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Cianciosi D, Forbes-Hernandez T, Armas Diaz Y, Elexpuru-Zabaleta M, Quiles JL, Battino M, Giampieri F. Manuka honey's anti-metastatic impact on colon cancer stem-like cells: unveiling its effects on epithelial-mesenchymal transition, angiogenesis and telomere length. Food Funct 2024; 15:7200-7213. [PMID: 38896046 DOI: 10.1039/d4fo00943f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/21/2024]
Abstract
Colorectal cancer often leads to metastasis, with cancer stem cells (CSCs) playing a pivotal role in this process. Two closely linked mechanisms, epithelial-mesenchymal transition and angiogenesis, contribute to metastasis and recent research has also highlighted the impact of telomere replication on this harmful tumor progression. Standard chemotherapy alone can inadvertently promote drug-resistant CSCs, posing a challenge. Combining chemotherapy with other compounds, including natural ones, shows promise in enhancing effectiveness while minimizing side effects. This study investigated the anti-metastatic potential of Manuka honey, both alone and in combination with 5-fluorouracil, using a 3D model of colonospheres enriched with CSC-like cells. In summary, it was observed that the treatment reduced migration ability by downregulating the transcription factors Slug, Snail, and Twist, which are key players in epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Additionally, Manuka honey downregulated pro-angiogenic factors and shortened CSC telomeres by downregulating c-Myc - demonstrating an effective anti-metastatic potential. This study suggests new research opportunities for studying the impact of natural compounds when combined with pharmaceuticals, with the potential to enhance effectiveness and reduce side effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danila Cianciosi
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche, Via Pietro Ranieri 65, Ancona, 60131, Italy.
| | - Tamara Forbes-Hernandez
- Department of Physiology, Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology "José Mataix Verdú", Biomedical Research Centre, University of Granada, Armilla, 18016, Spain
| | - Yasmany Armas Diaz
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche, Via Pietro Ranieri 65, Ancona, 60131, Italy.
| | - Maria Elexpuru-Zabaleta
- Research Group on Foods, Nutritional Biochemistry and Health, Universidad Europea del Atlántico, Isabel Torres 21, Santander, 39011, Spain
- Joint Laboratory on Food Science, Nutrition, and Intelligent Processing of Foods, Polytechnic University of Marche, Italy, Universidad Europea del Atlántico Spain and Jiangsu University, China
| | - José L Quiles
- Department of Physiology, Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology "José Mataix Verdú", Biomedical Research Centre, University of Granada, Armilla, 18016, Spain
| | - Maurizio Battino
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche, Via Pietro Ranieri 65, Ancona, 60131, Italy.
- Research Group on Foods, Nutritional Biochemistry and Health, Universidad Europea del Atlántico, Isabel Torres 21, Santander, 39011, Spain
- Joint Laboratory on Food Science, Nutrition, and Intelligent Processing of Foods, Polytechnic University of Marche, Italy, Universidad Europea del Atlántico Spain and Jiangsu University, China
- International Joint Research Laboratory of Intelligent Agriculture and Agri-Products Processing, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212013, China
| | - Francesca Giampieri
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche, Via Pietro Ranieri 65, Ancona, 60131, Italy.
- Research Group on Foods, Nutritional Biochemistry and Health, Universidad Europea del Atlántico, Isabel Torres 21, Santander, 39011, Spain
- Joint Laboratory on Food Science, Nutrition, and Intelligent Processing of Foods, Polytechnic University of Marche, Italy, Universidad Europea del Atlántico Spain and Jiangsu University, China
- International Joint Research Laboratory of Intelligent Agriculture and Agri-Products Processing, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212013, China
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Knopik-Skrocka A, Sempowicz A, Piwocka O. Plasticity and resistance of cancer stem cells as a challenge for innovative anticancer therapies - do we know enough to overcome this? EXCLI JOURNAL 2024; 23:335-355. [PMID: 38655094 PMCID: PMC11036066 DOI: 10.17179/excli2024-6972] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2024] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
According to the CSC hypothesis, cancer stem cells are pivotal in initiating, developing, and causing cancer recurrence. Since the identification of CSCs in leukemia, breast cancer, glioblastoma, and colorectal cancer in the 1990s, researchers have actively investigated the origin and biology of CSCs. However, the CSC hypothesis and the role of these cells in tumor development model is still in debate. These cells exhibit distinct surface markers, are capable of self-renewal, demonstrate unrestricted proliferation, and display metabolic adaptation. CSC phenotypic plasticity and the capacity to EMT is strictly connected to the stemness state. CSCs show high resistance to chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy. The plasticity of CSCs is significantly influenced by tumor microenvironment factors, such as hypoxia. Targeting the genetic and epigenetic changes of cancer cells, together with interactions with the tumor microenvironment, presents promising avenues for therapeutic strategies. See also the Graphical abstract(Fig. 1).
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnieszka Knopik-Skrocka
- Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University of Poznań, Poland
- Section of Regenerative Medicine and Cancer Research, Natural Sciences Club, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, 61-614 Poznań, Poland
| | - Alicja Sempowicz
- Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University of Poznań, Poland
- Section of Regenerative Medicine and Cancer Research, Natural Sciences Club, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, 61-614 Poznań, Poland
| | - Oliwia Piwocka
- Radiobiology Laboratory, Department of Medical Physics, Greater Poland Cancer Center, Poznań, Poland
- Department of Electroradiology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznań, Poland
- Doctoral School, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznań, Poland
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Nicolazzo C, Francescangeli F, Magri V, Giuliani A, Zeuner A, Gazzaniga P. Is cancer an intelligent species? Cancer Metastasis Rev 2023; 42:1201-1218. [PMID: 37540301 PMCID: PMC10713722 DOI: 10.1007/s10555-023-10123-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/05/2023]
Abstract
Some relevant emerging properties of intelligent systems are "adaptation to a changing environment," "reaction to unexpected situations," "capacity of problem solving," and "ability to communicate." Single cells have remarkable abilities to adapt, make adequate context-dependent decision, take constructive actions, and communicate, thus theoretically meeting all the above-mentioned requirements. From a biological point of view, cancer can be viewed as an invasive species, composed of cells that move from primary to distant sites, being continuously exposed to changes in the environmental conditions. Blood represents the first hostile habitat that a cancer cell encounters once detached from the primary site, so that cancer cells must rapidly carry out multiple adaptation strategies to survive. The aim of this review was to deepen the adaptation mechanisms of cancer cells in the blood microenvironment, particularly referring to four adaptation strategies typical of animal species (phenotypic adaptation, metabolic adaptation, niche adaptation, and collective adaptation), which together define the broad concept of biological intelligence. We provided evidence that the required adaptations (either structural, metabolic, and related to metastatic niche formation) and "social" behavior are useful principles allowing putting into a coherent frame many features of circulating cancer cells. This interpretative frame is described by the comparison with analog behavioral traits typical of various animal models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Nicolazzo
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Federica Francescangeli
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Valentina Magri
- Department of Pathology, Oncology and Radiology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandro Giuliani
- Environment and Health Department, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Ann Zeuner
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Gazzaniga
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161, Rome, Italy.
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4
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Avendaño-Felix M, Aguilar-Medina M, Romero-Quintana JG, Ayala-Ham A, Beltran AS, Olivares-Quintero JF, López-Camarillo C, Pérez-Plasencia C, Bermúdez M, Lizárraga-Verdugo E, López-Gutierrez J, Sanchez-Schmitz G, Ramos-Payán R. SOX9 knockout decreases stemness properties in colorectal cancer cells. J Gastrointest Oncol 2023; 14:1735-1745. [PMID: 37720443 PMCID: PMC10502562 DOI: 10.21037/jgo-22-1163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 05/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a leading cause of death worldwide. SRY-box transcription factor 9 (SOX9) participates in organogenesis and cell differentiation in normal tissues but has been involved in carcinogenesis development. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are a small population of cells present in solid tumors that contribute to increased tumor heterogeneity, metastasis, chemoresistance, and relapse. CSCs have properties such as self-renewal and differentiation, which can be modulated by many factors. Currently, the role of SOX9 in the maintenance of the stem phenotype has not been well elucidated, thus, in this work we evaluated the effect of the absence of SOX9 in the stem phenotype of CRC cells. Methods We knockout (KO) SOX9 in the undifferentiated CRC cell line HCT116 and evaluated their stemness properties using sphere formation assay, differentiation assay, and immunophenotyping. Results SOX9-KO affected the epithelial morphology of HCT116 cells and stemness characteristics such as its pluripotency signature with the increase of SOX2 as a compensatory mechanism to induce SOX9 expression, the increase of KLF4 as a differentiation feature, as well as the inhibition of the stem cell markers CD44 and CD73. In addition, SOX9-KO cells gain the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) phenotype with a significant upregulation of CDH2. Furthermore, our results showed a remarkable effect on first- and second-sphere formation, being SOX9-KO cells less capable of forming high-size-resistant spheres. Nevertheless, CSCs surface markers were not affected during the differentiation assay. Conclusions Collectively, our findings supply evidence that SOX9 promotes the maintenance of stemness properties in CRC-CSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana Avendaño-Felix
- Faculty of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Autonomous University of Sinaloa, Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico
| | - Maribel Aguilar-Medina
- Faculty of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Autonomous University of Sinaloa, Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico
| | | | - Alfredo Ayala-Ham
- Faculty of Odontology, Autonomous University of Sinaloa, Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico
| | - Adriana S. Beltran
- Human Pluripotent Stem Cell Core, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | | | | | | | - Mercedes Bermúdez
- Faculty of Dentistry, Autonomous University of Chihuahua, Chihuahua, Mexico
| | - Erik Lizárraga-Verdugo
- Faculty of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Autonomous University of Sinaloa, Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico
| | - Jorge López-Gutierrez
- Faculty of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Autonomous University of Sinaloa, Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico
| | - Guzman Sanchez-Schmitz
- Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Rosalío Ramos-Payán
- Faculty of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Autonomous University of Sinaloa, Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico
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5
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Boylan J, Byers E, Kelly DF. The Glioblastoma Landscape: Hallmarks of Disease, Therapeutic Resistance, and Treatment Opportunities. MEDICAL RESEARCH ARCHIVES 2023; 11:10.18103/mra.v11i6.3994. [PMID: 38107346 PMCID: PMC10723753 DOI: 10.18103/mra.v11i6.3994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
Malignant brain tumors are aggressive and difficult to treat. Glioblastoma is the most common and lethal form of primary brain tumor, often found in patients with no genetic predisposition. The median life expectancy for individuals diagnosed with this condition is 6 months to 2 years and there is no known cure. New paradigms in cancer biology implicate a small subset of tumor cells in initiating and sustaining these incurable brain tumors. Here, we discuss the heterogenous nature of glioblastoma and theories behind its capacity for therapy resistance and recurrence. Within the cancer landscape, cancer stem cells are thought to be both tumor initiators and major contributors to tumor heterogeneity and therapy evasion and such cells have been identified in glioblastoma. At the cellular level, disruptions in the delicate balance between differentiation and self-renewal spur transformation and support tumor growth. While rapidly dividing cells are more sensitive to elimination by traditional treatments, glioblastoma stem cells evade these measures through slow division and reversible exit from the cell cycle. At the molecular level, glioblastoma tumor cells exploit several signaling pathways to evade conventional therapies through improved DNA repair mechanisms and a flexible state of senescence. We examine these common evasion techniques while discussing potential molecular approaches to better target these deadly tumors. Equally important, the presented information encourages the idea of augmenting conventional treatments with novel glioblastoma stem cell-directed therapies, as eliminating these harmful progenitors holds great potential to modulate tumor recurrence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jack Boylan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
- Center for Structural Oncology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
- Molecular, Cellular, and Integrative Biosciences Graduate Program, Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Elizabeth Byers
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
- Molecular, Cellular, and Integrative Biosciences Graduate Program, Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Deborah F. Kelly
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
- Center for Structural Oncology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
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6
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Liu J, Smith S, Wang C. Photothermal Attenuation of Cancer Cell Stemness, Chemoresistance, and Migration Using CD44-Targeted MoS 2 Nanosheets. NANO LETTERS 2023; 23:1989-1999. [PMID: 36827209 PMCID: PMC10497231 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.3c00089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Cancer stem-like cells (CSCs) play key roles in chemoresistance, tumor metastasis, and clinical relapse. However, current CSC inhibitors lack specificity, efficacy, and applicability to different cancers. Herein, we introduce a nanomaterial-based approach to photothermally induce the differentiation of CSCs, termed "photothermal differentiation", leading to the attenuation of cancer cell stemness, chemoresistance, and metastasis. MoS2 nanosheets and a moderate photothermal treatment were applied to target a CSC surface receptor (i.e., CD44) and modulate its downstream signaling pathway. This treatment forces the more stem-like cancer cells to lose the mesenchymal phenotype and adopt an epithelial, less stem-like state, which shows attenuated self-renewal capacity, more response to anticancer drugs, and less invasiveness. This approach could be applicable to various cancers due to the broad availability of the CD44 biomarker. The concept of using photothermal nanomaterials to regulate specific cellular activities driving the differentiation of CSCs offers a new avenue for treating refractory cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinyuan Liu
- Nanoscience and Biomedical Engineering, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, 501 E St Joseph Street, Rapid City, South Dakota, 57701, United States
- BioSystems Networks & Translational Research (BioSNTR), 501 E St Joseph Street, Rapid City, South Dakota, 57701, United States
| | - Steve Smith
- Nanoscience and Biomedical Engineering, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, 501 E St Joseph Street, Rapid City, South Dakota, 57701, United States
- BioSystems Networks & Translational Research (BioSNTR), 501 E St Joseph Street, Rapid City, South Dakota, 57701, United States
| | - Congzhou Wang
- Nanoscience and Biomedical Engineering, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, 501 E St Joseph Street, Rapid City, South Dakota, 57701, United States
- BioSystems Networks & Translational Research (BioSNTR), 501 E St Joseph Street, Rapid City, South Dakota, 57701, United States
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7
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ArulJothi KN, Kumaran K, Senthil S, Nidhu AB, Munaff N, Janitri VB, Kirubakaran R, Singh SK, Gupt G, Dua K, Krishnan A. Implications of reactive oxygen species in lung cancer and exploiting it for therapeutic interventions. Med Oncol 2023; 40:43. [PMID: 36472716 PMCID: PMC9734980 DOI: 10.1007/s12032-022-01900-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Lung cancer is the second (11.4%) most commonly diagnosed cancer and the first (18%) to cause cancer-related deaths worldwide. The incidence of lung cancer varies significantly among men, women, and high and low-middle-income countries. Air pollution, inhalable agents, and tobacco smoking are a few of the critical factors that determine lung cancer incidence and mortality worldwide. Reactive oxygen species are known factors of lung carcinogenesis resulting from the xenobiotics and their mechanistic paths are under critical investigation. Reactive oxygen species exhibit dual roles in cells, as a tumorigenic and anti-proliferative factor, depending on spatiotemporal context. During the precancerous state, ROS promotes cancer origination through oxidative stress and base-pair substitution mutations in pro-oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes. At later stages of tumor progression, they help the cancer cells in invasion, and metastases by activating the NF-kB and MAPK pathways. However, at advanced stages, when ROS exceeds the threshold, it promotes cell cycle arrest and induces apoptosis in cancer cells. ROS activates extrinsic apoptosis through death receptors and intrinsic apoptosis through mitochondrial pathways. Moreover, ROS upregulates the expression of beclin-1 which is a critical component to initiate autophagy, another form of programmed cell death. ROS is additionally involved in an intermediatory step in necroptosis, which catalyzes and accelerates this form of cell death. Various therapeutic interventions have been attempted to exploit this cytotoxic potential of ROS to treat different cancers. Growing body of evidence suggests that ROS is also associated with chemoresistance and cancer cell immunity. Considering the multiple roles of ROS, this review highlights the exploitation of ROS for various therapeutic interventions. However, there are still gaps in the literature on the dual roles of ROS and the involvement of ROS in cancer cell immunity and therapy resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- K. N. ArulJothi
- grid.412742.60000 0004 0635 5080Department of Genetic Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Technology, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, SRM Nagar, Chennai, 603203 India
| | - K. Kumaran
- grid.412742.60000 0004 0635 5080Department of Genetic Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Technology, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, SRM Nagar, Chennai, 603203 India
| | - Sowmya Senthil
- grid.412742.60000 0004 0635 5080Department of Genetic Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Technology, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, SRM Nagar, Chennai, 603203 India
| | - A. B. Nidhu
- grid.412742.60000 0004 0635 5080Department of Genetic Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Technology, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, SRM Nagar, Chennai, 603203 India
| | - Nashita Munaff
- grid.412742.60000 0004 0635 5080Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Engineering and Technology, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, SRM Nagar, Chennai, 603203 India
| | - V. B. Janitri
- grid.262613.20000 0001 2323 3518Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY USA
| | - Rangasamy Kirubakaran
- grid.444708.b0000 0004 1799 6895Department of Biotechnology, Vinayaka Mission’s Kirupananda Variyar Engineering College, Vinayaka Missions Research Foundation, Salem, Tamil Nadu India
| | - Sachin Kumar Singh
- grid.449005.cSchool of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Lovely Professional University, Jalandhar-Delhi G.T Road, Phagwara, Punjab India ,grid.117476.20000 0004 1936 7611Faculty of Health, Australian Research Centre in Complementary and Integrative Medicine, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW 2007 Australia
| | - Gaurav Gupt
- grid.448952.60000 0004 1767 7579School of Pharmacy, Suresh Gyan Vihar University, Jagatpura, Mahal Road, Jaipur, 302017 India ,grid.412431.10000 0004 0444 045XDepartment of Pharmacology, Saveetha Dental College, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Saveetha University, Chennai, India ,grid.449906.60000 0004 4659 5193Uttaranchal Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Uttaranchal University, Dehradun, India
| | - Kamal Dua
- grid.117476.20000 0004 1936 7611Faculty of Health, Australian Research Centre in Complementary and Integrative Medicine, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW 2007 Australia ,grid.117476.20000 0004 1936 7611Discipline of Pharmacy, Graduate School of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2007 Australia
| | - Anand Krishnan
- grid.412219.d0000 0001 2284 638XDepartment of Chemical Pathology, School of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, 9300 South Africa
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Izadpanah MH, Forghanifard MM. TWIST1 Plays Role in Expression of Stemness State Markers in ESCC. Genes (Basel) 2022; 13:genes13122369. [PMID: 36553636 PMCID: PMC9777594 DOI: 10.3390/genes13122369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Revised: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Stemness markers play critical roles in the maintenance of key properties of embryonic stem cells (ESCs), including the pluripotency, stemness state, and self-renewal capacities, as well as cell fate decision. Some of these features are present in cancer stem cells (CSCs). TWIST1, as a bHLH transcription factor oncogene, is involved in the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process in both embryonic and cancer development. Our aim in this study was to investigate the functional correlation between TWIST1 and the involved genes in the process of CSCs self-renewal in human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) line KYSE-30. METHODS TWIST1 overexpression was enforced in the ESCC KYSE-30 cells using retroviral vector containing the specific pruf-IRES-GFP-hTWIST1 sequence. Following RNA extraction and cDNA synthesis, the mRNA expression profile of TWIST1 and the stem cell markers, including BMI1, CRIPTO1, DPPA2, KLF4, SOX2, NANOG, and MSI1, were assessed using relative comparative real-time PCR. RESULTS Ectopic expression of TWIST1 in KYSE-30 cells resulted in an increased expression of TWIST1 compared to control GFP cells by nearly 9-fold. Transduction of TWIST1-retroviral particles caused a significant enhancement in BMI1, CRIPTO1, DPPA2, KLF4, and SOX2 mRNA expression, approximately 4.5-, 3.2-, 5.5-, 3.5-, and 3.7-folds, respectively, whereas this increased TWIST1 expression caused no change in the mRNA expression of NANOG and MSI1 genes. CONCLUSIONS TWIST1 gene ectopic expression in KYSE-30 cells enhanced the level of cancer stem cell markers' mRNA expression. These results may emphasize the role of TWIST1 in the self-renewal process and may corroborate the involvement of TWIST1 in the stemness state capacity of ESCC cell line KYSE-30, as well as its potential as a therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Hossein Izadpanah
- Division of Human Genetics, Immunology Research Center, Avicenna Research Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad 9196773117, Iran
| | - Mohammad Mahdi Forghanifard
- Department of Biology, Damghan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Damghan 3671637849, Iran
- Correspondence: or ; Tel.: +98-912-711-6027
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Kilmister EJ, Koh SP, Weth FR, Gray C, Tan ST. Cancer Metastasis and Treatment Resistance: Mechanistic Insights and Therapeutic Targeting of Cancer Stem Cells and the Tumor Microenvironment. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10112988. [PMID: 36428556 PMCID: PMC9687343 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10112988] [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: 10/31/2022] [Revised: 11/13/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer metastasis and treatment resistance are the main causes of treatment failure and cancer-related deaths. Their underlying mechanisms remain to be fully elucidated and have been attributed to the presence of cancer stem cells (CSCs)-a small population of highly tumorigenic cancer cells with pluripotency and self-renewal properties, at the apex of a cellular hierarchy. CSCs drive metastasis and treatment resistance and are sustained by a dynamic tumor microenvironment (TME). Numerous pathways mediate communication between CSCs and/or the surrounding TME. These include a paracrine renin-angiotensin system and its convergent signaling pathways, the immune system, and other signaling pathways including the Notch, Wnt/β-catenin, and Sonic Hedgehog pathways. Appreciation of the mechanisms underlying metastasis and treatment resistance, and the pathways that regulate CSCs and the TME, is essential for developing a durable treatment for cancer. Pre-clinical and clinical studies exploring single-point modulation of the pathways regulating CSCs and the surrounding TME, have yielded partial and sometimes negative results. This may be explained by the presence of uninhibited alternative signaling pathways. An effective treatment of cancer may require a multi-target strategy with multi-step inhibition of signaling pathways that regulate CSCs and the TME, in lieu of the long-standing pursuit of a 'silver-bullet' single-target approach.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sabrina P. Koh
- Gillies McIndoe Research Institute, Wellington 6242, New Zealand
| | - Freya R. Weth
- Gillies McIndoe Research Institute, Wellington 6242, New Zealand
| | - Clint Gray
- Gillies McIndoe Research Institute, Wellington 6242, New Zealand
| | - Swee T. Tan
- Gillies McIndoe Research Institute, Wellington 6242, New Zealand
- Wellington Regional Plastic, Maxillofacial & Burns Unit, Hutt Hospital, Lower Hutt 5010, New Zealand
- Department of Surgery, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
- Correspondence:
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10
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Radioresistance Mechanisms in Prostate Cancer Cell Lines Surviving Ultra-Hypo-Fractionated EBRT: Implications and Possible Clinical Applications. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14225504. [PMID: 36428597 PMCID: PMC9688510 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14225504] [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: 10/19/2022] [Revised: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 11/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The use of a higher dose per fraction to overcome the high radioresistance of prostate cancer cells has been unsuccessfully proposed. Herein, we present PC3 and DU-145, castration-resistant prostate cancer cell lines that survived a clinically used ultra-higher dose per fraction, namely, radioresistant PC3 and DU-145 cells (PC3RR and DU-145RR). Compared to PC3, PC3RR showed a higher level of aggressive behaviour, with enhanced clonogenic potential, DNA damage repair, migration ability and cancer stem cell features. Furthermore, compared to PC3, PC3RR more efficiently survived further radiation by increasing proliferation and down-regulating pro-apoptotic proteins. No significant changes of the above parameters were described in DU-145RR, suggesting that different prostate cancer cell lines that survive ultra-higher dose per fraction do not display the same grade of aggressive phenotype. Furthermore, both PC3RR and DU-145RR increased antioxidant enzymes and mesenchymal markers. Our data suggest that different molecular mechanisms could be potential targets for future treatments plans based on sequential strategies and synergistic effects of different modalities, possibly in a patient-tailored fashion. Moreover, PC3RR cells displayed an increase in specific markers involved in bone remodeling, indicating that radiotherapy selects a PC3 population capable of migrating to secondary metastatic sites. Finally, PC3RR cells showed a better sensitivity to Docetaxel as compared to native PC3 cells. This suggests that a subset of patients with castration-resistant metastatic disease could benefit from upfront Docetaxel treatment after the failure of radiotherapy.
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Lopez T, Wendremaire M, Lagarde J, Duquet O, Alibert L, Paquette B, Garrido C, Lirussi F. Wound Healing versus Metastasis: Role of Oxidative Stress. Biomedicines 2022; 10:2784. [PMID: 36359304 PMCID: PMC9687595 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10112784] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2022] [Revised: 10/20/2022] [Accepted: 10/29/2022] [Indexed: 10/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Many signaling pathways, molecular and cellular actors which are critical for wound healing have been implicated in cancer metastasis. These two conditions are a complex succession of cellular biological events and accurate regulation of these events is essential. Apart from inflammation, macrophages-released ROS arise as major regulators of these processes. But, whatever the pathology concerned, oxidative stress is a complicated phenomenon to control and requires a finely tuned balance over the different stages and responding cells. This review provides an overview of the pivotal role of oxidative stress in both wound healing and metastasis, encompassing the contribution of macrophages. Indeed, macrophages are major ROS producers but also appear as their targets since ROS interfere with their differentiation and function. Elucidating ROS functions in wound healing and metastatic spread may allow the development of innovative therapeutic strategies involving redox modulators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatiana Lopez
- UMR 1231, Lipides Nutrition Cancer, INSERM, 21000 Dijon, France
- UFR des Sciences de Santé, Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, 25000 Besançon, France
| | - Maeva Wendremaire
- UMR 1231, Lipides Nutrition Cancer, INSERM, 21000 Dijon, France
- UFR des Sciences de Santé, Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, 25000 Besançon, France
| | - Jimmy Lagarde
- UMR 1231, Lipides Nutrition Cancer, INSERM, 21000 Dijon, France
- UFR des Sciences de Santé, Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, 25000 Besançon, France
| | - Oriane Duquet
- UFR des Sciences de Santé, Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, 25000 Besançon, France
- Plateforme PACE, Laboratoire de Pharmacologie-Toxicologie, Centre Hospitalo-Universitaire Besançon, 25000 Besançon, France
| | - Line Alibert
- Service de Chirurgie, Centre Hospitalo-Universitaire Besançon, 25000 Besançon, France
| | - Brice Paquette
- Service de Chirurgie, Centre Hospitalo-Universitaire Besançon, 25000 Besançon, France
| | - Carmen Garrido
- UMR 1231, Lipides Nutrition Cancer, INSERM, 21000 Dijon, France
- UFR des Sciences de Santé, Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, 25000 Besançon, France
- Centre Georges François Leclerc, 21000 Dijon, France
| | - Frédéric Lirussi
- UMR 1231, Lipides Nutrition Cancer, INSERM, 21000 Dijon, France
- UFR des Sciences de Santé, Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, 25000 Besançon, France
- Plateforme PACE, Laboratoire de Pharmacologie-Toxicologie, Centre Hospitalo-Universitaire Besançon, 25000 Besançon, France
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12
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Venkateswara Rao B, Pavan Kumar P, Ramalingam V, Karthik G, Andugulapati SB, Suresh Babu K. Piperazine tethered bergenin heterocyclic hybrids: design, synthesis, anticancer activity, and molecular docking studies. RSC Med Chem 2022; 13:978-985. [PMID: 36092140 PMCID: PMC9383709 DOI: 10.1039/d2md00116k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
In an attempt to develop natural product-based anticancer agents, a series of novel piperazine-linked bergenin heterocyclic hybrids bearing arylthiazolyl (5a-e), benzothiazolyl (10a-i), and arylsulfonyl (13a-o) were synthesized using the classical Mannich reaction and evaluated for their anticancer activity. All the synthesized derivatives were assessed for in vitro cytotoxic activity against a panel of human cancer and normal cell lines and the results showed that most of the compounds exhibited significant cytotoxic activity against cancer cells and mild cytotoxicity against normal cells. In particular, the compounds 5a, 5c, 10f, and 13o showed potent cytotoxic activity against tongue and oral cancer cell lines compared to the parent compound (<100 μM). Considering the efficacy, the compounds 5a, 5c, 10f, and 13o were subjected to cell cycle analysis and the results indicated that the compounds mitigated the cell cycle progression at the G0/G1 phase in the tongue and oral cancer cell lines. Subsequently, the annexin V/PI staining assay demonstrated that the compounds 5a, 5c, 10f, and 13o induced early and late apoptosis against tongue cancer and necrosis against oral cancer. Further, gene expression analysis revealed that 5a, 5c, and 13o treatment regulated the BAX and BcL-2 expression and also the selected compounds significantly reduced the expression level of vimentin, oct-4, and nanog. In addition, molecular docking studies revealed that the selected derivatives have strong binding energy with the BcL2 protein and downregulates the expression. Taken together, the study results implied that these compounds are promising anticancer candidates by modulating the epithelial to mesenchymal transition axis and could be considered for further development of novel anticancer drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Banoth Venkateswara Rao
- Centre for Natural Products & Traditional Knowledge, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology Hyderabad 500 007 India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR) Ghaziabad - 201002 India
| | - P Pavan Kumar
- Centre for Natural Products & Traditional Knowledge, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology Hyderabad 500 007 India
| | - Vaikundamoorthy Ramalingam
- Centre for Natural Products & Traditional Knowledge, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology Hyderabad 500 007 India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR) Ghaziabad - 201002 India
| | - G Karthik
- Applied Biology, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology Hyderabad 500 007 India
| | - Sai Balaji Andugulapati
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR) Ghaziabad - 201002 India
- Applied Biology, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology Hyderabad 500 007 India
| | - K Suresh Babu
- Centre for Natural Products & Traditional Knowledge, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology Hyderabad 500 007 India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR) Ghaziabad - 201002 India
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13
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Essential role of aerobic glycolysis in epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition during carcinogenesis. Clin Transl Oncol 2022; 24:1844-1855. [PMID: 35751743 DOI: 10.1007/s12094-022-02851-6] [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: 01/05/2022] [Accepted: 05/02/2022] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) confers the most lethal characteristics to cancer cells i.e., metastasis and resistance to chemo-and-radio-therapy, and therefore exhibit an appealing target in the field of oncology. Research in the past decade has demonstrated the crucial role of aerobic glycolysis in EMT, which is generally credited as the glucose metabolism for the creation of biomass such as fatty acids, amino acids, and nucleotides thereby providing building blocks for limitless proliferation. In the present review, apart from discussing EMT's evident role in the metastatic process and cancer stemness, we also talked about the vital role of glycolytic enzymes viz. GLUTs, HKs, PGI, PFK-1, aldolase, enolase, PK, LDHA, etc. in the induction of the EMT process in cancerous cells.
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14
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Jang TH, Huang WC, Tung SL, Lin SC, Chen PM, Cho CY, Yang YY, Yen TC, Lo GH, Chuang SE, Wang LH. MicroRNA-485-5p targets keratin 17 to regulate oral cancer stemness and chemoresistance via the integrin/FAK/Src/ERK/β-catenin pathway. J Biomed Sci 2022; 29:42. [PMID: 35706019 PMCID: PMC9202219 DOI: 10.1186/s12929-022-00824-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2022] [Accepted: 06/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The development of drug resistance in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) that frequently leads to recurrence and metastasis after initial treatment remains an unresolved challenge. Presence of cancer stem cells (CSCs) has been increasingly reported to be a critical contributing factor in drug resistance, tumor recurrence and metastasis. Thus, unveiling of mechanisms regulating CSCs and potential targets for developing their inhibitors will be instrumental for improving OSCC therapy. Methods siRNA, shRNA and miRNA that specifically target keratin 17 (KRT17) were used for modulation of gene expression and functional analyses. Sphere-formation and invasion/migration assays were utilized to assess cancer cell stemness and epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) properties, respectively. Duolink proximity ligation assay (PLA) was used to examine molecular proximity between KRT17 and plectin, which is a large protein that binds cytoskeleton components. Cell proliferation assay was employed to evaluate growth rates and viability of oral cancer cells treated with cisplatin, carboplatin or dasatinib. Xenograft mouse tumor model was used to evaluate the effect of KRT17- knockdown in OSCC cells on tumor growth and drug sensitization. Results Significantly elevated expression of KRT17 in highly invasive OSCC cell lines and advanced tumor specimens were observed and high KRT17 expression was correlated with poor overall survival. KRT17 gene silencing in OSCC cells attenuated their stemness properties including markedly reduced sphere forming ability and expression of stemness and EMT markers. We identified a novel signaling cascade orchestrated by KRT17 where its association with plectin resulted in activation of integrin β4/α6, increased phosphorylation of FAK, Src and ERK, as well as stabilization and nuclear translocation of β-catenin. The activation of this signaling cascade was correlated with enhanced OSCC cancer stemness and elevated expression of CD44 and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). We identified and demonstrated KRT17 to be a direct target of miRNA-485-5p. Ectopic expression of miRNA-485-5p inhibited OSCC sphere formation and caused sensitization of cancer cells towards cisplatin and carboplatin, which could be significantly rescued by KRT17 overexpression. Dasatinib treatment that inhibited KRT17-mediated Src activation also resulted in OSCC drug sensitization. In OSCC xenograft mouse model, KRT17 knockdown significantly inhibited tumor growth, and combinatorial treatment with cisplatin elicited a greater tumor inhibitory effect. Consistently, markedly reduced levels of integrin β4, active β-catenin, CD44 and EGFR were observed in the tumors induced by KRT17 knockdown OSCC cells. Conclusions A novel miRNA-485-5p/KRT17/integrin/FAK/Src/ERK/β-catenin signaling pathway is unveiled to modulate OSCC cancer stemness and drug resistance to the common first-line chemotherapeutics. This provides a potential new therapeutic strategy to inhibit OSCC stem cells and counter chemoresistance. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12929-022-00824-z.
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Affiliation(s)
- Te-Hsuan Jang
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan.,National Institute of Cancer Research, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli, Taiwan.,Graduate Institute of Integrated Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Wei-Chieh Huang
- Graduate Institute of Integrated Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.,Chinese Medicine Research Center, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Shiao-Lin Tung
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Ton-Yen General Hospital, Zhubei City, Hsinchu County, Taiwan.,Department of Nursing, Hsin Sheng Junior College of Medical Care and Management, Taoyuan City, Taiwan
| | - Sheng-Chieh Lin
- Graduate Institute of Integrated Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Po-Ming Chen
- Graduate Institute of Integrated Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Chun-Yu Cho
- National Institute of Cancer Research, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli, Taiwan
| | - Ya-Yu Yang
- National Institute of Cancer Research, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli, Taiwan
| | - Tzu-Chen Yen
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Guo-Hsuen Lo
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Shuang-En Chuang
- National Institute of Cancer Research, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli, Taiwan.
| | - Lu-Hai Wang
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan. .,Graduate Institute of Integrated Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan. .,Chinese Medicine Research Center, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
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15
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Yadav P, Kundu P, Pandey VK, Amin PJ, Nair J, Shankar BS. Effects of prolonged treatment of TGF-βR inhibitor SB431542 on radiation-induced signaling in breast cancer cells. Int J Radiat Biol 2022; 98:1-15. [PMID: 35446183 DOI: 10.1080/09553002.2022.2069299] [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: 06/23/2021] [Revised: 01/04/2022] [Accepted: 03/31/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE We have earlier characterized increased TGF-β signaling in radioresistant breast cancer cells. In this study, we wanted to determine the effect of prolonged treatment of TGF-βR inhibitor SB431542 on radiation-induced signaling, viz., genes regulating apoptosis, EMT, anti and pro-inflammatory cytokines. MATERIALS AND METHODS Breast cancer cells were pretreated with TGF-βR inhibitor (SB 431542) followed by exposure to 6 Gy and recovery period of 7 days (D7-6G). We assessed cell survival by MTT assay, cytokines by ELISA and expression analysis by RT-PCR, flow cytometry, and western blot. We carried out migration assays using trans well inserts. We performed bioinformatics analyses of human cancer database through cBioportal. RESULTS There was an upregulation of TGF-β1 and 3 and downregulation of TGF-β2, TGF-βR1, and TGF-βR2 in invasive breast carcinoma samples compared to normal tissue. TGF-β1 and TNF-α was higher in radioresistant D7-6G cells with upregulation of pSMAD3, pNF-kB, and ERK signaling. Pretreatment of D7-6G cells with TGF-βR inhibitor SB431542 abrogated pSMAD3, increased proliferation, and migration along with an increase in apoptosis and pro-apoptotic genes. This was associated with hybrid E/M phenotype and downregulation of TGF-β downstream genes, HMGA2 and Snail. There was complete agreement in the expression of mRNA and protein data in genes like vimentin, Snail and HMGA2 in different treatment groups. However, there was disagreement in expression of mRNA and protein in genes like Bax, Bcl-2, E-cadherin, Zeb-1 among the different treatment groups indicating post-transcriptional and post-translational processing of these proteins. Treatment of cells with only SB431542 also increased expression of some E/M genes indicating TGF-β independent effects. Increased IL-6 and IL-10 secretion by SB431542 along with increase in pSTAT3 and pCREB1 could probably explain these TGF-β/Smad3 independent effects. CONCLUSION These results highlight that TGF-β-pSMAD3 and TNF-α-pNF-kB are the predominant signaling pathways in radioresistant cells and possibility of some TGF-β/Smad3 independent effects on prolonged treatment with the drug SB431542.
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Affiliation(s)
- Poonam Yadav
- Radiation Biology and Health Sciences Division, Bio-Science Group, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai, India
- Homi Bhabha National Institute, Mumbai, India
| | - Priya Kundu
- Radiation Biology and Health Sciences Division, Bio-Science Group, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai, India
- Homi Bhabha National Institute, Mumbai, India
| | - Vipul K Pandey
- Radiation Biology and Health Sciences Division, Bio-Science Group, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai, India
| | - Prayag J Amin
- Radiation Biology and Health Sciences Division, Bio-Science Group, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai, India
| | - Jisha Nair
- Radiation Biology and Health Sciences Division, Bio-Science Group, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai, India
| | - Bhavani S Shankar
- Radiation Biology and Health Sciences Division, Bio-Science Group, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai, India
- Homi Bhabha National Institute, Mumbai, India
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16
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Role of MicroRNAs in Neuroendocrine Prostate Cancer. Noncoding RNA 2022; 8:ncrna8020025. [PMID: 35447888 PMCID: PMC9029336 DOI: 10.3390/ncrna8020025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2022] [Revised: 03/24/2022] [Accepted: 03/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Therapy-induced neuroendocrine prostate cancer (t-NEPC/NEPC) is an aggressive variant of prostate cancer (PCa) that frequently emerges in castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) under the selective pressure of androgen receptor (AR)-targeted therapies. This variant is extremely aggressive, metastasizes to visceral organs, tissues, and bones despite low serum PSA, and is associated with poor survival rates. It arises via a reversible trans-differentiation process, referred to as ‘neuroendocrine differentiation’ (NED), wherein PCa cells undergo a lineage switch and exhibit neuroendocrine features, characterized by the expression of neuronal markers such as enolase 2 (ENO2), chromogranin A (CHGA), and synaptophysin (SYP). The molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying NED in PCa are complex and not clearly understood, which contributes to a lack of effective molecular biomarkers for diagnosis and therapy of this variant. NEPC is thought to derive from prostate adenocarcinomas by clonal evolution. A characteristic set of genetic alterations, such as dual loss of retinoblastoma (RB1) and tumor protein (TP53) tumor suppressor genes and amplifications of Aurora kinase A (AURKA), NMYC, and EZH2, has been reported to drive NEPC. Recent evidence suggests that microRNAs (miRNAs) are important epigenetic players in driving NED in advanced PCa. In this review, we highlight the role of miRNAs in NEPC. These studies emphasize the diverse role that miRNAs play as oncogenes and tumor suppressors in driving NEPC. These studies have unveiled the important role of cellular processes such as the EMT and cancer stemness in determining NED in PCa. Furthermore, miRNAs are involved in intercellular communication between tumor cells and stromal cells via extracellular vesicles/exosomes that contribute to lineage switching. Recent studies support the promising potential of miRNAs as novel diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets for NEPC.
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17
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Haider M, Elsherbeny A, Pittalà V, Consoli V, Alghamdi MA, Hussain Z, Khoder G, Greish K. Nanomedicine Strategies for Management of Drug Resistance in Lung Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:1853. [PMID: 35163777 PMCID: PMC8836587 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23031853] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2022] [Revised: 02/01/2022] [Accepted: 02/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Lung cancer (LC) is one of the leading causes of cancer occurrence and mortality worldwide. Treatment of patients with advanced and metastatic LC presents a significant challenge, as malignant cells use different mechanisms to resist chemotherapy. Drug resistance (DR) is a complex process that occurs due to a variety of genetic and acquired factors. Identifying the mechanisms underlying DR in LC patients and possible therapeutic alternatives for more efficient therapy is a central goal of LC research. Advances in nanotechnology resulted in the development of targeted and multifunctional nanoscale drug constructs. The possible modulation of the components of nanomedicine, their surface functionalization, and the encapsulation of various active therapeutics provide promising tools to bypass crucial biological barriers. These attributes enhance the delivery of multiple therapeutic agents directly to the tumor microenvironment (TME), resulting in reversal of LC resistance to anticancer treatment. This review provides a broad framework for understanding the different molecular mechanisms of DR in lung cancer, presents novel nanomedicine therapeutics aimed at improving the efficacy of treatment of various forms of resistant LC; outlines current challenges in using nanotechnology for reversing DR; and discusses the future directions for the clinical application of nanomedicine in the management of LC resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed Haider
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, College of Pharmacy, University of Sharjah, Sharjah 27272, United Arab Emirates; (Z.H.); (G.K.)
| | - Amr Elsherbeny
- Division of Molecular Therapeutics and Formulation, School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK;
| | - Valeria Pittalà
- Department of Drug and Health Science, University of Catania, 95125 Catania, Italy; (V.P.); (V.C.)
| | - Valeria Consoli
- Department of Drug and Health Science, University of Catania, 95125 Catania, Italy; (V.P.); (V.C.)
| | - Maha Ali Alghamdi
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Science, Taif University, Taif 21974, Saudi Arabia;
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Princess Al-Jawhara Centre for Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Arabian Gulf University, Manama 329, Bahrain;
| | - Zahid Hussain
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, College of Pharmacy, University of Sharjah, Sharjah 27272, United Arab Emirates; (Z.H.); (G.K.)
| | - Ghalia Khoder
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, College of Pharmacy, University of Sharjah, Sharjah 27272, United Arab Emirates; (Z.H.); (G.K.)
| | - Khaled Greish
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Princess Al-Jawhara Centre for Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Arabian Gulf University, Manama 329, Bahrain;
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18
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Jia X, Chen B, Li Z, Huang S, Chen S, Zhou R, Feng W, Zhu H, Zhu X. Identification of a Four-Gene-Based SERM Signature for Prognostic and Drug Sensitivity Prediction in Gastric Cancer. Front Oncol 2022; 11:799223. [PMID: 35096599 PMCID: PMC8790320 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.799223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2021] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Gastric cancer (GC) is a highly molecular heterogeneous tumor with poor prognosis. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process and cancer stem cells (CSCs) are reported to share common signaling pathways and cause poor prognosis in GC. Considering about the close relationship between these two processes, we aimed to establish a gene signature based on both processes to achieve better prognostic prediction in GC. Methods The gene signature was constructed by univariate Cox and the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) Cox regression analyses by using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) GC cohort. We performed enrichment analyses to explore the potential mechanisms of the gene signature. Kaplan-Meier analysis and time-dependent receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were implemented to assess its prognostic value in TCGA cohort. The prognostic value of gene signature on overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), and drug sensitivity was validated in different cohorts. Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) validation of the prognostic value of gene signature for OS and DFS prediction was performed in the Fudan cohort. Results A prognostic signature including SERPINE1, EDIL3, RGS4, and MATN3 (SERM signature) was constructed to predict OS, DFS, and drug sensitivity in GC. Enrichment analyses illustrated that the gene signature has tight connection with the CSC and EMT processes in GC. Patients were divided into two groups based on the risk score obtained from the formula. The Kaplan-Meier analyses indicated high-risk group yielded significantly poor prognosis compared with low-risk group. Pearson’s correlation analysis indicated that the risk score was positively correlated with carboplatin and 5-fluorouracil IC50 of GC cell lines. Multivariate Cox regression analyses showed that the gene signature was an independent prognostic factor for predicting GC patients’ OS, DFS, and susceptibility to adjuvant chemotherapy. Conclusions Our SERM prognostic signature is of great value for OS, DFS, and drug sensitivity prediction in GC, which may give guidance to the development of targeted therapy for CSC- and EMT-related gene in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiya Jia
- Department of Medical Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China.,Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Bing Chen
- Department of Medical Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China.,Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ziteng Li
- Department of Medical Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China.,Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Shenglin Huang
- Department of Medical Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China.,Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Siyuan Chen
- Department of Medical Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China.,Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Runye Zhou
- Department of Medical Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China.,Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Wanjing Feng
- Department of Medical Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China.,Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Hui Zhu
- Department of Medical Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China.,Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaodong Zhu
- Department of Medical Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China.,Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
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19
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Extracellular ATP and Macropinocytosis: Their Interactive and Mutually Supportive Roles in Cell Growth, Drug Resistance, and EMT in Cancer. Subcell Biochem 2022; 98:61-83. [PMID: 35378703 PMCID: PMC9825817 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-94004-1_4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Macropinocytosis is one of the major mechanisms by which cancer cells uptake extracellular nutrients from tumor microenvironment (TME) and plays very important roles in various steps of tumorigenesis. We previously reported the unexpected finding that intratumoral and extracellular ATP (eATP), as one of the major drastically upregulated extracellular nutrients and messengers in tumors, is taken up by cancer cells through macropinocytosis in large quantities and significantly contributing to cancer cell growth, survival, and increased resistance to chemo and target drugs. Inhibition of macropinocytosis substantially reduced eATP uptake by cancer cells and slowed down tumor growth in vivo. More recently, we have found the eATP also plays a very important role in inducing epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and that macropinocytosis is an essential facilitator in the induction. Thus, macropinocytosis and eATP, working in coordination, appear to play some previously unrecognized but very important roles in EMT and metastasis. As a result, they are likely to be interactive and communicative with each other, regulating each other's activity for various needs of host tumor cells. They are also likely to be an integral part of the future new anticancer therapeutic strategies. Moreover, it is undoubted that we have not identified all the important activities coordinated by ATP and macropinocytosis. This review describes our findings in how eATP and macropinocytosis work together to promote cancer cell growth, resistance, and EMT. We also list scientific challenges facing eATP research and propose to target macropinocytosis and eATP to reduce drug resistance and slow down metastasis.
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20
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Imodoye SO, Adedokun KA, Muhammed AO, Bello IO, Muhibi MA, Oduola T, Oyenike MA. Understanding the Complex Milieu of Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition in Cancer Metastasis: New Insight Into the Roles of Transcription Factors. Front Oncol 2021; 11:762817. [PMID: 34868979 PMCID: PMC8636732 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.762817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2021] [Accepted: 10/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a physiological program during which polarised, immobile epithelial cells lose connection with their neighbours and are converted to migratory mesenchymal phenotype. Mechanistically, EMT occurs via a series of genetic and cellular events leading to the repression of epithelial-associated markers and upregulation of mesenchymal-associated markers. EMT is very crucial for many biological processes such as embryogenesis and ontogenesis during human development, and again it plays a significant role in wound healing during a programmed replacement of the damaged tissues. However, this process is often hijacked in pathological conditions such as tumour metastasis, which constitutes the most significant drawback in the fight against cancer, accounting for about 90% of cancer-associated mortality globally. Worse still, metastatic tumours are not only challenging to treat with the available conventional radiotherapy and surgical interventions but also resistant to several cytotoxic agents during treatment, owing to their anatomically diffuse localisation in the body system. As the quest to find an effective method of addressing metastasis in cancer intervention heightens, understanding the molecular interplay involving the signalling pathways, downstream effectors, and their interactions with the EMT would be an important requisite while the challenges of metastasis continue to punctuate. Unfortunately, the molecular underpinnings that govern this process remain to be completely illuminated. However, it is becoming increasingly clear that EMT, which initiates every episode of metastasis, significantly requires some master regulators called EMT transcription factors (EMT-TFs). Thus, this review critically examines the roles of TFs as drivers of molecular rewiring that lead to tumour initiation, progression, EMT, metastasis, and colonisation. In addition, it discusses the interaction of various signalling molecules and effector proteins with these factors. It also provides insight into promising therapeutic targets that may inhibit the metastatic process to overcome the limitation of “undruggable” cancer targets in therapeutic design and upturn the current spate of drug resistance. More so, it extends the discussion from the basic understanding of the EMT binary switch model, and ultimately unveiling the E/M cellular plasticity along a phenotypic spectrum via multiple trans-differentiations. It wraps up on how this knowledge update shapes the diagnostic and clinical approaches that may demand a potential shift in investigative paradigm using novel technologies such as single-cell analyses to improve overall patient survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sikiru O Imodoye
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria
| | - Kamoru A Adedokun
- Department of Oral Pathology, Dental University Hospital, King Saud University Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdurrasheed Ola Muhammed
- Department of Histopathology, School of Medical Laboratory Science, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria
| | - Ibrahim O Bello
- Department of Biological Sciences, Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville, IL, United States
| | - Musa A Muhibi
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Edo State University, Uzairue, Nigeria
| | - Taofeeq Oduola
- Department of Chemical Pathology, School of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria
| | - Musiliu A Oyenike
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomosho, Nigeria
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21
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Benjamin DJ, Lyou Y. Advances in Immunotherapy and the TGF-β Resistance Pathway in Metastatic Bladder Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13225724. [PMID: 34830879 PMCID: PMC8616345 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13225724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2021] [Revised: 11/12/2021] [Accepted: 11/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Bladder cancer accounts for a significant burden to global public health. Despite advances in therapeutics with the advent of immunotherapy, only a small subset of patients benefit from immunotherapy. In this review, we examine the evidence that suggests that the TGF-β pathway may present a resistance mechanism to immunotherapy. In addition, we present possible therapies that may overcome the TGF-β resistance pathway in the treatment of bladder cancer. Abstract Bladder cancer accounts for nearly 200,000 deaths worldwide yearly. Urothelial carcinoma (UC) accounts for nearly 90% of cases of bladder cancer. Cisplatin-based chemotherapy has remained the mainstay of treatment in the first-line setting for locally advanced or metastatic UC. More recently, the treatment paradigm in the second-line setting was drastically altered with the approval of several immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). Given that only a small subset of patients respond to ICI, further studies have been undertaken to understand potential resistance mechanisms to ICI. One potential resistance mechanism that has been identified in the setting of metastatic UC is the TGF-β signaling pathway. Several pre-clinical and ongoing clinical trials in multiple advanced tumor types have evaluated several therapies that target the TGF-β pathway. In addition, there are ongoing and planned clinical trials combining TGF-β inhibition with ICI, which may provide a promising therapeutic approach for patients with advanced and metastatic UC.
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Affiliation(s)
- David J. Benjamin
- Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, UC Irvine Medical Center, Orange, CA 92868, USA;
| | - Yung Lyou
- Department of Medical Oncology and Experimental Therapeutics, City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, Duarte, CA 91010, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-626-256-2805; Fax: +1-625-301-8233
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22
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Cao J, Bhatnagar S, Wang J, Qi X, Prabha S, Panyam J. Cancer stem cells and strategies for targeted drug delivery. Drug Deliv Transl Res 2021; 11:1779-1805. [PMID: 33095384 PMCID: PMC8062588 DOI: 10.1007/s13346-020-00863-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are a small proportion of cancer cells with high tumorigenic activity, self-renewal ability, and multilineage differentiation potential. Standard anti-tumor therapies including conventional chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and molecularly targeted therapies are not effective against CSCs, and often lead to enrichment of CSCs that can result in tumor relapse. Therefore, it is hypothesized that targeting CSCs is key to increasing the efficacy of cancer therapies. In this review, CSC properties including CSC markers, their role in tumor growth, invasiveness, metastasis, and drug resistance, as well as CSC microenvironment are discussed. Further, CSC-targeted strategies including the use of targeted drug delivery systems are examined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin Cao
- School of Pharmacy, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212013, Jiangsu, China
- College of Pharmacy, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
| | - Shubhmita Bhatnagar
- College of Pharmacy, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
- School of Pharmacy, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, 19140, USA
| | - Jiawei Wang
- College of Pharmacy, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
- College of Pharmacy, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, 78712, USA
| | - Xueyong Qi
- School of Pharmacy, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212013, Jiangsu, China
| | - Swayam Prabha
- College of Pharmacy, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
- Cancer Research & Molecular Biology and Department of Pharmacology, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, 19140, USA
| | - Jayanth Panyam
- College of Pharmacy, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA.
- School of Pharmacy, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, 19140, USA.
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23
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Evaluation of breast cancer stem cells in human primary breast carcinoma and their role in aggressive behavior of the disease. J Clin Transl Res 2021; 7:687-700. [PMID: 34778599 PMCID: PMC8580523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2021] [Revised: 04/07/2021] [Accepted: 09/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIM To delineate the underlying molecular mechanisms responsible for the intratumoral enrichment of breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs) in aggressive breast tumors, we evaluated the frequency and characteristics of BCSCs within the tumor tissue in primary human breast carcinomas. We assessed the expression profiles of various genes in cancer cells (CC) and stromal cells (SC) from these tumors to delineate the role played by the cellular niche in de novo origin or expansion of intra-tumoral cancer stem cells (CSC). METHOD The study included primary tumor and adjacent normal breast tissue specimens from chemotherapy-naïve breast carcinoma patients. The BCSCs, identified as Lin-CD44+CD24- and aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 A1 positive, were enumerated. The flow-cytometrically sorted stromal, and CC were processed for gene expression profiling using a custom-designed polymerase chain reaction array of genes known to facilitate disease progression. RESULTS The frequency of BCSCs within the tumor mass correlated significantly with histopathological and molecular grades of tumors, indicating a direct relationship of BCSC with the aggressive behavior of breast cancer. Further, a significantly increased expression of the genes associated with growth factors, cytokines and matricellular proteins in tumors were found in high BCSCs compared to Lo-BCSC tumors, suggesting the possible contribution of stromal and CC in an intratumoral expansion of CSCs. Similarly, a significant upregulation of genes associated with hypoxia and angiogenesis in Hi-BCSCs tumors further supported the role of a hypoxic environment. CONCLUSION Overall, the findings suggest the molecular crosstalk between SC and CC potentially (directly or indirectly) contributes to the expansion of CSC. RELEVANCE FOR PATIENTS The current study highlights the importance of CSC as a potential future predictive/prognostic marker for aggressive breast cancer. The present study predicts the potential risk stratification based on the frequency of BCSCs in primary breast tumors and existing prognostic factors.
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24
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Identification of the Novel Tumor Suppressor Role of FOCAD/miR-491-5p to Inhibit Cancer Stemness, Drug Resistance and Metastasis via Regulating RABIF/MMP Signaling in Triple Negative Breast Cancer. Cells 2021; 10:cells10102524. [PMID: 34685504 PMCID: PMC8534268 DOI: 10.3390/cells10102524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2021] [Revised: 09/19/2021] [Accepted: 09/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) possesses poor prognosis mainly due to development of chemoresistance and lack of effective endocrine or targeted therapies. MiR-491-5p has been found to play a tumor suppressor role in many cancers including breast cancer. However, the precise role of miR-491-5p in TNBC has never been elucidated. In this study, we reported the novel tumor suppressor function of FOCAD/miR-491-5p in TNBC. High expression of miR-491-5p was found to be associated with better overall survival in breast cancer patients. We found that miR-491-5p could be an intronic microRNA processed form FOCAD gene. We are the first to demonstrate that both miR-491-5p and FOCAD function as tumor suppressors to inhibit cancer stemness, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, drug resistance, cell migration/invasion, and pulmonary metastasis etc. in TNBC. MiR-491-5p was first reported to directly target Rab interacting factor (RABIF) to downregulate RABIF-mediated TNBC cancer stemness, drug resistance, cell invasion, and pulmonary metastasis via matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) signaling. High expression of RABIF was found to be correlated with poor clinical outcomes of breast cancer and TNBC patients. Our data indicated that miR-491-5p and RABIF are potential prognostic biomarkers and targeting the novel FOCAD/miR-491-5p/RABIF/MMP signaling pathway could serve as a promising strategy in TNBC treatment.
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25
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Torki Z, Ghavi D, Hashemi S, Rahmati Y, Rahmanpour D, Pornour M, Alivand MR. The related miRNAs involved in doxorubicin resistance or sensitivity of various cancers: an update. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol 2021; 88:771-793. [PMID: 34510251 DOI: 10.1007/s00280-021-04337-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2021] [Accepted: 07/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Doxorubicin (DOX) is an effective chemotherapy agent against a wide variety of tumors. However, intrinsic or acquired resistance diminishes the sensitivity of cancer cells to DOX, which leads to a cancer relapse and treatment failure. Resolutions to this challenge includes identification of the molecular pathways underlying DOX sensitivity/resistance and the development of innovative techniques to boost DOX sensitivity. DOX is classified as a Topoisomerase II poison, which is cytotoxic to rapidly dividing tumor cells. Molecular mechanisms responsible for DOX resistance include effective DNA repair and resumption of cell proliferation, deregulated development of cancer stem cell and epithelial to mesenchymal transition, and modulation of programmed cell death. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been shown to potentiate the reversal of DOX resistance as they have gene-specific regulatory functions in DOX-responsive molecular pathways. Identifying the dysregulation patterns of miRNAs for specific tumors following treatment with DOX facilitates the development of novel combination therapies, such as nanoparticles harboring miRNA or miRNA inhibitors to eventually prevent DOX-induced chemoresistance. In this article, we summarize recent findings on the role of miRNAs underlying DOX sensitivity/resistance molecular pathways. Also, we provide latest strategies for utilizing deregulated miRNA patterns as biomarkers or miRNAs as tools to overcome chemoresistance and enhance patient's response to DOX treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zahra Torki
- Molecular Medicine Research Center, Biomedicine Institute, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Davood Ghavi
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Solmaz Hashemi
- Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Yazdan Rahmati
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Dara Rahmanpour
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Majid Pornour
- Department of Photo Healing and Regeneration, Medical Laser Research Center, Yara Institute, Academic Center for Education, Culture, and Research (ACECR), Tehran, Iran.
| | - Mohammad Reza Alivand
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
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26
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Boustan A, Mosaffa F, Jahangiri R, Heidarian-Miri H, Dahmardeh-Ghalehno A, Jamialahmadi K. Role of SALL4 and Nodal in the prognosis and tamoxifen resistance of estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer. MOLECULAR BIOLOGY RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS 2021; 10:109-119. [PMID: 34476264 PMCID: PMC8340312 DOI: 10.22099/mbrc.2021.39878.1597] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Despite the discovery of a number of different mechanisms underlying tamoxifen resistance, its molecular pathway is not completely clear. The upregulation of SALL4 and Nodal has been reported in breast cancer. Nevertheless, their role in tamoxifen resistance has not been investigated. In the present study, we compared Nodal and SALL4 expression in 72 tamoxifen sensitive (TAMS) and tamoxifen-resistant (TAMR) patients. Afterward, the correlation of expression data with clinicopathological features and survival of patients was studied. Results showed that both SALL4 and Nodal were significantly upregulated in TAMR compared to TAMS patients. Besides, there was a positive association between Nodal and SALL4 expression. Furthermore, we evaluated their correlation with the expression of Oct4, Nanog and Sox2 stemness markers. The results demonstrated that in most tissue samples there was a positive correlation between Nodal and SALL4 expression with these stemness markers. Besides, the overexpression of SALL4 and Nodal significantly correlated with the N stage. Moreover, the overexpression of SALL4 was associated with extracapsular invasion and lymphatic invasion. High level expressions of SALL4 and Nodal had a significant association with worse disease-free survival (DFS) rates. In addition, increased level of Nodal expression provides a superior predictor factor for DFS. The multivariate Cox regression analysis also revealed that for DFS, perineural invasion (PNI) was independently an unfavorable prognostic value. These findings suggest that the high expression of SALL4 and Nodal could contribute to tamoxifen resistance and worse survival rates in tamoxifen-treated ER+ breast cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arad Boustan
- Department of Medical Biotechnology and Nanotechnology, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Mosaffa
- Biotechnology Research Center, Pharmaceutical Technology Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.,Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Rosa Jahangiri
- Department of Medical Biotechnology and Nanotechnology, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Hamid Heidarian-Miri
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Health, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Asefeh Dahmardeh-Ghalehno
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Khadijeh Jamialahmadi
- Biotechnology Research Center, Pharmaceutical Technology Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
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27
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Park E, Kim YT, Kim S, Nam EJ, Cho NH. Immunohistochemical and genetic characteristics of HPV-associated endocervical carcinoma with an invasive stratified mucin-producing carcinoma (ISMC) component. Mod Pathol 2021; 34:1738-1749. [PMID: 34103667 DOI: 10.1038/s41379-021-00829-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2021] [Revised: 04/22/2021] [Accepted: 04/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Invasive stratified mucin-producing carcinoma (ISMC) is a recently described entity of human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated endocervical adenocarcinoma with phenotypic plasticity and aggressive clinical behavior. To identify the cell of origin of ISMC, we investigated the immunohistochemical expression of cervical epithelial cell markers (CK7, PAX8, CK5/6, p63, and CK17), stemness markers (ALDH1 and Nanog), and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers (Snail, Twist, and E-cadherin) in 10 pure and mixed type ISMCs with at least 10% of ISMC component in the entire tumor, seven usual type endocervical adenocarcinomas (UEAs), and seven squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs). In addition, targeted sequencing was performed in 10 ISMCs. ISMC was significantly associated with larger tumor size (p = 0.011), more frequent lymphovascular invasion and lymph node metastasis (p < 0.001), higher FIGO stage (p = 0.022), and a tendency for worse clinical outcomes (p = 0.056) compared to other HPV-associated subtypes. ISMC showed negative or borderline positivity for PAX8, CK5/6, and p63, which were distinct from UEA and SCC (p < 0.01). Compared to UEA and SCC, ISMC showed higher expression for ALDH1 (p = 0.119 for UEA and p = 0.009 for SCC), Snail (p = 0.036), and Twist (p = 0.119), and tended to show decreased E-cadherin expression (p = 0.083). In next-generation sequencing analysis, ISMC exhibited frequent STK11, MET, FANCA, and PALB2 mutations compared to conventional cervical carcinomas, and genes related to EMT and stemness were frequently altered. EMT-prone and stemness characteristics and peripheral expression of reserve cell and EMT markers of ISMC suggest its cervical reserve cell origin. We recommend PAX8, CK5/6, and p63 as diagnostic triple biomarkers for ISMC. These findings highlight the distinct biological basis of ISMC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eunhyang Park
- Department of Pathology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Young Tae Kim
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Institute of Women's Life Medical Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Sunghoon Kim
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Institute of Women's Life Medical Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Eun Ji Nam
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Institute of Women's Life Medical Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Nam Hoon Cho
- Department of Pathology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
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28
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Scalise CB, Norian L, Demark-Wahnefried W. Long-Term Glucose Restriction with or without Beta-Hydroxybutyrate Enrichment Distinctively Alters Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition-Related Signaling in Ovarian Cancer Cells. Nutr Cancer 2021; 74:808-809. [PMID: 34459685 DOI: 10.1080/01635581.2021.1971268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Carly Bess Scalise
- OB/GYN - Gynecologic Oncology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Lyse Norian
- Nutrition Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
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29
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Wu HJ, Chu PY. Epigenetic Regulation of Breast Cancer Stem Cells Contributing to Carcinogenesis and Therapeutic Implications. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22158113. [PMID: 34360879 PMCID: PMC8348144 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22158113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Revised: 07/23/2021] [Accepted: 07/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Globally, breast cancer has remained the most commonly diagnosed cancer and the leading cause of cancer death among women. Breast cancer is a highly heterogeneous and phenotypically diverse group of diseases, which require different selection of treatments. Breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs), a small subset of cancer cells with stem cell-like properties, play essential roles in breast cancer progression, recurrence, metastasis, chemoresistance and treatments. Epigenetics is defined as inheritable changes in gene expression without alteration in DNA sequence. Epigenetic regulation includes DNA methylation and demethylation, as well as histone modifications. Aberrant epigenetic regulation results in carcinogenesis. In this review, the mechanism of epigenetic regulation involved in carcinogenesis, therapeutic resistance and metastasis of BCSCs will be discussed, and finally, the therapies targeting these biomarkers will be presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hsing-Ju Wu
- Department of Biology, National Changhua University of Education, Changhua 500, Taiwan;
- Research Assistant Center, Show Chwan Memorial Hospital, Changhua 500, Taiwan
- Department of Medical Research, Chang Bing Show Chwan Memorial Hospital, Lukang Town, Changhua 505, Taiwan
| | - Pei-Yi Chu
- School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Fu Jen Catholic University, New Taipei City 242, Taiwan
- Department of Pathology, Show Chwan Memorial Hospital, Changhua 500, Taiwan
- Department of Health Food, Chung Chou University of Science and Technology, Changhua 510, Taiwan
- National Institute of Cancer Research, National Health Research Institutes, Tainan 704, Taiwan
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +886-975611855; Fax: +886-47227116
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30
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Turkistani S, Sugita BM, Fadda P, Marchi R, Afsari A, Naab T, Apprey V, Copeland RL, Campbell MC, Cavalli LR, Kanaan Y. A panel of miRNAs as prognostic markers for African-American patients with triple negative breast cancer. BMC Cancer 2021; 21:861. [PMID: 34315420 PMCID: PMC8317413 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-021-08573-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2021] [Accepted: 04/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND To investigate the global expression profile of miRNAs, their impact on cellular signaling pathways, and their association with poor prognostic parameters in African-American (AA) patients with triple negative breast cancer (TNBC). METHODS Twenty-five samples of AA TNBC patients were profiled for global miRNA expression and stratified considering three clinical-pathological parameters: tumor size, lymph node (LN), and recurrence (REC) status. Differential miRNA expression analysis was performed for each parameter, and their discriminatory power was determined by Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. KMplotter was assessed to determine the association of the miRNAs with survival, and functional enrichment analysis to determine the main affected pathways and miRNA/mRNA target interactions. RESULTS A panel of eight, 23 and 27 miRNAs were associated with tumor size, LN, and REC status, respectively. Combined ROC analysis of two (miR-2117, and miR-378c), seven (let-7f-5p, miR-1255b-5p, miR-1268b, miR-200c-3p, miR-520d, miR-527, and miR-518a-5p), and three (miR-1200, miR-1249-3p, and miR-1271-3p) miRNAs showed a robust discriminatory power based on tumor size (AUC = 0.917), LN (AUC = 0.945) and REC (AUC = 0.981) status, respectively. Enrichment pathway analysis revealed their involvement in proteoglycans and glycan and cancer-associated pathways. Eight miRNAs with deregulated expressions in patients with large tumor size, positive LN metastasis, and recurrence were significantly associated with lower survival rates. Finally, the construction of miRNA/mRNA networks based in experimentally validated mRNA targets, revealed nodes of critical cancer genes, such as AKT1, BCL2, CDKN1A, EZR and PTEN. CONCLUSIONS Altogether, our data indicate that miRNA deregulated expression is a relevant biological factor that can be associated with the poor prognosis in TNBC of AA patients, by conferring to their TNBC cells aggressive phenotypes that are reflected in the clinical characteristics evaluated in this study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Safaa Turkistani
- grid.257127.40000 0001 0547 4545Department of Microbiology, Howard University Cancer Center, Howard University, Washington DC, USA
| | - Bruna M. Sugita
- Research Institute Pelé Pequeno Príncipe, Faculdades Pequeno Príncipe, Curitiba, PR Brazil
| | - Paolo Fadda
- grid.261331.40000 0001 2285 7943Genomics Shared Resource, Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH USA
| | - Rafael Marchi
- Research Institute Pelé Pequeno Príncipe, Faculdades Pequeno Príncipe, Curitiba, PR Brazil
| | - Ali Afsari
- grid.411399.70000 0004 0427 2775Department of Pathology, Howard University Hospital, Washington DC, USA
| | - Tammey Naab
- grid.411399.70000 0004 0427 2775Department of Pathology, Howard University Hospital, Washington DC, USA
| | - Victor Apprey
- grid.257127.40000 0001 0547 4545Department of Community and Family Medicine, Howard University, Washington DC, USA
| | - Robert L. Copeland
- grid.257127.40000 0001 0547 4545Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine and Cancer Center, Howard University, Washington DC, USA
| | - Michael C. Campbell
- grid.257127.40000 0001 0547 4545Department of Biology, Howard University, Washington DC, USA
| | - Luciane R. Cavalli
- Research Institute Pelé Pequeno Príncipe, Faculdades Pequeno Príncipe, Curitiba, PR Brazil ,grid.213910.80000 0001 1955 1644Department of Oncology, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, Washington DC, USA
| | - Yasmine Kanaan
- grid.257127.40000 0001 0547 4545Department of Microbiology, Howard University Cancer Center, Howard University, Washington DC, USA
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31
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Cancer Stem Cells in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma-Treatment Modalities. BALKAN JOURNAL OF DENTAL MEDICINE 2021. [DOI: 10.2478/bjdm-2021-0012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Summary
Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) belongs to the most frequent cancer subtypes in the world. Mutations due to genetic and chromosomal instability, syndromes such as Fanconi anemia and the Bloom syndrome, environmental risk factors such as tobacco smoking, alcohol and human papillomavirus infection (HPV) subtypes 16,18,31,33,35,52,58 are implicated in its pathogenesis. The HNSCC belongs to the solid tumors of epithelial origin and consists of stromal, inflammatory, cancer cells and most importantly a fraction of them, the cancer stem cells (CSCs). The identification of the CSCs through their biomarkers such as CD44, CD10, CD166, CD133, CD271, ALDH, Oct4, Nanog, Sox2 and Bmi1, the maintenance of their subpopulation through epithelial to mesenchymal transition, the role of HPV infection regarding their prognosis and of their microenvironment regarding their resistance to therapy, all constitute key elements that must be taken thoroughly into consideration in order to develop an effective targeted therapy. There are already therapies in place targeting specific related biomarkers, important biochemical pathways and growth factors. The aim of this literature review is to illustrate the treatment modalities available against the cancer stem cells of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.
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32
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Rasti A, Madjd Z, Saeednejad Zanjani L, Babashah S, Abolhasani M, Asgari M, Mehrazma M. SMAD4 Expression in Renal Cell Carcinomas Correlates With a Stem-Cell Phenotype and Poor Clinical Outcomes. Front Oncol 2021; 11:581172. [PMID: 34012911 PMCID: PMC8127783 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.581172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2020] [Accepted: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is the most lethal neoplasm of common urologic cancers with poor prognoses. SMAD4 has a principal role in TGF-β (Transformis growth factorβ)-induced epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) as a key factor in gaining cancer stem cell (CSC) features and tumor aggressiveness. This study aimed to evaluate the expression patterns and clinical significance of SMAD4 in RCC and the impact of its targeting on stem cell/mesenchymal cells and EMT characteristics in renal spheroid derived cells (SDCs) compared to parental cells (PCs) in RCC. The expression pattern and clinical significance of SMAD4 was evaluated in RCC. SDCs were enriched using a sphere culture system. Then SDCs and their PCs were compared with respect to their sphere and colony formation, expression of putative CSC markers, invasiveness as well as expression of genes, including stemness/mesenchymal, SMAD4 and TGFβ1genes. Finally, the effect of SMAD4 knockdown on SDCs was analyzed. We demonstrated that SMAD4 is positively correlated with decreased disease specific survival (DSS) in RCC patients and clear cell RCC (ccRCC) subtype and associates with poor DSS in patients with RCC, especially in ccRCC as the most metastatic RCC subtype. SDCs exhibited higher stem cell/mesenchymal properties. Inhibition of SMAD4 in PCs accelerated the dissociation of SDCs and decreased their clonogenicity, invasiveness, expression of mesenchymal markers and expression of SMAD4 and TGFβ1 genes compared to SDCs before transfection. We suggest that targeting SMAD4 may be useful against renal CSCs and may improve RCC prognosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arezoo Rasti
- Oncopathology Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences (IUMS), Tehran, Iran.,Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences (IUMS), Tehran, Iran.,Department of Basic Sciences/Medical Surgical Nursing, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS), Tehran, Iran
| | - Zahra Madjd
- Oncopathology Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences (IUMS), Tehran, Iran.,Department of Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences (IUMS), Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Sadegh Babashah
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University (TMU), Tehran, Iran
| | - Maryam Abolhasani
- Oncopathology Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences (IUMS), Tehran, Iran.,Hasheminejad Kidney Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences (IUMS), Tehran, Iran
| | - Mojgan Asgari
- Oncopathology Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences (IUMS), Tehran, Iran.,Hasheminejad Kidney Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences (IUMS), Tehran, Iran
| | - Mitra Mehrazma
- Oncopathology Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences (IUMS), Tehran, Iran.,Hasheminejad Kidney Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences (IUMS), Tehran, Iran
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Jahangiri L, Ishola T, Pucci P, Trigg RM, Pereira J, Williams JA, Cavanagh ML, Gkoutos GV, Tsaprouni L, Turner SD. The Role of Autophagy and lncRNAs in the Maintenance of Cancer Stem Cells. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13061239. [PMID: 33799834 PMCID: PMC7998932 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13061239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2021] [Revised: 03/06/2021] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Cancer stem cells (CSCs) represent a distinct cancer subpopulation that can influence the tumour microenvironment, in addition to cancer progression and relapse. A multitude of factors including CSC properties, long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), and autophagy play pivotal roles in maintaining CSCs. We discuss the methods of detection of CSCs and how our knowledge of regulatory and cellular processes, and their interaction with the microenvironment, may lead to more effective targeting of these cells. Autophagy and lncRNAs can regulate several cellular functions, thereby promoting stemness factors and CSC properties, hence understanding this triangle and its associated signalling networks can lead to enhanced therapy response, while paving the way for the development of novel therapeutic approaches. Abstract Cancer stem cells (CSCs) possess properties such as self-renewal, resistance to apoptotic cues, quiescence, and DNA-damage repair capacity. Moreover, CSCs strongly influence the tumour microenvironment (TME) and may account for cancer progression, recurrence, and relapse. CSCs represent a distinct subpopulation in tumours and the detection, characterisation, and understanding of the regulatory landscape and cellular processes that govern their maintenance may pave the way to improving prognosis, selective targeted therapy, and therapy outcomes. In this review, we have discussed the characteristics of CSCs identified in various cancer types and the role of autophagy and long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in maintaining the homeostasis of CSCs. Further, we have discussed methods to detect CSCs and strategies for treatment and relapse, taking into account the requirement to inhibit CSC growth and survival within the complex backdrop of cellular processes, microenvironmental interactions, and regulatory networks associated with cancer. Finally, we critique the computationally reinforced triangle of factors inclusive of CSC properties, the process of autophagy, and lncRNA and their associated networks with respect to hypoxia, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and signalling pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leila Jahangiri
- Department of Life Sciences, Birmingham City University, Birmingham B15 3TN, UK; (T.I.); (M.L.C.); (L.T.)
- Division of Cellular and Molecular Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK; (P.P.); (R.M.T.); (S.D.T.)
- Correspondence: (L.J.); (G.V.G.)
| | - Tala Ishola
- Department of Life Sciences, Birmingham City University, Birmingham B15 3TN, UK; (T.I.); (M.L.C.); (L.T.)
| | - Perla Pucci
- Division of Cellular and Molecular Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK; (P.P.); (R.M.T.); (S.D.T.)
| | - Ricky M. Trigg
- Division of Cellular and Molecular Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK; (P.P.); (R.M.T.); (S.D.T.)
- Department of Functional Genomics, GlaxoSmithKline, Stevenage SG1 2NY, UK
| | - Joao Pereira
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA;
| | - John A. Williams
- Institute of Translational Medicine, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham B15 2TH, UK;
- Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2SY, UK
| | - Megan L. Cavanagh
- Department of Life Sciences, Birmingham City University, Birmingham B15 3TN, UK; (T.I.); (M.L.C.); (L.T.)
| | - Georgios V. Gkoutos
- Institute of Translational Medicine, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham B15 2TH, UK;
- Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2SY, UK
- Mammalian Genetics Unit, Medical Research Council Harwell Institute, Oxfordshire OX110RD, UK
- MRC Health Data Research Midlands, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
- NIHR Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
- NIHR Surgical Reconstruction and Microbiology Research Centre, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
- NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
- Correspondence: (L.J.); (G.V.G.)
| | - Loukia Tsaprouni
- Department of Life Sciences, Birmingham City University, Birmingham B15 3TN, UK; (T.I.); (M.L.C.); (L.T.)
| | - Suzanne D. Turner
- Division of Cellular and Molecular Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK; (P.P.); (R.M.T.); (S.D.T.)
- Central European Institute of Technology (CEITEC), Masaryk University, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic
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Iwamuro M, Shiraha H, Oyama A, Uchida D, Horiguchi S, Okada H. Laminin-411 and -511 Modulate the Proliferation, Adhesion, and Morphology of Gastric Cancer Cells. Cell Biochem Biophys 2021; 79:407-418. [PMID: 33629255 DOI: 10.1007/s12013-021-00972-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Laminins (Ln), a type of extracellular matrix glycoprotein, are key regulators of cellular behavior. Recent work revealed that in various tumor cell lines, laminin isoforms influence specific responses, such as cell anchorage, survival, proliferation, migration, organization, and specialization. The contribution of laminin isoforms to the function of gastric cancer cells, however, remain unclear. Here, we revealed that in gastric cancer, laminin isoforms Ln411, Ln421, Ln511, and Ln521 promote cellular proliferation; Ln511 and Ln521 increase cell cytoplasmic volume; Ln511 hampers invadopodia formation in some cells, Ln511 enables prompt adhesion of cells to plates, and Ln411 and Ln511 do not alter the gastric cancer stem cell markers CD44 and Lgr5. These results indicate that Ln411 and Ln511 dynamically modulate the proliferation, adhesion, and morphology of gastric cancer cells in different ways that are independent of stem cell properties. In particular, Ln511 showed a high affinity for gastric cancer cells. Our observations broaden the possible options for controlling cancer cell progression and metastasis by modulating laminin-integrin interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masaya Iwamuro
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, 700-8558, Japan.
| | - Hidenori Shiraha
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, 700-8558, Japan
| | - Atsushi Oyama
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, 700-8558, Japan
| | - Daisuke Uchida
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, 700-8558, Japan
| | - Shigeru Horiguchi
- Department of General Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, 700-8558, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Okada
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, 700-8558, Japan
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Tiny miRNAs Play a Big Role in the Treatment of Breast Cancer Metastasis. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13020337. [PMID: 33477629 PMCID: PMC7831489 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13020337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2020] [Revised: 01/14/2021] [Accepted: 01/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as important regulators of tumour progression and metastasis in breast cancer. Through a review of multiple studies, this paper has identified the key regulatory roles of oncogenic miRNAs in breast cancer metastasis including the potentiation of angiogenesis, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, the Warburg effect, and the tumour microenvironment. Several approaches have been studied for selective targeting of breast tumours by miRNAs, ranging from delivery systems such as extracellular vesicles and liposomes to the use of prodrugs and functionally modified vehicle-free miRNAs. While promising, these miRNA-based therapies face challenges including toxicity and immunogenicity, and greater research on their safety profiles must be performed before progressing to clinical trials. Abstract Distant organ metastases accounts for the majority of breast cancer deaths. Given the prevalence of breast cancer in women, it is imperative to understand the underlying mechanisms of its metastatic progression and identify potential targets for therapy. Since their discovery in 1993, microRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as important regulators of tumour progression and metastasis in various cancers, playing either oncogenic or tumour suppressor roles. In the following review, we discuss the roles of miRNAs that potentiate four key areas of breast cancer metastasis—angiogenesis, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, the Warburg effect and the tumour microenvironment. We then evaluate the recent developments in miRNA-based therapies in breast cancer, which have shown substantial promise in controlling tumour progression and metastasis. Yet, certain challenges must be overcome before these strategies can be implemented in clinical trials.
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Long-Term Helicobacter pylori Infection Switches Gastric Epithelium Reprogramming Towards Cancer Stem Cell-Related Differentiation Program in Hp-Activated Gastric Fibroblast-TGFβ Dependent Manner. Microorganisms 2020; 8:microorganisms8101519. [PMID: 33023180 PMCID: PMC7599721 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8101519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2020] [Revised: 09/23/2020] [Accepted: 09/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Helicobacter pylori (Hp)-induced inflammatory reaction leads to a persistent disturbance of gastric mucosa and chronic gastritis evidenced by deregulation of tissue self-renewal and local fibrosis with the crucial role of epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) in this process. As we reported before, Hp activated gastric fibroblasts into cells possessing cancer-associated fibroblast properties (CAFs), which secreted factors responsible for EMT process initiation in normal gastric epithelial RGM1 cells. Here, we showed that the long-term incubation of RGM1 cells in the presence of Hp-activated gastric fibroblast (Hp-AGF) secretome induced their shift towards plastic LGR5+/Oct4high/Sox-2high/c-Mychigh/Klf4low phenotype (l.t.EMT+RGM1 cells), while Hp-non-infected gastric fibroblast (GF) secretome prompted a permanent epithelial–myofibroblast transition (EMyoT) of RGM1 cells favoring LGR−/Oct4high/Sox2low/c-Myclow/Klf4high phenotype (l.t.EMT−RGM1 cells). TGFβ1 rich secretome from Hp-reprogrammed fibroblasts prompted phenotypic plasticity and EMT of gastric epithelium, inducing pro-neoplastic expansion of post-EMT cells in the presence of low TGFβR1 and TGFβR2 activity. In turn, TGFβR1 activity along with GF-induced TGFβR2 activation in l.t.EMT−RGM1 cells prompted their stromal phenotype. Collectively, our data show that infected and non-infected gastric fibroblast secretome induces alternative differentiation programs in gastric epithelium at least partially dependent on TGFβ signaling. Hp infection-activated fibroblasts can switch gastric epithelium microevolution towards cancer stem cell-related differentiation program that can potentially initiate gastric neoplasm.
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Pinto F, Costa ÂM, Andrade RP, Reis RM. Brachyury Is Associated with Glioma Differentiation and Response to Temozolomide. Neurotherapeutics 2020; 17:2015-2027. [PMID: 32785847 PMCID: PMC7851232 DOI: 10.1007/s13311-020-00911-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Glioblastomas (GBMs) are the most aggressive tumor type of the central nervous system, mainly due to their high invasiveness and innate resistance to radiotherapy and chemotherapy, with temozolomide (TMZ) being the current standard therapy. Recently, brachyury was described as a novel tumor suppressor gene in gliomas, and its loss was associated with increased gliomagenesis. Here, we aimed to explore the role of brachyury as a suppressor of glioma invasion, stem cell features, and resistance to TMZ. Using gene-edited glioma cells to overexpress brachyury, we found that brachyury-positive cells exhibit reduced invasive and migratory capabilities and stem cell features. Importantly, these brachyury-expressing cells have increased expression of differentiation markers, which corroborates the results from human glioma samples and in vivo tumors. Glioma cells treated with retinoic acid increased the differentiation status with concomitant increased expression of brachyury. We then selected TMZ-resistant (SNB-19) and TMZ-responsive (A172 and U373) cell lines to evaluate the role of brachyury in the response to TMZ treatment. We observed that both exogenous and endogenous brachyury activation, through overexpression and retinoic acid treatment, are associated with TMZ sensitization in glioma-resistant cell lines. In this study, we demonstrate that brachyury expression can impair aggressive glioma features associated with treatment resistance. Finally, we provide the first evidence that brachyury can be a potential therapeutic target in GBM patients who do not respond to conventional chemotherapeutic drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filipe Pinto
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
- I3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, University of Porto, 4200-135, Porto, Portugal
- Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto - IPATIMUP, 4200-135, Porto, Portugal
| | - Ângela M Costa
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
- I3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, University of Porto, 4200-135, Porto, Portugal
- INEB-Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Porto, 4200-135, Porto, Portugal
| | - Raquel P Andrade
- Centre for Biomedical Research - CBMR, University of Algarve, 8005-139, Faro, Portugal
- Algarve Biomedical Center, Campus Gambelas, Edificio 2. Ala Norte, 8005-139, Faro, Portugal
- Department of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Algarve, 8005-139, Faro, Portugal
| | - Rui Manuel Reis
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal.
- ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal.
- Molecular Oncology Research Center, Barretos Cancer Hospital, Barretos, SP, 14784-400, Brazil.
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Suwannakul N, Ma N, Midorikawa K, Oikawa S, Kobayashi H, He F, Kawanishi S, Murata M. CD44v9 Induces Stem Cell-Like Phenotypes in Human Cholangiocarcinoma. Front Cell Dev Biol 2020; 8:417. [PMID: 32582701 PMCID: PMC7283556 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2020.00417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2020] [Accepted: 05/05/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Our previous study demonstrated an overexpression of CD44 variant 9 (CD44v9) in human cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) tissues that was associated with inflammation-related tumor development. However, the participation of CD44v9 in cholangiocarcinogenesis remains poorly understood. Therefore, in this study, we examined the potential roles of CD44v9 in CCA cells to understand the carcinogenic mechanism. Methods: Using normal cholangiocytes (MMNK1) and CCA cells (KKU213), the expression levels of CD44v9 and its related molecules were quantified through RT-qPCR and immunofluorescence (IF) staining. To evaluate its biological functions, we performed CD44v9 (exon 13) silencing using siRNA transfection, and assessed cell proliferation through MTT assay, cell migration and invasion by transwell technique, and carried out cell cycle analysis by flow cytometry. In vivo tumor growth was assessed by nude mouse xenografts, and histological and molecular changes were determined. Results: KKU213 exhibited higher protein expression levels of CD44v9 than those of MMNK1 through IF staining. RT-qPCR analysis revealed that the mRNA expression level of CD44v9 was predominantly elevated in CCA cells along with its neighboring exons such as variant 8 and 10, minimally affecting the standard form of CD44. CD44v9 silencing could regulate redox system in CCA cells by reducing the expression levels of SOD3 and cysteine transporter xCT. CD44v9 silencing suppressed the CCA cell proliferation by induction of apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. Migration and invasion were decreased in CD44v9 siRNA-treated CCA cells. CD44v9 downregulation inhibited CCA tumor growth in mouse xenografts. IF analysis demonstrated the histological changes in xenograft tissues such as an increase in connective tissues through collagen deposition and reduction of hyaluronic acid synthesis through CD44v9 silencing. CD44v9 knockdown in vitro and in vivo increased E-cadherin and reduced vimentin expression levels, resulting in reduction of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process. Moreover, CD44v9 modulated Wnt10a and β-catenin in tumorigenesis. Conclusion: Our results indicate that CD44v9 plays a potential role in CCA development by the regulation of cell proliferation and redox balancing. CD44v9 silencing may suppress tumor growth, migration and invasion through EMT: a finding that could potentially be applied in the development of targeted cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nattawan Suwannakul
- Department of Environmental and Molecular Medicine, Mie University Graduate School of Medicine, Tsu, Japan
| | - Ning Ma
- Graduate School of Health Science, Suzuka University of Medical Science, Suzuka, Japan
| | - Kaoru Midorikawa
- Department of Environmental and Molecular Medicine, Mie University Graduate School of Medicine, Tsu, Japan
| | - Shinji Oikawa
- Department of Environmental and Molecular Medicine, Mie University Graduate School of Medicine, Tsu, Japan
| | - Hatasu Kobayashi
- Department of Environmental and Molecular Medicine, Mie University Graduate School of Medicine, Tsu, Japan
| | - Feng He
- Department of Environmental and Molecular Medicine, Mie University Graduate School of Medicine, Tsu, Japan
| | - Shosuke Kawanishi
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Suzuka University of Medical Science, Suzuka, Japan
| | - Mariko Murata
- Department of Environmental and Molecular Medicine, Mie University Graduate School of Medicine, Tsu, Japan
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Georgakopoulos-Soares I, Chartoumpekis DV, Kyriazopoulou V, Zaravinos A. EMT Factors and Metabolic Pathways in Cancer. Front Oncol 2020; 10:499. [PMID: 32318352 PMCID: PMC7154126 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2020.00499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 169] [Impact Index Per Article: 42.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2020] [Accepted: 03/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) represents a biological program during which epithelial cells lose their cell identity and acquire a mesenchymal phenotype. EMT is normally observed during organismal development, wound healing and tissue fibrosis. However, this process can be hijacked by cancer cells and is often associated with resistance to apoptosis, acquisition of tissue invasiveness, cancer stem cell characteristics, and cancer treatment resistance. It is becoming evident that EMT is a complex, multifactorial spectrum, often involving episodic, transient or partial events. Multiple factors have been causally implicated in EMT including transcription factors (e.g., SNAIL, TWIST, ZEB), epigenetic modifications, microRNAs (e.g., miR-200 family) and more recently, long non-coding RNAs. However, the relevance of metabolic pathways in EMT is only recently being recognized. Importantly, alterations in key metabolic pathways affect cancer development and progression. In this review, we report the roles of key EMT factors and describe their interactions and interconnectedness. We introduce metabolic pathways that are involved in EMT, including glycolysis, the TCA cycle, lipid and amino acid metabolism, and characterize the relationship between EMT factors and cancer metabolism. Finally, we present therapeutic opportunities involving EMT, with particular focus on cancer metabolic pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilias Georgakopoulos-Soares
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States.,Institute for Human Genetics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Dionysios V Chartoumpekis
- Service of Endocrinology, Diabetology and Metabolism, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.,Division of Endocrinology, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Patras, Patras, Greece
| | - Venetsana Kyriazopoulou
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Patras, Patras, Greece
| | - Apostolos Zaravinos
- College of Medicine, Member of QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar.,Department of Life Sciences European University Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus
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Wu Y, Zhang J, Zhang X, Zhou H, Liu G, Li Q. Cancer Stem Cells: A Potential Breakthrough in HCC-Targeted Therapy. Front Pharmacol 2020; 11:198. [PMID: 32210805 PMCID: PMC7068598 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2020.00198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2019] [Accepted: 02/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are subpopulations of cells with stem cell characteristics that produce both cancerous and non-tumorigenic cells in tumor tissues. The literature reports that CSCs are closely related to the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and promote the malignant features of HCC such as high invasion, drug resistance, easy recurrence, easy metastasis, and poor prognosis. This review discusses the origin, molecular, and biological features, functions, and applications of CSCs in HCC in recent years; the goal is to clarify the importance of CSCs in treatment and explore their potential value in HCC-targeted therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yafei Wu
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jigang Zhang
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Xue Zhang
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Heming Zhou
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Gaolin Liu
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Qin Li
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
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Yu C, Liu Q, Chen C, Wang J. Quantification of the Underlying Mechanisms and Relationships Among Cancer, Metastasis, and Differentiation and Development. Front Genet 2020; 10:1388. [PMID: 32194614 PMCID: PMC7061528 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2019.01388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2019] [Accepted: 12/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Recurrence and metastasis have been regarded as two of the greatest obstacles to cancer therapy. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) contribute to cancer development, with the distinctive features of recurrence and resistance to popular treatments such as drugs and chemotherapy. In addition, recent discoveries suggest that the epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) is an essential process in normal embryogenesis and tissue repair, as well as being a required step in cancer metastasis. Although there are many indications of the connections between metastasis and stem cells, these have often been studied separately or at most bi-laterally, not in an integrated way. In this study, we aimed to explore the global mechanisms and interrelationships among cancer, development, and metastasis, which are currently poorly understood. First, we constructed a core gene regulatory network containing specific genes and microRNAs of CSCs, EMT, and cancer. We uncovered seven distinct states emerging from the underlying landscape, denoted normal, premalignant, cancer, stem cell, CSC, lesion, and hyperplasia. Given the biological definition of each state, we also discuss the metastasis ability of each state. We show how and which types of cells can be transformed to a cancer state, and the connections among cancer, CSCs, and EMT. The barrier height and flux of the kinetic paths are explored to quantify how and which cells switch stochastically between the states. Our landscape model provides a quantitative approach to reveal the global mechanisms of cancer, development, and metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chong Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Electroanalytical Chemistry, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun, China.,University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Qiong Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Electroanalytical Chemistry, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun, China
| | - Cong Chen
- Department of Chemistry and of Physics and Astronomy, State University of New York at Stony Brook, Stony Brook, NY, United States
| | - Jin Wang
- Department of Chemistry and of Physics and Astronomy, State University of New York at Stony Brook, Stony Brook, NY, United States
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42
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Zhang K, Tan X, Guo L. The long non-coding RNA DANCR regulates the inflammatory phenotype of breast cancer cells and promotes breast cancer progression via EZH2-dependent suppression of SOCS3 transcription. Mol Oncol 2020; 14:309-328. [PMID: 31860165 PMCID: PMC6998389 DOI: 10.1002/1878-0261.12622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2019] [Revised: 11/27/2019] [Accepted: 12/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) is involved in the regulation of tumorigenesis and metastasis. In this study, we focused on the clinical relevance, biological effects, and molecular mechanisms of the lncRNA differentiation antagonizing non-protein coding RNA (DANCR) in breast cancer. We compared the expression of DANCR between breast cancer and normal tissues, and between breast cancer cell lines and normal breast epithelial cells using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis. By knocking down and overexpressing DANCR, we assessed its significance in regulating viability (MTT assay), migration/invasion (Transwell assay), epithelial-mesenchymal transition (western blot), stemness (mammosphere formation assay and western blot), and production of inflammatory cytokines (qRT-PCR and ELISA) of breast cancer cells in vitro, as well as xenograft growth in vivo. Furthermore, using ChIP and RNA immunoprecipitation, we examined the reciprocal regulation between DANCR and suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 (SOCS3) in breast cancer. DANCR was significantly up-regulated in tissue samples from patients with breast cancer, as well as in breast cancer cell lines, as compared with normal tissues and breast epithelial cells, respectively. The highest DANCR expression levels were associated with advanced tumor grades or lymph node metastasis. DANCR was necessary and sufficient to control multiple malignant phenotypes of breast cancer cells in vitro and xenograft growth in vivo. Mechanistically, DANCR promoted the binding of enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) to the promoter of SOCS3, thereby epigenetically inhibiting SOCS3 expression. Functionally, SOCS3 up-regulation or EZH2 inhibition could rescue multiple malignant phenotypes induced by DANCR. Our data indicate that DANCR is a pleiotropic oncogenic lncRNA in breast cancer. Boosting SOCS3 expression may reverse the oncogenic activities of DANCR and thus provide a therapeutic strategy for breast cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ke‐Jing Zhang
- Department of Breast SurgeryXiangya HospitalClinical Research Center For Breast Cancer Control and Prevention in Hunan ProvinceCentral South UniversityChangshaChina
| | - Xiao‐Lang Tan
- Department of OncologyChangsha Central HospitalChina
| | - Lei Guo
- Department of Breast SurgeryXiangya HospitalClinical Research Center For Breast Cancer Control and Prevention in Hunan ProvinceCentral South UniversityChangshaChina
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Saeednejad Zanjani L, Madjd Z, Rasti A, Asgari M, Abolhasani M, Tam KJ, Roudi R, Mælandsmo GM, Fodstad Ø, Andersson Y. Spheroid-Derived Cells From Renal Adenocarcinoma Have Low Telomerase Activity and High Stem-Like and Invasive Characteristics. Front Oncol 2019; 9:1302. [PMID: 31921617 PMCID: PMC6915099 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2019.01302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2019] [Accepted: 11/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are a theorized small subpopulation of cells within tumors thought to be responsible for metastasis, tumor development, disease progression, treatment-resistance, and recurrence. The identification, isolation, and biological characterization of CSCs may therefore facilitate the development of efficient therapeutic strategies targeting CSCs. This study aims to compare the biology and telomerase activity of CSCs to parental cells (PCs) in renal cancer. Renal CSCs were enriched from the ACHN cell line using a sphere culture system. Spheroid-derived cells (SDCs) and their adherent counterparts were compared with respect to their colony and sphere formation, expression of putative CSC markers, tumorigenicity in non-obese diabetic/severe combined immunodeficiency (NOD/SCID) mice, and invasiveness. The expression of genes associated with CSCs, stemness, EMT, apoptosis, and ABC transporters was also compared between the two populations using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). Finally, telomerase activity, hTERT expression, and sensitivity to MST-312, a telomerase inhibitor, was investigated between the two populations. We demonstrated that a subpopulation of ACHN cells was capable of growing as spheroids with many properties similar to CSCs, including higher clonogenicity, superior colony- and sphere-forming ability, and stronger tumorigenicity and invasiveness. In addition, SDCs demonstrated a higher expression of markers for CSCs, stemness, EMT, apoptosis, and ABC transporter genes compared to PCs. The expression of hTERT and telomerase activity in SDCs was significantly lower than PCs; however, the SDC population was more sensitive to MST-312 compared to PCs. These findings indicate that the SDC population exhibits stem-like potential and invasive characteristics. Moreover, the reduced expression of hTERT and telomerase activity in SDCs demonstrated that the expressions of hTERT and telomerase activity are not always higher in CSCs. Our results also showed that MST-312 treatment inhibited SDCs more strongly than PCs and may therefore be useful as a complementary targeted therapy against renal CSCs in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leili Saeednejad Zanjani
- Oncopathology Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences (IUMS), Tehran, Iran.,Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Zahra Madjd
- Oncopathology Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences (IUMS), Tehran, Iran.,Department of Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.,Department of Urologic Sciences, Vancouver Prostate Center, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Arezoo Rasti
- Oncopathology Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences (IUMS), Tehran, Iran.,Department of Basic Sciences/Medical Surgical Nursing, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mojgan Asgari
- Oncopathology Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences (IUMS), Tehran, Iran.,Hasheminejad Kidney Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences (IUMS), Tehran, Iran
| | - Maryam Abolhasani
- Oncopathology Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences (IUMS), Tehran, Iran.,Hasheminejad Kidney Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences (IUMS), Tehran, Iran
| | - Kevin J Tam
- Department of Urologic Sciences, Vancouver Prostate Center, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Raheleh Roudi
- Oncopathology Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences (IUMS), Tehran, Iran
| | - Gunhild Mari Mælandsmo
- Department of Tumor Biology, Oslo University Hospital, The Norwegian Radium Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Øystein Fodstad
- Department of Tumor Biology, Oslo University Hospital, The Norwegian Radium Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Yvonne Andersson
- Department of Tumor Biology, Oslo University Hospital, The Norwegian Radium Hospital, Oslo, Norway
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44
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Parte S, Virant-Klun I, Patankar M, Batra SK, Straughn A, Kakar SS. PTTG1: a Unique Regulator of Stem/Cancer Stem Cells in the Ovary and Ovarian Cancer. Stem Cell Rev Rep 2019; 15:866-879. [PMID: 31482269 PMCID: PMC10723898 DOI: 10.1007/s12015-019-09911-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Origin of cancer stem cells (CSCs) and mechanisms by which oncogene PTTG1 contributes to tumor progression via CSCs is not known. Ovarian CSCs exhibit characteristics of self-renewal, tumor-initiation, growth, differentiation, drug resistance, and tumor relapse. A common location of putative origin, namely the ovarian surface epithelium, is shared between the normal stem and CSC compartments. Existence of ovarian stem cells and their co-expression with CSC signatures suggests a strong correlation between origin of epithelial cancer and CSCs. We hereby explored a putative oncogene PTTG1 (Securin), reported to be overexpressed in various tumors, including ovarian. We report a previously overlooked role of PTTG1 as a marker of CSCs thereby modulating CSC, germline, and stemness-related genes. We further characterized PTTG1's ability to regulate (cancer) stem cell-associated self-renewal and epithelial-mesenchymal transition pathways. Collectively, the data sheds light on a potential target expressed during ovarian tumorigenesis and metastatically disseminated ascites CSCs in the peritoneal cavity. Present study highlights this unconventional, under-explored role of PTTG1 in regulation of stem and CSC compartments in ovary, ovarian cancer and ascites and highlights it as a potential candidate for developing CSC specific targeted therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seema Parte
- Department of Physiology, University of Louisville, 505 South Hancock Street, Clinical and Translational Research Building, Room 322, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA
- James Graham Brown Cancer Center, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA
| | - Irma Virant-Klun
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Manish Patankar
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Surinder K Batra
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Alex Straughn
- James Graham Brown Cancer Center, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA
| | - Sham S Kakar
- Department of Physiology, University of Louisville, 505 South Hancock Street, Clinical and Translational Research Building, Room 322, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA.
- James Graham Brown Cancer Center, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA.
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45
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Radiation and Stemness Phenotype May Influence Individual Breast Cancer Outcomes: The Crucial Role of MMPs and Microenvironment. Cancers (Basel) 2019; 11:cancers11111781. [PMID: 31726667 PMCID: PMC6896076 DOI: 10.3390/cancers11111781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2019] [Revised: 10/31/2019] [Accepted: 11/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women. Radiotherapy (RT) is one of the mainstay treatments for cancer but in some cases is not effective. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) within the tumor can be responsible for recurrence and metastasis after RT. Matrix metalloproteases (MMPs), regulated mainly by tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) and histone deacetylases (HDACs), may also contribute to tumor development by modifying its activity after RT. The aim of this work was to study the effects of RT on the expression of MMPs, TIMPs and HDACs on different cell subpopulations in MCF-7, MDA-MB-231 and SK-BR-3 cell lines. We assessed the in vitro expression of these genes in different 3D culture models and induced tumors in female NSG mice by orthotopic xenotransplants. Our results showed that gene expression is related to the cell subpopulation studied, the culture model used and the single radiation dose administered. Moreover, the crucial role played by the microenvironment in terms of cell interactions and CSC plasticity in tumor growth and RT outcome is also shown, supporting the use of higher doses (6 Gy) to achieve better control of tumor development.
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46
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Walsh HR, Cruickshank BM, Brown JM, Marcato P. The Flick of a Switch: Conferring Survival Advantage to Breast Cancer Stem Cells Through Metabolic Plasticity. Front Oncol 2019; 9:753. [PMID: 31552162 PMCID: PMC6736574 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2019.00753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2019] [Accepted: 07/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Within heterogeneous tumors, cancer stem cell (CSC) populations exhibit the greatest tumor initiation potential, promote metastasis, and contribute to therapy resistance. For breast cancer specifically, CSCs are identified by CD44highCD24low cell surface marker expression and increased aldehyde dehydrogenase activity. In general, bulk breast tumor cells possess altered energetics characterized by aerobic glycolysis. In contrast, breast CSCs appear to have adaptive metabolic plasticity that allows these tumor-initiating cells to switch between glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation, depending on factors present in the tumor microenvironment (e.g., hypoxia, reactive oxygen species, availability of glucose). In this article, we review the regulatory molecules that may facilitate the metabolic plasticity of breast CSCs. These regulatory factors include epigenetic chromatin modifiers, non-coding RNAs, transcriptional repressors, transcription factors, energy and stress sensors, and metabolic enzymes. Furthermore, breast cancer cells acquire CSC-like characteristics and altered energetics by undergoing epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). This energy costly process is paired with reprogrammed glucose metabolism by epigenetic modifiers that regulate expression of both EMT and other metabolism-regulating genes. The survival advantage imparted to breast CSCs by metabolic plasticity suggests that targeting the factors that mediate the energetic switch should hinder tumorigenesis and lead to improved patient outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hayley R Walsh
- Department of Pathology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | | | - Justin M Brown
- Department of Pathology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Paola Marcato
- Department of Pathology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
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47
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Camerlingo R, Miceli R, Marra L, Rea G, D’Agnano I, Nardella M, Montella R, Morabito A, Normanno N, Tirino V, Rocco G. Conditioned medium of primary lung cancer cells induces EMT in A549 lung cancer cell line by TGF-ß1 and miRNA21 cooperation. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0219597. [PMID: 31344049 PMCID: PMC6657837 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0219597] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2018] [Accepted: 06/27/2019] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) plays a key role in tumor progression, drug resistance and metastasis. Recently, numerous microRNA (miRNA) have been described to regulate EMT in tumor progression. In this study, we found that conditioned medium from the LC212 non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell line (LC212-CM) induces morphological changes and overexpression of Vimentin, CD90, SMAD 2/3, SLUG and TWIST in A549 NSCLC cells, consistent with a mesenchymal phenotype. To identify the soluble mediators in LC212-CM involved in this phenomenon, we performed miRNA profiling and TGF-β1 quantification. We found that LC212-CM contains high levels of TGF-β1 as well as different secreted miRNAs. We focused our attention on Homo sapiens-microRNA21 (hsa-miR21), one of most relevant miRNA associated with lung cancer progression, metastasis and EMT. An hsa-miR21 antagomiR was able to prevent the LC212-CM-induced EMT phenotype in A549 cells. Furthermore, we found that TGF-β1 and hsa-miR21 cooperate in the induction of EMT in A549 cells. Intriguingly, TGF-β1 was found to induce hsa-miR21 expression in A549 cell, thus suggesting that the hsa-miR21 mediates at least in part the pro-EMT effects of TGF-β1. In conclusion, hsa-miR21 and TGF-β1 are involved in autocrine and paracrine circuits that regulate the EMT status of lung cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosa Camerlingo
- SC Cell Biology and Biotherapy, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS, Fondazione G. Pascale, Naples, Italy
| | | | - Laura Marra
- SC Cell Biology and Biotherapy, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS, Fondazione G. Pascale, Naples, Italy
| | - Giuseppina Rea
- Molecular Immunology and Immunoregulation, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS, Fondazione G. Pascale, Naples, Italy
| | - Igea D’Agnano
- Institute of Cell Biology and Neurobiology-CNR, Monterotondo, Rome, Italy
- Institute for Biomedical Technologies-CNR, Segrate, Milan, Italy
| | - Marta Nardella
- Department of Neurosciences, Unit of Neuromuscular and Neurodegenerative Disorders, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Roberta Montella
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Biotechnology, Medical Histology and Molecular Biology, University of Campania “L. Vanvitelli”, Naples, Italy
| | - Alessandro Morabito
- Thoracic Medical Oncology, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS, Fondazione G. Pascale Naples, Italy
| | - Nicola Normanno
- SC Cell Biology and Biotherapy, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS, Fondazione G. Pascale, Naples, Italy
- * E-mail:
| | - Virginia Tirino
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Biotechnology, Medical Histology and Molecular Biology, University of Campania “L. Vanvitelli”, Naples, Italy
| | - Gaetano Rocco
- Thoracic Service, Department of Surgery, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, NY, United States of America
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48
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Schulz A, Meyer F, Dubrovska A, Borgmann K. Cancer Stem Cells and Radioresistance: DNA Repair and Beyond. Cancers (Basel) 2019; 11:cancers11060862. [PMID: 31234336 PMCID: PMC6627210 DOI: 10.3390/cancers11060862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 169] [Impact Index Per Article: 33.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2019] [Revised: 06/17/2019] [Accepted: 06/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The current preclinical and clinical findings demonstrate that, in addition to the conventional clinical and pathological indicators that have a prognostic value in radiation oncology, the number of cancer stem cells (CSCs) and their inherent radioresistance are important parameters for local control after radiotherapy. In this review, we discuss the molecular mechanisms of CSC radioresistance attributable to DNA repair mechanisms and the development of CSC-targeted therapies for tumor radiosensitization. We also discuss the current challenges in preclinical and translational CSC research including the high inter- and intratumoral heterogeneity, plasticity of CSCs, and microenvironment-stimulated tumor cell reprogramming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Schulz
- OncoRay-National Center for Radiation Research in Oncology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany.
| | - Felix Meyer
- Laboratory of Radiobiology & Experimental Radiooncology, Department of Radiotherapy and Radiooncology, Center of Oncology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20251 Hamburg, Germany.
| | - Anna Dubrovska
- OncoRay-National Center for Radiation Research in Oncology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany.
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Institute of Radiooncology-OncoRay, 01328 Dresden, Germany.
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany.
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
| | - Kerstin Borgmann
- Laboratory of Radiobiology & Experimental Radiooncology, Department of Radiotherapy and Radiooncology, Center of Oncology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20251 Hamburg, Germany.
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49
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Abstract
Since the introduction of the cancer stem cell (CSC) hypothesis, accumulating evidence shows that most cancers present stem-like niches. However, therapies aimed at targeting this niche have not been as successful as expected. New evidence regarding CSCs hierarchy, similarities with normal tissue stem cells and cell plasticity might be key in understanding their role in cancer biology and how to efficiently eliminate them. In this Chapter, we discuss what is known in breast and prostate CSCs from their initial discoveries to the current therapeutic efforts in the field. Future challenges towards better CSC identification and isolation strategies will be key to shed light into how CSCs could accurately be targeted in combination to traditional therapies to ultimately prolong patient survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rocío G Sampayo
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United States
| | - Mina J Bissell
- Division of Biological Systems and Engineering, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, United States.
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50
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Resveratrol Suppresses Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition in GBM by Regulating Smad-Dependent Signaling. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2019; 2019:1321973. [PMID: 31119150 PMCID: PMC6500704 DOI: 10.1155/2019/1321973] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2019] [Revised: 03/25/2019] [Accepted: 03/31/2019] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common and malignant intracranial tumor in adults. Despite continuous improvements in diagnosis and therapeutic method, the prognosis is still far away from expectations. The invasive phenotype of GBM is the main reason for the poor prognosis. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is recognized as a participator in this invasive phenotype. Resveratrol, a natural plant-derived compound, is reported to be able to regulate EMT. In the present study, we used TGF-β1 to induce EMT and aimed to evaluate the effect of resveratrol on EMT and to explore the underline mechanism in GBM. Western blotting was used to detect the expression of EMT-related markers, stemness markers, and Smad-dependent signaling. Wound healing assay and transwell invasion assay were performed to evaluate the migratory and invasive ability of GBM cells. Gliosphere formation assay was used to investigate the effect of resveratrol on the ability of self-renewal. Xenograft experiment was conducted to examine the effect of resveratrol on EMT and Smad-dependent signaling in vivo. Our data validated that resveratrol suppressed EMT and EMT-associated migratory and invasive ability via Smad-dependent signaling in GBM cells. We also confirmed that resveratrol obviously inhibited EMT-induced self-renewal ability of glioma stem cells (GSCs) and inhibited EMT-induced cancer stem cell markers Bmi1 and Sox2, suggesting that resveratrol is able to suppress EMT-generated stem cell-like properties in GBM cells. Furthermore, we also showed the inhibitory effect of resveratrol on EMT in xenograft experiments in vivo. Overall, our study reveals that resveratrol suppresses EMT and EMT-generated stem cell-like properties in GBM by regulating Smad-dependent signaling and provides experimental evidence of resveratrol for GBM treatment.
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