could serve as proof of principle for other tumors in which the HER oncogenes are involved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergio Laurito
- Institute of Histology and Embryology, National Council of Research, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Mendoza, Argentina.,Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Mendoza, Argentina
| | - María Teresita Branham
- Institute of Histology and Embryology, National Council of Research, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Mendoza, Argentina
| | - Emanuel Campoy
- Institute of Histology and Embryology, National Council of Research, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Mendoza, Argentina.,Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Mendoza, Argentina
| | - Sebastián Real
- Institute of Histology and Embryology, National Council of Research, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Mendoza, Argentina.,Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Mendoza, Argentina
| | - Juan Cueto
- Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Mendoza, Argentina
| | - Guillermo Urrutia
- Division of Research, Department of Surgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | | | - Olga Tello
- Instituto Gineco-Mamario, Mendoza, Argentina
| | | | | | - Lilit Atanesyan
- MRC-Holland BV, Department of Oncogenetics, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Suvi Savola
- MRC-Holland BV, Department of Oncogenetics, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Maria Roqué
- Institute of Histology and Embryology, National Council of Research, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Mendoza, Argentina.,Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Mendoza, Argentina
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14
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Cuyàs E, Gumuzio J, Verdura S, Brunet J, Bosch-Barrera J, Martin-Castillo B, Alarcón T, Encinar JA, Martin ÁG, Menendez JA. The LSD1 inhibitor iadademstat (ORY-1001) targets SOX2-driven breast cancer stem cells: a potential epigenetic therapy in luminal-B and HER2-positive breast cancer subtypes. Aging (Albany NY) 2020; 12:4794-4814. [PMID: 32191225 PMCID: PMC7138538 DOI: 10.18632/aging.102887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2019] [Accepted: 02/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
SOX2 is a core pluripotency-associated transcription factor causally related to cancer initiation, aggressiveness, and drug resistance by driving the self-renewal and seeding capacity of cancer stem cells (CSC). Here, we tested the ability of the clinically proven inhibitor of the lysine-specific demethylase 1 (LSD1/KDM1A) iadademstat (ORY-100) to target SOX2-driven CSC in breast cancer. Iadademstat blocked CSC-driven mammosphere formation in breast cancer cell lines that are dependent on SOX2 expression to maintain their CSC phenotype. Iadademstat prevented the activation of an LSD1-targeted stemness-specific SOX2 enhancer in CSC-enriched 3-dimensional spheroids. Using high-throughput transcriptional data available from the METABRIC dataset, high expression of SOX2 was significantly more common in luminal-B and HER2-enriched subtypes according to PAM50 classifier and in IntClust1 (high proliferating luminal-B) and IntClust 5 (luminal-B and HER2-amplified) according to integrative clustering. Iadademstat significantly reduced mammospheres formation by CSC-like cells from a multidrug-resistant luminal-B breast cancer patient-derived xenograft but not of those from a treatment-naïve luminal-A patient. Iadademstat reduced the expression of SOX2 in luminal-B but not in luminal-A mammospheres, likely indicating a selective targeting of SOX2-driven CSC. The therapeutic relevance of targeting SOX2-driven breast CSC suggests the potential clinical use of iadademstat as an epigenetic therapy in luminal-B and HER2-positive subtypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabet Cuyàs
- Program Against Cancer Therapeutic Resistance (ProCURE), Metabolism and Cancer Group, Catalan Institute of Oncology, Girona, Spain.,Girona Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBGI), Girona, Spain
| | | | - Sara Verdura
- Program Against Cancer Therapeutic Resistance (ProCURE), Metabolism and Cancer Group, Catalan Institute of Oncology, Girona, Spain.,Girona Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBGI), Girona, Spain
| | - Joan Brunet
- Medical Oncology, Catalan Institute of Oncology (ICO), Girona, Spain.,Department of Medical Sciences, Medical School University of Girona, Girona, Spain.,Hereditary Cancer Program, Catalan Institute of Oncology (ICO), Bellvitge Institute for Biomedical Research (IDIBELL), L'Hospitalet del Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain.,Hereditary Cancer Program, Catalan Institute of Oncology (ICO), Girona Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBGI), Girona, Spain
| | - Joaquim Bosch-Barrera
- Medical Oncology, Catalan Institute of Oncology (ICO), Girona, Spain.,Department of Medical Sciences, Medical School University of Girona, Girona, Spain
| | | | - Tomás Alarcón
- ICREA, Barcelona, Spain.,Centre de Recerca Matemàtica (CRM), Barcelona, Spain.,Departament de Matemàtiques, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Barcelona Graduate School of Mathematics (BGSMath), Barcelona, Spain
| | - José Antonio Encinar
- Institute of Research, Development and Innovation in Biotechnology of Elche (IDiBE) and Molecular and Cell Biology Institute (IBMC), Miguel Hernández University (UMH), Elche, Spain
| | | | - Javier A Menendez
- Program Against Cancer Therapeutic Resistance (ProCURE), Metabolism and Cancer Group, Catalan Institute of Oncology, Girona, Spain.,Girona Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBGI), Girona, Spain
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15
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Hachim IY, López-Ozuna VM, Hachim MY, Lebrun JJ, Ali S. Prolactin hormone exerts anti-tumorigenic effects in HER-2 overexpressing breast cancer cells through regulation of stemness. Stem Cell Res 2019; 40:101538. [PMID: 31450192 DOI: 10.1016/j.scr.2019.101538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2019] [Revised: 07/18/2019] [Accepted: 08/15/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Breast cancers characterized by HER2 overexpression, belong to HER-2 enriched or luminal B subtypes, are frequently associated with higher incidence of tumor recurrence and therapeutic failure. These aggressive features have been attributed to the presence of cancer stem-like cell subpopulations known to have high tumor initiation, self -renewal capacities and high metastatic potential. Depleting these stem-like cells in these tumors therefore might help in improving therapeutic response and patient outcome. METHODS Here we used human breast cancer cells representative of HER2- enriched and luminal B subtypes as well as purified ALDH-positive stem-like cell subpopulation for in vitro cell viability, proliferation, tumorshpere formation analyses and gene expression studies. In addition, we used a pre-clinical xenograft HER2 mouse model (NOD/SCID mice) for in vivo tumorigenesis assessment. Furthermore, patient survival outcomes were evaluated using in silico bioinformatics analyses of publicly available datasets. RESULTS Our results indicate that prolactin (PRL) exerts anti-tumorigenic effects in HER-2 positive breast cancer cells. Importantly, PRL caused a significant reduction in ALDHhi stem-like subpopulation, as well as their viability and tumorsphere formation capacity. Molecularly we found PRL to suppress gene expression of markers involved in stemness, tumor initiation, drug resistance and poor patient outcome found to be enriched in the ALDHhi stem-like subpopulation. Furthermore, we show PRL to impede tumor growth of HER-2 xenografts and to suppress expression of Ki67 proliferative marker. Finally, we found PRL pathway gene signature to correlate with favorable patient outcomes in HER-2 and luminal B breast cancer patients. CONCLUSION Together these results emphasize an anti-tumorigenic role with a potential therapeutic value for PRL in HER-2 and luminal B breast cancer subtypes targeting the cancer stem-like cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ibrahim Y Hachim
- Department of Medicine, Cancer Research Program, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC H4A 3J1, Canada.
| | - Vanessa M López-Ozuna
- Department of Medicine, Cancer Research Program, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC H4A 3J1, Canada.
| | - Mahmood Y Hachim
- Sharjah Institute for Medical Research, University of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.
| | - Jean-Jacques Lebrun
- Department of Medicine, Cancer Research Program, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC H4A 3J1, Canada.
| | - Suhad Ali
- Department of Medicine, Cancer Research Program, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC H4A 3J1, Canada.
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16
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Islam SS, Uddin M, Noman ASM, Akter H, Dity NJ, Basiruzzman M, Uddin F, Ahsan J, Annoor S, Alaiya AA, Al-Alwan M, Yeger H, Farhat WA. Antibody-drug conjugate T-DM1 treatment for HER2+ breast cancer induces ROR1 and confers resistance through activation of Hippo transcriptional coactivator YAP1. EBioMedicine 2019; 43:211-224. [PMID: 31085100 PMCID: PMC6558306 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2019.04.061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2019] [Revised: 04/28/2019] [Accepted: 04/30/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background A newly developed drug trastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1) has improved the survival of breast cancer (BC) patients. Despite an impressive initial clinical response, a subgroup of patient develop resistance and present therapeutic challenges. The underlying resistance mechanisms are not fully investigated. We report that T-DM1 treatment modulates the expression of ROR1 (type 1 receptor tyrosine kinase-like orphan receptor) and induces self-renewal of cancer stem cells (CSCs) leading to therapeutic resistance. Methods Using BC patient tumor samples, and BC cell lines we gained insight into the T-DM1 treatment induced ROR1 overexpression and resistance. In vitro sphere forming assays and in vivo extreme dilution assays were employed to analyze the stemness and self-renewal capacity of the cells. A series of molecular expression and protein assays including qRT-PCR, FACS-sorting, ELISA, immunostaining, Western blotting were used to provide evidence. Findings Exposure of cells to T-DM1 shifted ROR1 expression from low to high, enriched within the CSC subpopulation, coincident with increased Bmi1 and stemness factors. T-DM1 induced ROR1 cells showed high spheroid and tumor forming efficiency in vitro and in an animal model exhibiting shorter tumor-free time. Mechanistically, the overexpression of ROR1 is partly induced by the activation of YAP1 and its target genes. Silencing of ROR1 and YAP1 by pharmacologic inhibitors and/or sh/siRNA inhibited spheroid formation, the initiation of tumors and the capacity for self-renewal and ROR1 overexpression. Interpretations The results presented here indicate that simultaneous targeting of ROR1 and YAP1 may suppress CSC self-renewal efficacy and inhibit tumor progression in BC. In this manner such treatments may overcome the T-DM1 mediated therapeutic resistance and improve clinical outcome. Fund This study was supported by Neurogen Technologies for interdisciplinary research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Syed S Islam
- Molecular Oncology, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Park View Specialized Hospital, Chittagong, Bangladesh.
| | - Mohammed Uddin
- Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, College of Medicine, Dubai, United Arab Emirates; The Centre for Applied Genomics, Department of Genetics and Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Abu Shadat M Noman
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Chittagong, Chittagong, Bangladesh
| | - Hosneara Akter
- Neurogen Technologies Ltd, Genetics and Genome Biology Department, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Nusrat J Dity
- Neurogen Technologies Ltd, Genetics and Genome Biology Department, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Mohammad Basiruzzman
- Neurogen Technologies Ltd, Genetics and Genome Biology Department, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Furkan Uddin
- Neurogen Technologies Ltd, Genetics and Genome Biology Department, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Jahanara Ahsan
- Holy Family Red Crescent Medical College, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Sunera Annoor
- Department of Pharmacy, Noakhali Science and Technology University, Noakhali, Bangladesh
| | - Ayodele A Alaiya
- Stem Cell and Tissue Re-Engineering Program, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Monther Al-Alwan
- Stem Cell and Tissue Re-Engineering Program, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Herman Yeger
- Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Walid A Farhat
- Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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17
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Corominas-Faja B, Cuyàs E, Lozano-Sánchez J, Cufí S, Verdura S, Fernández-Arroyo S, Borrás-Linares I, Martin-Castillo B, Martin ÁG, Lupu R, Nonell-Canals A, Sanchez-Martinez M, Micol V, Joven J, Segura-Carretero A, Menendez JA. Extra-virgin olive oil contains a metabolo-epigenetic inhibitor of cancer stem cells. Carcinogenesis 2018; 39:601-613. [PMID: 29452350 PMCID: PMC5888987 DOI: 10.1093/carcin/bgy023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2017] [Accepted: 02/01/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Targeting tumor-initiating, drug-resistant populations of cancer stem cells (CSC) with phytochemicals is a novel paradigm for cancer prevention and treatment. We herein employed a phenotypic drug discovery approach coupled to mechanism-of-action profiling and target deconvolution to identify phenolic components of extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) capable of suppressing the functional traits of CSC in breast cancer (BC). In vitro screening revealed that the secoiridoid decarboxymethyl oleuropein aglycone (DOA) could selectively target subpopulations of epithelial-like, aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH)-positive and mesenchymal-like, CD44+CD24−/low CSC. DOA could potently block the formation of multicellular tumorspheres generated from single-founder stem-like cells in a panel of genetically diverse BC models. Pretreatment of BC populations with noncytotoxic doses of DOA dramatically reduced subsequent tumor-forming capacity in vivo. Mice orthotopically injected with CSC-enriched BC-cell populations pretreated with DOA remained tumor-free for several months. Phenotype microarray-based screening pointed to a synergistic interaction of DOA with the mTOR inhibitor rapamycin and the DNA methyltransferase (DNMT) inhibitor 5-azacytidine. In silico computational studies indicated that DOA binds and inhibits the ATP-binding kinase domain site of mTOR and the S-adenosyl-l-methionine (SAM) cofactor-binding pocket of DNMTs. FRET-based Z-LYTE™ and AlphaScreen-based in vitro assays confirmed the ability of DOA to function as an ATP-competitive mTOR inhibitor and to block the SAM-dependent methylation activity of DNMTs. Our systematic in vitro, in vivo and in silico approaches establish the phenol-conjugated oleoside DOA as a dual mTOR/DNMT inhibitor naturally occurring in EVOO that functionally suppresses CSC-like states responsible for maintaining tumor-initiating cell properties within BC populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruna Corominas-Faja
- Program Against Cancer Therapeutic Resistance (ProCURE), Metabolism and Cancer Group, Catalan Institute of Oncology, Girona, Spain.,Molecular Oncology Group, Girona Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBGI), Girona, Spain
| | - Elisabet Cuyàs
- Program Against Cancer Therapeutic Resistance (ProCURE), Metabolism and Cancer Group, Catalan Institute of Oncology, Girona, Spain.,Molecular Oncology Group, Girona Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBGI), Girona, Spain
| | - Jesús Lozano-Sánchez
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Granada, Granada, Spain.,Research and Development Functional Food Centre (CIDAF), PTS Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Sílvia Cufí
- Molecular Oncology Group, Girona Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBGI), Girona, Spain
| | - Sara Verdura
- Program Against Cancer Therapeutic Resistance (ProCURE), Metabolism and Cancer Group, Catalan Institute of Oncology, Girona, Spain.,Molecular Oncology Group, Girona Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBGI), Girona, Spain
| | - Salvador Fernández-Arroyo
- Unitat de Recerca Biomèdica, Hospital Universitari Sant Joan, Institut d'Investigació Sanitària Pere Virgili, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Reus, Spain.,The Campus of International Excellence Southern Catalonia, Tarragona, Spain
| | - Isabel Borrás-Linares
- Research and Development Functional Food Centre (CIDAF), PTS Granada, Granada, Spain
| | | | | | - Ruth Lupu
- Division of Experimental Pathology, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.,Mayo Clinic Cancer Center, Rochester MN, USA
| | | | | | - Vicente Micol
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular (IBMC), Miguel Hernández University (UMH), Elche, Alicante, Spain.,CIBER, Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y la Nutrición, CIBERobn, Instituto de Salud Carlos III (CB12/03/30038), Madrid, Spain
| | - Jorge Joven
- Unitat de Recerca Biomèdica, Hospital Universitari Sant Joan, Institut d'Investigació Sanitària Pere Virgili, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Reus, Spain.,The Campus of International Excellence Southern Catalonia, Tarragona, Spain
| | - Antonio Segura-Carretero
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Granada, Granada, Spain.,Research and Development Functional Food Centre (CIDAF), PTS Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Javier A Menendez
- Program Against Cancer Therapeutic Resistance (ProCURE), Metabolism and Cancer Group, Catalan Institute of Oncology, Girona, Spain.,Molecular Oncology Group, Girona Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBGI), Girona, Spain.,Metabostem, Barcelona, Spain
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18
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Voutsadakis IA. HER2 in stemness and epithelial-mesenchymal plasticity of breast cancer. Clin Transl Oncol 2018; 21:539-555. [PMID: 30306401 DOI: 10.1007/s12094-018-1961-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2018] [Accepted: 10/03/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Breast cancer had been the first non-hematologic malignancy where sub-types based on molecular characterization had entered clinical practice. HER2 over-expression, due to either gene amplification or protein up-regulation, defines one of these sub-types and is clinically exploited by addition of HER2-targeted treatments to the regimens of treatment. Nevertheless, in many occasions HER2-positive cancers are resistant or become refractory to these therapies. Several mechanisms, such as activation of alternative pathways or loss of expression of the receptor in cancer cells, have been proposed as the cause of these therapeutic failures. Cancer stem cells (CSCs, alternatively called tumor-initiating cells) comprise a small percentage of the tumor cells, but are capable of reconstituting and propagating tumors due to their superior intrinsic capacity for regeneration, survival and resistance to therapies. CSCs possess circuits enabling epigenetic plasticity which endow them with the ability to alternate between epithelial and mesenchymal states. This paper will discuss the expression and regulation of HER2 in CSCs of the different sub-types of breast cancer and relationships of the receptor with both the circuits of stemness and epithelial-mesenchymal plasticity. Therapeutic repercussions of the relationship of HER2-initiated signaling with stemness networks will also be proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- I A Voutsadakis
- Algoma District Cancer Program, Sault Area Hospital, 750 Great Northern Road, Sault Ste. Marie, ON, P6B 0A8, Canada. .,Section of Internal Medicine, Division of Clinical Sciences, Northern Ontario School of Medicine, Sudbury, ON, Canada.
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19
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Menyhárt O, Fekete JT, Győrffy B. Demographic shift disproportionately increases cancer burden in an aging nation: current and expected incidence and mortality in Hungary up to 2030. Clin Epidemiol 2018; 10:1093-1108. [PMID: 30214314 PMCID: PMC6121756 DOI: 10.2147/clep.s155063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Population aging is a common demographic pattern in developed countries, and aging increases the risk of cancer. The disproportionately high cancer burden, as a consequence, is especially pronounced in Central and Eastern European countries, including Hungary. METHODS We summarized current and projected future cancer incidences and mortalities utilizing data from the last two decades. Predictions are based on cancer incidence and mortality collected between 1996 and 2015 in Hungary. In addition to the crude rates, data were age standardized to the European standard population (ESP) of 2013, ESP of 1976, and local census of 2011. RESULTS The lifetime probability of developing cancer and cancer-related mortality has already reached 56.9% and 27.6% in men, respectively, and 51.9% and 21.7% in women. Between 2016 and 2030, the total population is expected to shrink by 6%, while the number of 60-year olds and above will grow by 18%. This will lead to a 35% increase in cancer incidence and 30% increase in cancer death among 65-85-year olds. Joinpoint regression identified the period 2007-2015 as starting point for this coming increase in new cases. In women, lung and breast cancer will increase yearly by 1.9% and 1.7%, respectively, between 2016 and 2030, while in men, the prostate and colorectal cancer rates will increase yearly by 3.6% and 2.1%. CONCLUSION In the aging population of Hungary, cancer incidence will increase considerably over previous projections. Although a large portion of the most rapidly rising cancers are avoidable by implementing public health programs, a substantial portion remains inevitably incurable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Otília Menyhárt
- MTA TTK Lendület Cancer Biomarker Research Group, Institute of Enzymology, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary,
- 2nd Department of Pediatrics, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary,
| | - János T Fekete
- 2nd Department of Pediatrics, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary,
| | - Balázs Győrffy
- MTA TTK Lendület Cancer Biomarker Research Group, Institute of Enzymology, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary,
- 2nd Department of Pediatrics, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary,
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20
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Zhou F, Zhang Y, Xu X, Luo J, Yang F, Wang L, Xie S, Sun J, Yang X. Establishment and characterization of three stable Basal/HER2-positive breast cancer cell lines derived from Chinese breast carcinoma with identical missense mutations in the DNA-binding domain of TP53. Cancer Cell Int 2018; 18:118. [PMID: 30140169 PMCID: PMC6098622 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-018-0617-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2018] [Accepted: 08/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Basal/human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER)2-positive (HER2+) breast cancer is resistant to monoclonal antibody (herceptin) treatment. There are currently only three basal/HER2+ breast cancer cell lines available, but they are not from Chinese populations. Methods Three immortalized cell lines (ZJU-0327, ZJU-0725, and ZJU-1127) were established from invasive ductal breast carcinoma tissue of two patients treated by surgical resection at our center. The cell lines were characterized in terms of histology, therapeutic response, and biomarker expression. Their tumorigenic potential was evaluated in an athymic nude (BALB/C nu) mouse xenograft model. Cell authentication testing by the techniques of short tandem repeat. Results ZJU-0327, ZJU-0725, and ZJU-1127 cell lines were maintained for more than 110 passages in vitro. The cells grew as monolayers; showed typical epithelial morphology and ultrastructure; were polyploid; had doubling times of 18, 57.5, and 18 h, respectively; had a near-tetraploid (ZJU-0327 and ZJU-1127) or aneuploid (ZJU-0725) karyotype with structural aberrations and tumor protein 53 mutation; insensitive to chemotherapeutic drugs and/or radiation; show high invasiveness and tumorigenicity in mice; and had no mycoplasma contamination. The cell lines were basal/HER2+, expressed cluster of differentiation, and were associated with poor prognosis. Cell authentication testing by the American Type Culture Collection confirmed the human origin of the cell lines, which did not match those in existing databases. Conclusions The three novel basal/HER2+ breast cancer cell lines recapitulating the malignant characteristics of the parent tumor's, and can be useful for clarifying the molecular pathogenesis of basal/HER2+ breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei Zhou
- 1Department of Radiology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang China
| | - Yanhua Zhang
- 2Department of Pathology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang China
| | - Xiufang Xu
- Department of Medical Imagine, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang China
| | - Jingfeng Luo
- 1Department of Radiology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang China
| | - Fang Yang
- 2Department of Pathology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang China
| | - Linbo Wang
- 4Department of Surgical Oncology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang China
| | - Shuduo Xie
- 4Department of Surgical Oncology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang China
| | - Jihong Sun
- 1Department of Radiology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang China
| | - Xiaoming Yang
- 1Department of Radiology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang China.,5Image-Guided Bio-Molecular Intervention Research, Department of Radiology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA USA
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21
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Zhang T, Xu J, Deng S, Zhou F, Li J, Zhang L, Li L, Wang QE, Li F. Core signaling pathways in ovarian cancer stem cell revealed by integrative analysis of multi-marker genomics data. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0196351. [PMID: 29723215 PMCID: PMC5933740 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0196351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2018] [Accepted: 04/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Tumor recurrence occurs in more than 70% of ovarian cancer patients, and the majority eventually becomes refractory to treatments. Ovarian Cancer Stem Cells (OCSCs) are believed to be responsible for the tumor relapse and drug resistance. Therefore, eliminating ovarian CSCs is important to improve the prognosis of ovarian cancer patients. However, there is a lack of effective drugs to eliminate OCSCs because the core signaling pathways regulating OCSCs remain unclear. Also it is often hard for biologists to identify a few testable targets and infer driver signaling pathways regulating CSCs from a large number of differentially expression genes in an unbiased manner. In this study, we propose a straightforward and integrative analysis to identify potential core signaling pathways of OCSCs by integrating transcriptome data of OCSCs isolated based on two distinctive markers, ALDH and side population, with regulatory network (Transcription Factor (TF) and Target Interactome) and signaling pathways. We first identify the common activated TFs in two OCSC populations integrating the gene expression and TF-target Interactome; and then uncover up-stream signaling cascades regulating the activated TFs. In specific, 22 activated TFs are identified. Through literature search validation, 15 of them have been reported in association with cancer stem cells. Additionally, 10 TFs are found in the KEGG signaling pathways, and their up-stream signaling cascades are extracted, which also provide potential treatment targets. Moreover, 40 FDA approved drugs are identified to target on the up-stream signaling cascades, and 15 of them have been reported in literatures in cancer stem cell treatment. In conclusion, the proposed approach can uncover the activated up-stream signaling, activated TFs and up-regulated target genes that constitute the potential core signaling pathways of ovarian CSC. Also drugs and drug combinations targeting on the core signaling pathways might be able to eliminate OCSCs. The proposed approach can also be applied for identifying potential activated signaling pathways of other types of cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianyu Zhang
- Department of BioMedical Informatics (BMI), The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, United States of America
- School of Mathematical Sciences, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, China
| | - Jielin Xu
- Department of BioMedical Informatics (BMI), The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Siyuan Deng
- Department of BioMedical Informatics (BMI), The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Fengqi Zhou
- Department of BioMedical Informatics (BMI), The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Jin Li
- Department of BioMedical Informatics (BMI), The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Liwei Zhang
- School of Mathematical Sciences, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, China
| | - Lang Li
- Department of BioMedical Informatics (BMI), The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Qi-En Wang
- Department of Radiology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Fuhai Li
- Department of BioMedical Informatics (BMI), The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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22
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Cuyàs E, Corominas-Faja B, Martín MMS, Martin-Castillo B, Lupu R, Brunet J, Bosch-Barrera J, Menendez JA. BRCA1 haploinsufficiency cell-autonomously activates RANKL expression and generates denosumab-responsive breast cancer-initiating cells. Oncotarget 2018; 8:35019-35032. [PMID: 28388533 PMCID: PMC5471031 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.16558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2016] [Accepted: 02/27/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Denosumab, a monoclonal antibody to the receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL), might be a novel preventative therapy for BRCA1-mutation carriers at high risk of developing breast cancer. Beyond its well-recognized bone-targeted activity impeding osteoclastogenesis, denosumab has been proposed to interfere with the cross-talk between RANKL-producing sensor cells and cancer-initiating RANK+ responder cells that reside within premalignant tissues of BRCA1-mutation carriers. We herein tested the alternative but not mutually exclusive hypothesis that BRCA1 deficiency might cell-autonomously activate RANKL expression to generate cellular states with cancer stem cell (CSC)-like properties. Using isogenic pairs of normal-like human breast epithelial cells in which the inactivation of a single BRCA1 allele results in genomic instability, we assessed the impact of BRCA1 haploinsufficiency on the expression status of RANK and RANKL. RANK expression remained unaltered but RANKL was dramatically up-regulated in BRCA1mut/+ haploinsufficient cells relative to isogenic BRCA1+/+ parental cells. Neutralizing RANKL with denosumab significantly abrogated the ability of BRCA1 haploinsufficient cells to survive and proliferate as floating microtumors or "mammospheres" under non-adherent/non-differentiating conditions, an accepted surrogate of the relative proportion and survival of CSCs. Intriguingly, CSC-like states driven by epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition or HER2 overexpression traits responded to some extent to denosumab. We propose that breast epithelium-specific mono-allelic inactivation of BRCA1 might suffice to cell-autonomously generate RANKL-addicted, denosumab-responsive CSC-like states. The convergent addiction to a hyperactive RANKL/RANK axis of CSC-like states from genetically diverse breast cancer subtypes might inaugurate a new era of cancer prevention and treatment based on denosumab as a CSC-targeted agent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabet Cuyàs
- Program Against Cancer Therapeutic Resistance (ProCURE), Metabolism and Cancer Group, Catalan Institute of Oncology, Girona, Catalonia, Spain.,Molecular Oncology Group, Girona Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBGI), Girona, Spain
| | - Bruna Corominas-Faja
- Program Against Cancer Therapeutic Resistance (ProCURE), Metabolism and Cancer Group, Catalan Institute of Oncology, Girona, Catalonia, Spain.,Molecular Oncology Group, Girona Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBGI), Girona, Spain
| | - María Muñoz-San Martín
- Neuroimmunology and Multiple Sclerosis Unit, Dr. Josep Trueta University Hospital, Girona Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBGI), Girona, Spain
| | - Begoña Martin-Castillo
- Molecular Oncology Group, Girona Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBGI), Girona, Spain.,Unit of Clinical Research, Catalan Institute of Oncology, Girona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Ruth Lupu
- Mayo Clinic, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Division of Experimental Pathology, Rochester, MN, USA.,Mayo Clinic Cancer Center, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Joan Brunet
- Deparment of Medical Oncology, Catalan Institute of Oncology, Girona, Catalonia, Spain.,Department of Medical Sciences, Medical School, University of Girona, Girona, Spain
| | - Joaquim Bosch-Barrera
- Deparment of Medical Oncology, Catalan Institute of Oncology, Girona, Catalonia, Spain.,Department of Medical Sciences, Medical School, University of Girona, Girona, Spain
| | - Javier A Menendez
- Program Against Cancer Therapeutic Resistance (ProCURE), Metabolism and Cancer Group, Catalan Institute of Oncology, Girona, Catalonia, Spain.,Molecular Oncology Group, Girona Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBGI), Girona, Spain
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23
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Paschall AV, Yang D, Lu C, Redd PS, Choi JH, Heaton CM, Lee JR, Nayak-Kapoor A, Liu K. CD133+CD24lo defines a 5-Fluorouracil-resistant colon cancer stem cell-like phenotype. Oncotarget 2018; 7:78698-78712. [PMID: 27659530 PMCID: PMC5346671 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.12168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2016] [Accepted: 09/12/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The chemotherapeutic agent 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) is the most commonly used drug for patients with advanced colon cancer. However, development of resistance to 5-FU is inevitable in almost all patients. The mechanism by which colon cancer develops 5-FU resistance is still unclear. One recently proposed theory is that cancer stem-like cells underlie colon cancer 5-FU resistance, but the phenotypes of 5-FU-resistant colon cancer stem cells are still controversial. We report here that 5-FU treatment selectively enriches a subset of CD133+ colon cancer cells in vitro. 5-FU chemotherapy also increases CD133+ tumor cells in human colon cancer patients. However, sorted CD133+ colon cancer cells exhibit no increased resistance to 5-FU, and CD133 levels exhibit no correlation with colon cancer patient survival or cancer recurrence. Genome-wide analysis of gene expression between sorted CD133+ colon cancer cells and 5-FU-selected colon cancer cells identifies 207 differentially expressed genes. CD24 is one of the genes whose expression level is lower in the CD133+ and 5-FU-resistant colon cancer cells as compared to CD133+ and 5-FU-sensitive colon cancer cells. Consequently, CD133+CD24lo cells exhibit decreased sensitivity to 5-FU. Therefore, we determine that CD133+CD24lo phenotype defines 5-FU-resistant human colon cancer stem cell-like cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy V Paschall
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA.,Georgia Cancer Center, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA.,Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center, Augusta, GA 30904, USA
| | - Dafeng Yang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA.,Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center, Augusta, GA 30904, USA
| | - Chunwan Lu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA.,Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center, Augusta, GA 30904, USA
| | - Priscilla S Redd
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA.,Georgia Cancer Center, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA.,Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center, Augusta, GA 30904, USA
| | - Jeong-Hyeon Choi
- Georgia Cancer Center, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
| | | | - Jeffrey R Lee
- Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center, Augusta, GA 30904, USA
| | - Asha Nayak-Kapoor
- Georgia Cancer Center, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA.,Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center, Augusta, GA 30904, USA
| | - Kebin Liu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA.,Georgia Cancer Center, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA.,Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center, Augusta, GA 30904, USA
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24
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Sun L, Burnett J, Gasparyan M, Xu F, Jiang H, Lin CC, Myers I, Korkaya H, Liu Y, Connarn J, He H, Zhang N, Wicha MS, Sun D. Novel cancer stem cell targets during epithelial to mesenchymal transition in PTEN-deficient trastuzumab-resistant breast cancer. Oncotarget 2018; 7:51408-51422. [PMID: 27285982 PMCID: PMC5239484 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.9839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2016] [Accepted: 05/22/2016] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Continued use of trastuzumab in PTEN-deficient HER2+ breast cancer induces the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), transforms HER2+ to triple negative breast cancer, and expands breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs). Using cancer cell lines with two distinct states, epithelial and mesenchymal, we identified novel targets during EMT in PTEN-deficient trastuzumab-resistant breast cancer. Differential gene expression and distinct responses to a small molecule in BT474 (HER2+ trastuzumab-sensitive) and the PTEN-deficient trastuzumab-resistant derivative (BT474-PTEN-LTT) provided the selection tools to identify targets during EMT. siRNA knockdown and small molecule inhibition confirmed MEOX1 as one of the critical molecular targets to regulate both BCSCs and mesenchymal-like cell proliferation. MEOX1 was associated with poor survival, lymph node metastasis, and stage of breast cancer patients. These findings suggest that MEOX1 is a clinically relevant novel target in BCSCs and mesenchymal-like cancer cells in PTEN-deficient trastuzumab resistant breast cancer and may serve as target for future drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lichao Sun
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.,State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, China
| | - Joseph Burnett
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Mari Gasparyan
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Fangying Xu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Hui Jiang
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Chang-Ching Lin
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Ila Myers
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Hasan Korkaya
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Georgia Regents University, Augusta, GA, 30912, USA
| | - Yajing Liu
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Jamie Connarn
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Huining He
- College of Pharmacy and Tianjin Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center of Cancer, Research Center of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300070, China
| | - Ning Zhang
- College of Pharmacy and Tianjin Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center of Cancer, Research Center of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300070, China
| | - Max S Wicha
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Duxin Sun
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
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25
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Yamauchi T, Espinosa Fernandez JR, Imamura CK, Yamauchi H, Jinno H, Takahashi M, Kitagawa Y, Nakamura S, Lim B, Krishnamurthy S, Reuben JM, Liu D, Tripathy D, Chen H, Takebe N, Saya H, Ueno NT. Dynamic changes in CD44v-positive cells after preoperative anti-HER2 therapy and its correlation with pathologic complete response in HER2-positive breast cancer. Oncotarget 2018; 9:6872-6882. [PMID: 29467936 PMCID: PMC5805522 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.23914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2017] [Accepted: 12/26/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Chemotherapy has been reported to increase the proportion of cancer stem cells (CSCs) and to promote epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) phenotype changes. Anti-HER2 therapy may provide a strategy for eliminating CSC and EMT, which contribute to therapeutic resistance. No study has determined the changes in the quantity or characteristics of CSCs or circulating tumor cells (CTCs) with EMT phenotype during preoperative anti-HER2 therapy, and whether these changes correlate to response to dual anti-HER2 therapy. In a prospective clinical trial to evaluate pharmacodynamic biomarkers, 18 patients with operable primary HER2-positive breast cancer received dual anti-Her2 preoperative therapy with trastuzumab and lapatinib with paclitaxel. Proportions of tumor cells with CSC characteristics and EMT markers in CTC's were estimated at baseline, after 6 and 18 weeks of preoperative therapy to determine the quantitative cutoff value to predict pathologic complete response (pCR). Out of 18 patients, 8 (44%) had a pCR; 5 of these 8 patients (62%) were positive for CD44v at baseline and none were positive on the 6-week biopsy. In contrast, 6 of the 10 patients without pCR exhibited persistent levels, or enrichment of CD44v proportion and expression at 6 and 18 weeks (p=0.0128). Other biomarkers were not statistically significant predictors of pCR. Enrichment of CD44v-positive tumor cells after dual anti-HER2 therapy alone may predict poor response to dual anti-HER2 therapy plus chemotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teruo Yamauchi
- Division of Medical Oncology, St. Luke's International Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
| | | | - Chiyo K Imamura
- Department of Clinical Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hideko Yamauchi
- Department of Breast Surgery, St. Luke's International Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hiromitsu Jinno
- Department of Surgery, Teikyo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Maiko Takahashi
- Department of Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yuko Kitagawa
- Department of Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Seigo Nakamura
- Department of Breast Surgical Oncology, Showa University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Bora Lim
- Department of Breast Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Savitri Krishnamurthy
- Department of Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - James M Reuben
- Department of Hematopathology Research, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Diane Liu
- Department of Biostatistics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Debasish Tripathy
- Department of Breast Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Helen Chen
- Cancer Therapy Evaluation Program, National Cancer Institute, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Naoko Takebe
- Cancer Therapy Evaluation Program, National Cancer Institute, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Hideyuki Saya
- Division of Gene Regulation, Institute for Advanced Medical Research, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Naoto T Ueno
- Department of Breast Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
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26
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Cuyàs E, Verdura S, Fernández-Arroyo S, Bosch-Barrera J, Martin-Castillo B, Joven J, Menendez JA. Metabolomic mapping of cancer stem cells for reducing and exploiting tumor heterogeneity. Oncotarget 2017; 8:99223-99236. [PMID: 29245896 PMCID: PMC5725087 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.21834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2017] [Accepted: 09/29/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Personalized cancer medicine based on the analysis of tumors en masse is limited by tumor heterogeneity, which has become a major obstacle to effective cancer treatment. Cancer stem cells (CSC) are emerging as key drivers of inter- and intratumoral heterogeneity. CSC have unique metabolic dependencies that are required not only for specific bioenergetic/biosynthetic demands but also for sustaining their operational epigenetic traits, i.e. self-renewal, tumor-initiation, and plasticity. Given that the metabolome is the final downstream product of all the –omic layers and, therefore, most representative of the biological phenotype, we here propose that a novel approach to better understand the complexity of tumor heterogeneity is by mapping and cataloging small numbers of CSC metabolomic phenotypes. The narrower metabolomic diversity of CSC states could be employed to reduce multidimensional tumor heterogeneity into dynamic models of fewer actionable sub-phenotypes. The identification of the driver nodes that are used differentially by CSC states to metabolically regulate self-renewal and tumor initation and escape chemotherapy might open new preventive and therapeutic avenues. The mapping of CSC metabolomic states could become a pioneering strategy to reduce the dimensionality of tumor heterogeneity and improve our ability to examine changes in tumor cell populations for cancer detection, prognosis, prediction/monitoring of therapy response, and detection of therapy resistance and recurrent disease. The identification of driver metabolites and metabolic nodes accounting for a large amount of variance within the CSC metabolomic sub-phenotypes might offer new unforeseen opportunities for reducing and exploiting tumor heterogeneity via metabolic targeting of CSC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabet Cuyàs
- Metabolism and Cancer Group, Program Against Cancer Therapeutic Resistance, Catalan Institute of Oncology, Girona, Spain.,Molecular Oncology Group, Girona Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBGI), Girona, Spain
| | - Sara Verdura
- Metabolism and Cancer Group, Program Against Cancer Therapeutic Resistance, Catalan Institute of Oncology, Girona, Spain.,Molecular Oncology Group, Girona Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBGI), Girona, Spain
| | - Salvador Fernández-Arroyo
- Unitat de Recerca Biomèdica, Hospital Universitari de Sant Joan, Institut d'Investigació Sanitària Pere Virgili, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Reus, Catalonia, Spain.,Campus of International Excellence Southern Catalonia, Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain
| | | | | | - Jorge Joven
- Unitat de Recerca Biomèdica, Hospital Universitari de Sant Joan, Institut d'Investigació Sanitària Pere Virgili, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Reus, Catalonia, Spain.,Campus of International Excellence Southern Catalonia, Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Javier A Menendez
- Metabolism and Cancer Group, Program Against Cancer Therapeutic Resistance, Catalan Institute of Oncology, Girona, Spain.,Molecular Oncology Group, Girona Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBGI), Girona, Spain
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27
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Menyhart O, Budczies J, Munkácsy G, Esteva FJ, Szabó A, Miquel TP, Győrffy B. DUSP4 is associated with increased resistance against anti-HER2 therapy in breast cancer. Oncotarget 2017; 8:77207-77218. [PMID: 29100381 PMCID: PMC5652774 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.20430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2017] [Accepted: 06/27/2017] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The majority of patients develop resistance against suppression of HER2-signaling mediated by trastuzumab in HER2 positive breast cancer (BC). HER2 overexpression activates multiple signaling pathways, including the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade. MAPK phosphatases (MKPs) are essential regulators of MAPKs and participate in many facets of cellular regulation, including proliferation and apoptosis. We aimed to identify whether differential MKPs are associated with resistance to targeted therapy in patients previously treated with trastuzumab. Using gene chip data of 88 HER2-positive, trastuzumab treated BC patients, candidate MKPs were identified by Receiver Operator Characteristics analysis performed in R. Genes were ranked using their achieved area under the curve (AUC) values and were further restricted to markers significantly associated with worse survival. Functional significance of the two strongest predictive markers was evaluated in vitro by gene silencing in HER2 overexpressing, trastuzumab resistant BC cell lines SKTR and JIMT-1. The strongest predictive MKPs were DUSP4/MKP-2 (AUC=0.75, p=0.0096) and DUSP6/MKP-3 (AUC=0.77, p=5.29E-05). Higher expression for these correlated to worse survival (DUSP4: HR=2.05, p=0.009 and DUSP6: HR=2, p=0.0015). Silencing of DUSP4 had significant sensitization effects – viability of DUSP4 siRNA transfected, trastuzumab treated cells decreased significantly compared to scramble-siRNA transfected controls (SKTR: p=0.016; JIMT-1: p=0.016). In contrast, simultaneous treatment with DUSP6 siRNA and trastuzumab did not alter cell proliferation. Our findings suggest that DUSP4 may represent a new potential target to overcome trastuzumab resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Otília Menyhart
- Semmelweis University 2nd Department of Pediatrics, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Jan Budczies
- Institute of Pathology, Charité University Hospital, Berlin, Germany
| | - Gyöngyi Munkácsy
- Semmelweis University 2nd Department of Pediatrics, Budapest, Hungary
| | | | - András Szabó
- Semmelweis University 2nd Department of Pediatrics, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Teresa Puig Miquel
- New Terapeutics Targets Laboratory (TargetsLab), Department of Medical Sciences, University of Girona, Girona, Spain
| | - Balázs Győrffy
- Semmelweis University 2nd Department of Pediatrics, Budapest, Hungary.,MTA TTK Lendület Cancer Biomarker Research Group, Institute of Enzymology, Budapest, Hungary
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28
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Zhang L, Xu L, Zhang F, Vlashi E. Doxycycline inhibits the cancer stem cell phenotype and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in breast cancer. Cell Cycle 2016; 16:737-745. [PMID: 27753527 DOI: 10.1080/15384101.2016.1241929] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Experimental evidence suggest that breast tumors originate from breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs), and that mitochondrial biogenesis is essential for the anchorage-independent clonal expansion and survival of CSCs, thus rendering mitochondria a significant target for novel treatment approaches. One of the recognized side effects of the FDA-approved drug, doxycycline is the inhibition of mitochondrial biogenesis. Here we investigate the mechanism by which doxycycline exerts its inhibitory effects on the properties of breast cancer cells and BCSCs, such as mammosphere forming efficiency, invasion, migration, apoptosis, the expression of stem cell markers and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) related markers of breast cancer cells. In addition, we explored whether autophagy plays a role in the inhibitory effect of doxycycline on breast cancer cells. We find that doxycyline can inhibit the viability and proliferation of breast cancer cells and BCSCs, decrease mammosphere forming efficiency, migration and invasion, and EMT of breast cancer cells. Expression of stem cell factors Oct4, Sox2, Nanog and CD44 were also significantly downregulated after doxycycline treatment. Moreover, doxycycline could down-regulate the expression of the autophagy marker LC-3BI and LC-3BII, suggesting that inhibiting autophagy may be responsible in part for the observed effects on proliferation, EMT and stem cell markers. The potent inhibition of EMT and cancer stem-like characteristics in breast cancer cells by doxycycline treatment suggests that this drug can be repurposed as an anti-cancer drug in the treatment of breast cancer patients in the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Le Zhang
- a Department of Oncology , Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine , Shanghai , P.R. China.,b Department of Radiation Oncology , David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA , Los Angeles , CA , USA
| | - Liang Xu
- a Department of Oncology , Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine , Shanghai , P.R. China.,c Department of Prevention and Cure Center of Breast Disease , Third Hospital of Nanchang , Nanchang , P.R. China
| | - Fengchun Zhang
- a Department of Oncology , Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine , Shanghai , P.R. China
| | - Erina Vlashi
- b Department of Radiation Oncology , David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA , Los Angeles , CA , USA.,d Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center at UCLA , Los Angeles , CA , USA
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29
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Corominas-Faja B, Vellon L, Cuyàs E, Buxó M, Martin-Castillo B, Serra D, García J, Lupu R, Menendez JA. Clinical and therapeutic relevance of the metabolic oncogene fatty acid synthase in HER2+ breast cancer. Histol Histopathol 2016; 32:687-698. [PMID: 27714708 DOI: 10.14670/hh-11-830] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Fatty acid synthase (FASN) is a key lipogenic enzyme for de novo fatty acid biosynthesis and a druggable metabolic oncoprotein that is activated in most human cancers. We evaluated whether the HER2-driven lipogenic phenotype might represent a biomarker for sensitivity to pharmacological FASN blockade. A majority of clinically HER2-positive tumors were scored as FASN overexpressors in a series of almost 200 patients with invasive breast carcinoma. Re-classification of HER2-positive breast tumors based on FASN gene expression predicted a significantly inferior relapse-free and distant metastasis-free survival in HER2+/FASN+ patients. Notably, non-tumorigenic MCF10A breast epithelial cells engineered to overexpress HER2 upregulated FASN gene expression, and the FASN inhibitor C75 abolished HER2-induced anchorage-independent growth and survival. Furthermore, in the presence of high concentrations of C75, HER2-negative MCF-7 breast cancer cells overexpressing HER2 (MCF-7/HER2) had significantly higher levels of apoptosis than HER2-negative cells. Finally, C75 at non-cytotoxic concentrations significantly reduced the capacity of MCF-7/HER2 cells to form mammospheres, an in vitro indicator of cancer stem-like cells. Collectively, our findings strongly suggest that the HER2-FASN lipogenic axis delineates a group of breast cancer patients that might benefit from treatment with therapeutic regimens containing FASN inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruna Corominas-Faja
- ProCURE (Program Against Cancer Therapeutic Resistance), Metabolism and Cancer Group, Catalan Institute of Oncology, Girona, Spain.,Girona Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBGI), Girona, Spain
| | - Luciano Vellon
- IBYME, CONICET-Laboratorio de Immunohematología, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Elisabet Cuyàs
- ProCURE (Program Against Cancer Therapeutic Resistance), Metabolism and Cancer Group, Catalan Institute of Oncology, Girona, Spain.,Girona Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBGI), Girona, Spain
| | - Maria Buxó
- Girona Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBGI), Girona, Spain
| | - Begoña Martin-Castillo
- Girona Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBGI), Girona, Spain.,Unit of Clinical Research, Catalan Institute of Oncology, Girona, Spain
| | - Dolors Serra
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Facultat de Farmàcia, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y la Nutrición (CIBEROBN), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jordi García
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y la Nutrición (CIBEROBN), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.,Departament de Química Orgànica, Facultat de Química, Institut de Biomedicina de la UB (IBUB), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ruth Lupu
- Mayo Clinic, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Division of Experimental Pathology, Rochester, MN, USA.,Mayo Clinic Cancer Center, Rochester, MN, USA.
| | - Javier A Menendez
- ProCURE (Program Against Cancer Therapeutic Resistance), Metabolism and Cancer Group, Catalan Institute of Oncology, Girona, Spain.,Girona Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBGI), Girona, Spain.
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30
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Menendez JA, Corominas-Faja B, Cuyàs E, García MG, Fernández-Arroyo S, Fernández AF, Joven J, Fraga MF, Alarcón T. Oncometabolic Nuclear Reprogramming of Cancer Stemness. Stem Cell Reports 2016; 6:273-83. [PMID: 26876667 PMCID: PMC4788754 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2015.12.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2015] [Revised: 12/30/2015] [Accepted: 12/31/2015] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
By impairing histone demethylation and locking cells into a reprogramming-prone state, oncometabolites can partially mimic the process of induced pluripotent stem cell generation. Using a systems biology approach, combining mathematical modeling, computation, and proof-of-concept studies with live cells, we found that an oncometabolite-driven pathological version of nuclear reprogramming increases the speed and efficiency of dedifferentiating committed epithelial cells into stem-like states with only a minimal core of stemness transcription factors. Our biomathematical model, which introduces nucleosome modification and epigenetic regulation of cell differentiation genes to account for the direct effects of oncometabolites on nuclear reprogramming, demonstrates that oncometabolites markedly lower the “energy barriers” separating non-stem and stem cell attractors, diminishes the average time of nuclear reprogramming, and increases the size of the basin of attraction of the macrostate occupied by stem cells. These findings establish the concept of oncometabolic nuclear reprogramming of stemness as a bona fide metabolo-epigenetic mechanism for generation of cancer stem-like cells. Oncometabolites facilitate the reprogramming process evoked by stemness factors Oncometabolites lower the epigenetic barriers to nuclear reprogramming Cancer stem-like states arise through oncometabolic nuclear reprogramming phenomena Oncometabolic regulation of epigenetics can drive stemness in cancer tissues
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Affiliation(s)
- Javier A Menendez
- ProCURE (Program Against Cancer Therapeutic Resistance), Metabolism and Cancer Group, Catalan Institute of Oncology, 17007 Girona, Catalonia, Spain; Molecular Oncology Group, Girona Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBGI), 17190 Salt, Catalonia, Spain; Girona Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBGI), Parc Hospitalari Martí i Julià, Edifici M2, E-17190 Salt, Girona, Spain.
| | - Bruna Corominas-Faja
- Molecular Oncology Group, Girona Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBGI), 17190 Salt, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Elisabet Cuyàs
- Molecular Oncology Group, Girona Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBGI), 17190 Salt, Catalonia, Spain
| | - María G García
- Cancer Epigenetics Laboratory, Instituto Universitario de Oncología del Principado de Asturias (IUOPA-HUCA), Universidad de Oviedo, 33006 Oviedo, Spain
| | - Salvador Fernández-Arroyo
- Unitat de Recerca Biomèdica, Hospital Universitari de Sant Joan, IISPV, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Campus of International Excellence Southern Catalonia, 43201 Reus, Spain
| | - Agustín F Fernández
- Cancer Epigenetics Laboratory, Instituto Universitario de Oncología del Principado de Asturias (IUOPA-HUCA), Universidad de Oviedo, 33006 Oviedo, Spain
| | - Jorge Joven
- Unitat de Recerca Biomèdica, Hospital Universitari de Sant Joan, IISPV, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Campus of International Excellence Southern Catalonia, 43201 Reus, Spain
| | - Mario F Fraga
- Cancer Epigenetics Laboratory, Instituto Universitario de Oncología del Principado de Asturias (IUOPA-HUCA), Universidad de Oviedo, 33006 Oviedo, Spain; Nanomaterials and Nanotechnology Research Center (CINN-CSIC), 33940 San Martín del Rey Aurelio, Spain
| | - Tomás Alarcón
- Institució Catalana d'Estudis i Recerca Avançats (ICREA), 08010 Barcelona, Spain; Computational & Mathematical Biology Research Group, Centre de Recerca Matemàtica (CRM), 08193 Barcelona, Spain; Departament de Matemàtiques, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Barcelona, Spain; Barcelona Graduate School of Mathematics (BGSMath), 08193 Barcelona, Spain; Centre de Recerca Matemàtica (CRM), Office 29 (C3b/140), Edifici C, Campus de Bellaterra, E-08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain.
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