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Prasanna CVS, Jolly MK, Bhat R. Spatial heterogeneity in tumor adhesion qualifies collective cell invasion. Biophys J 2024; 123:1635-1647. [PMID: 38725244 PMCID: PMC11214055 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2024.05.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2023] [Revised: 02/12/2024] [Accepted: 05/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Collective cell invasion (CCI), a canon of most invasive solid tumors, is an emergent property of the interactions between cancer cells and their surrounding extracellular matrix (ECM). However, tumor populations invariably consist of cells expressing variable levels of adhesive proteins that mediate such interactions, disallowing an intuitive understanding of how tumor invasiveness at a multicellular scale is influenced by spatial heterogeneity of cell-cell and cell-ECM adhesion. Here, we have used a Cellular Potts model-based multiscale computational framework that is constructed on the histopathological principles of glandular cancers. In earlier efforts on homogenous cancer cell populations, this framework revealed the relative ranges of interactions, including cell-cell and cell-ECM adhesion that drove collective, dispersed, and mixed multimodal invasion. Here, we constitute a tumor core of two separate cell subsets showing distinct intra- and inter-subset cell-cell or cell-ECM adhesion strengths. These two subsets of cells are arranged to varying extents of spatial intermingling, which we call the heterogeneity index (HI). We observe that low and high inter-subset cell adhesion favors invasion of high-HI and low-HI intermingled populations with distinct intra-subset cell-cell adhesion strengths, respectively. In addition, for explored values of cell-ECM adhesion strengths, populations with high HI values collectively invade better than those with lower HI values. We then asked how spatial invasion is regulated by progressively intermingled cellular subsets that are epithelial, i.e., showed high cell-cell but poor cell-ECM adhesion, and mesenchymal, i.e., with reversed adhesion strengths to the former. Here too, inter-subset adhesion plays an important role in contextualizing the proportionate relationship between HI and invasion. An exception to this relationship is seen for cases of heterogeneous cell-ECM adhesion where sub-maximal HI patterns with higher outer localization of cells with stronger ECM adhesion collectively invade better than their relatively higher-HI counterparts. Our simulations also reveal how adhesion heterogeneity qualifies collective invasion, when either cell-cell or cell-ECM adhesion type is varied but results in an invasive dispersion when both adhesion types are simultaneously altered.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mohit Kumar Jolly
- Department of Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India.
| | - Ramray Bhat
- Department of Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India; Department of Developmental Biology and Genetics, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India.
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2
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Fontana F, Sommariva M, Anselmi M, Bianchi F, Limonta P, Gagliano N. Differentiation States of Phenotypic Transition of Melanoma Cells Are Revealed by 3D Cell Cultures. Cells 2024; 13:181. [PMID: 38247872 PMCID: PMC10814891 DOI: 10.3390/cells13020181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2023] [Revised: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Melanoma is characterized by high metastatic potential favored by the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), leading melanoma cells to exhibit a spectrum of typical EMT markers. This study aimed to analyze the expression of EMT markers in A375 and BLM melanoma cell lines cultured in 2D monolayers and 3D spheroids using morphological and molecular methods. The expression of EMT markers was strongly affected by 3D arrangement and revealed a hybrid phenotype for the two cell lines. Indeed, although E-cadherin was almost undetectable in both A375 and BLM cells, cortical actin was detected in A375 2D monolayers and 3D spheroids and was strongly expressed in BLM 3D spheroids. The mesenchymal marker N-cadherin was significantly up-regulated in A375 3D spheroids while undetectable in BLM cells, but vimentin was similarly expressed in both cell lines at the gene and protein levels. This pattern suggests that A375 cells exhibit a more undifferentiated/mesenchymal phenotype, while BLM cells have more melanocytic/differentiated characteristics. Accordingly, the Zeb1 and 2, Slug, Snail and Twist gene expression analyses showed that they were differentially expressed in 2D monolayers compared to 3D spheroids, supporting this view. Furthermore, A375 cells are characterized by a greater invasive potential, strongly influenced by 3D arrangement, compared to the BLM cell line, as evaluated by SDS-zymography and TIMPs gene expression analysis. Finally, TGF-β1, a master controller of EMT, and lysyl oxidase (LOX), involved in melanoma progression, were strongly up-regulated by 3D arrangement in the metastatic BLM cells alone, likely playing a role in the metastatic phases of melanoma progression. Overall, these findings suggest that A375 and BLM cells possess a hybrid/intermediate phenotype in relation to the expression of EMT markers. The former is characterized by a more mesenchymal/undifferentiated phenotype, while the latter shows a more melanocytic/differentiated phenotype. Our results contribute to the characterization of the role of EMT in melanoma cells and confirm that a 3D cell culture model could provide deeper insight into our understanding of the biology of melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabrizio Fontana
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences “Rodolfo Paoletti”, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy; (F.F.); (M.A.); (P.L.)
| | - Michele Sommariva
- Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy; (M.S.); (F.B.)
| | - Martina Anselmi
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences “Rodolfo Paoletti”, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy; (F.F.); (M.A.); (P.L.)
| | - Francesca Bianchi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy; (M.S.); (F.B.)
- U. O. Laboratorio Morfologia Umana Applicata, IRCCS Policlinico San Donato, San Donato Milanese, 20097 Milan, Italy
| | - Patrizia Limonta
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences “Rodolfo Paoletti”, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy; (F.F.); (M.A.); (P.L.)
| | - Nicoletta Gagliano
- Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy; (M.S.); (F.B.)
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3
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Noujarède J, Carrié L, Garcia V, Grimont M, Eberhardt A, Mucher E, Genais M, Schreuder A, Carpentier S, Ségui B, Nieto L, Levade T, Puig S, Torres T, Malvehy J, Harou O, Lopez J, Dalle S, Caramel J, Gibot L, Riond J, Andrieu-Abadie N. Sphingolipid paracrine signaling impairs keratinocyte adhesion to promote melanoma invasion. Cell Rep 2023; 42:113586. [PMID: 38113139 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.113586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2023] [Revised: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer due to its propensity to metastasize. It arises from melanocytes, which are attached to keratinocytes within the basal epidermis. Here, we hypothesize that, in addition to melanocyte-intrinsic modifications, dysregulation of keratinocyte functions could initiate early-stage melanoma cell invasion. We identified the lysolipid sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) as a tumor paracrine signal from melanoma cells that modifies the keratinocyte transcriptome and reduces their adhesive properties, leading to tumor invasion. Mechanistically, tumor cell-derived S1P reduced E-cadherin expression in keratinocytes via S1P receptor dependent Snail and Slug activation. All of these effects were blocked by S1P2/3 antagonists. Importantly, we showed that epidermal E-cadherin expression was inversely correlated with the expression of the S1P-producing enzyme in neighboring tumors and the Breslow thickness in patients with early-stage melanoma. These findings support the notion that E-cadherin loss in the epidermis initiates the metastatic cascade in melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justine Noujarède
- Université de Toulouse, INSERM, CNRS, Université Toulouse III-Paul Sabatier, Centre de Recherches en Cancérologie de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Lorry Carrié
- Université de Toulouse, INSERM, CNRS, Université Toulouse III-Paul Sabatier, Centre de Recherches en Cancérologie de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Virginie Garcia
- Université de Toulouse, INSERM, CNRS, Université Toulouse III-Paul Sabatier, Centre de Recherches en Cancérologie de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Maxime Grimont
- Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, INSERM 1052, CNRS 5286, Centre de Recherches en Cancérologie de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Anaïs Eberhardt
- Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, INSERM 1052, CNRS 5286, Centre de Recherches en Cancérologie de Lyon, Lyon, France; Service de Dermatologie, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Centre Hospitalier Lyon Sud, Pierre Bénite, France
| | - Elodie Mucher
- Université de Toulouse, INSERM, CNRS, Université Toulouse III-Paul Sabatier, Centre de Recherches en Cancérologie de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Matthieu Genais
- Université de Toulouse, INSERM, CNRS, Université Toulouse III-Paul Sabatier, Centre de Recherches en Cancérologie de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Anne Schreuder
- Université de Toulouse, INSERM, CNRS, Université Toulouse III-Paul Sabatier, Centre de Recherches en Cancérologie de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Stéphane Carpentier
- Université de Toulouse, INSERM, CNRS, Université Toulouse III-Paul Sabatier, Centre de Recherches en Cancérologie de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Bruno Ségui
- Université de Toulouse, INSERM, CNRS, Université Toulouse III-Paul Sabatier, Centre de Recherches en Cancérologie de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Laurence Nieto
- Université de Toulouse, INSERM, CNRS, Université Toulouse III-Paul Sabatier, Centre de Recherches en Cancérologie de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Thierry Levade
- Université de Toulouse, INSERM, CNRS, Université Toulouse III-Paul Sabatier, Centre de Recherches en Cancérologie de Toulouse, Toulouse, France; Laboratoire de Biochimie Métabolique, CHU de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Susana Puig
- Melanoma Unit, Department of Dermatology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain & CIBER of Rare Diseases, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Teresa Torres
- Melanoma Unit, Department of Dermatology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain & CIBER of Rare Diseases, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Josep Malvehy
- Melanoma Unit, Department of Dermatology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain & CIBER of Rare Diseases, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Olivier Harou
- Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, INSERM 1052, CNRS 5286, Centre de Recherches en Cancérologie de Lyon, Lyon, France; Service de Dermatologie, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Centre Hospitalier Lyon Sud, Pierre Bénite, France
| | - Jonathan Lopez
- Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, INSERM 1052, CNRS 5286, Centre de Recherches en Cancérologie de Lyon, Lyon, France; Service de Dermatologie, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Centre Hospitalier Lyon Sud, Pierre Bénite, France
| | - Stéphane Dalle
- Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, INSERM 1052, CNRS 5286, Centre de Recherches en Cancérologie de Lyon, Lyon, France; Service de Dermatologie, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Centre Hospitalier Lyon Sud, Pierre Bénite, France
| | - Julie Caramel
- Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, INSERM 1052, CNRS 5286, Centre de Recherches en Cancérologie de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Laure Gibot
- Université Toulouse III Paul-Sabatier, Laboratoire des Interactions Moléculaires et Réactivité Chimique et Photochimique, CNRS UMR5623, Toulouse, France
| | - Joëlle Riond
- Université de Toulouse, INSERM, CNRS, Université Toulouse III-Paul Sabatier, Centre de Recherches en Cancérologie de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Nathalie Andrieu-Abadie
- Université de Toulouse, INSERM, CNRS, Université Toulouse III-Paul Sabatier, Centre de Recherches en Cancérologie de Toulouse, Toulouse, France.
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Horák P, Kreisingerová K, Réda J, Ondrušová L, Balko J, Vachtenheim J, Žáková P, Vachtenheim J. The Hedgehog/GLI signaling pathway activates transcription of Slug (Snail2) in melanoma cells. Oncol Rep 2023; 49:75. [PMID: 36866769 PMCID: PMC10018456 DOI: 10.3892/or.2023.8512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2022] [Accepted: 01/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/04/2023] Open
Abstract
In melanoma and other cancers, invasion, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, metastasis and cancer stem cell maintenance are regulated by transcription factors including the Snail family. Slug (Snail2) protein generally supports migration and apoptosis resistance. However, its role in melanoma is not completely understood. The present study investigated the transcriptional regulation of the SLUG gene in melanoma. It demonstrated that SLUG is under the control of the Hedgehog/GLI signaling pathway and is activated predominantly by the transcription factor GLI2. The SLUG gene promoter contains a high number of GLI-binding sites. Slug expression is activated by GLI factors in reporter assays and inhibited by GANT61 (GLI inhibitor) and cyclopamine (SMO inhibitor). SLUG mRNA levels are lowered by GANT61 as assessed by reverse transcription-quantitative PCR. Chromatin immunoprecipitation revealed abundant binding of factors GLI1-3 in the four subregions of the proximal SLUG promoter. Notably, melanoma-associated transcription factor (MITF) is an imperfect activator of the SLUG promoter in reporter assays, and downregulation of MITF had no effect on endogenous Slug protein levels. Immunohistochemical analysis confirmed the above findings and showed MITF-negative regions in metastatic melanoma that were positive for GLI2 and Slug. Taken together, the results demonstrated a previously unrecognized transcriptional activation mechanism of the SLUG gene, which may represent its main regulation of expression in melanoma cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pavel Horák
- Department of Transcription and Cell Signaling, Institute of Medical Biochemistry and Laboratory Diagnostics, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and General University Hospital in Prague, 12108 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Kateřina Kreisingerová
- Department of Transcription and Cell Signaling, Institute of Medical Biochemistry and Laboratory Diagnostics, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and General University Hospital in Prague, 12108 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jiri Réda
- Department of Transcription and Cell Signaling, Institute of Medical Biochemistry and Laboratory Diagnostics, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and General University Hospital in Prague, 12108 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Lubica Ondrušová
- Department of Transcription and Cell Signaling, Institute of Medical Biochemistry and Laboratory Diagnostics, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and General University Hospital in Prague, 12108 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Balko
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, Second Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and University Hospital Motol, 15006 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jiri Vachtenheim
- 3rd Department of Surgery, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and University Hospital Motol, 15006 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Petra Žáková
- Department of Transcription and Cell Signaling, Institute of Medical Biochemistry and Laboratory Diagnostics, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and General University Hospital in Prague, 12108 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jiri Vachtenheim
- Department of Transcription and Cell Signaling, Institute of Medical Biochemistry and Laboratory Diagnostics, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and General University Hospital in Prague, 12108 Prague, Czech Republic
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5
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Yang Z, Jia Y, Wang S, Zhang Y, Fan W, Wang X, He L, Shen X, Yang X, Zhang Y, Yang H. Retinoblastoma-Binding Protein 5 Regulates H3K4 Methylation Modification to Inhibit the Proliferation of Melanoma Cells by Inactivating the Wnt/ β-Catenin and Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition Pathways. JOURNAL OF ONCOLOGY 2023; 2023:5093941. [PMID: 36866240 PMCID: PMC9974310 DOI: 10.1155/2023/5093941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Revised: 12/29/2022] [Accepted: 01/20/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2023]
Abstract
Histone 3 lysine 4 methylation (H3K4me), especially histone 3 lysine 4 trimethylation (H3K4me3), is one of the most extensively studied patterns of histone modification and plays crucial roles in many biological processes. However, as a part of H3K4 methyltransferase that participates in H3K4 methylation and transcriptional regulation, retinoblastoma-binding protein 5 (RBBP5) has not been well studied in melanoma. The present study sought to explore RBBP5-mediated H3K4 histone modification and the potential mechanisms in melanoma. RBBP5 expression in melanoma and nevi specimens was detected by immunohistochemistry. Western blotting was performed for three pairs of melanoma cancer tissues and nevi tissues. In vitro and in vivo assays were used to investigate the function of RBBP5. The molecular mechanism was determined using RT-qPCR, western blotting, ChIP assays, and Co-IP assays. Our study showed that RBBP5 was significantly downregulated in melanoma tissue and cells compared with nevi tissues and normal epithelia cells (P < 0.05). Reducing RBBP5 in human melanoma cells leads to H3K4me3 downregulation and promotes cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. On the one hand, we verified that WSB2 was an upstream gene of RBBP5-mediated H3K4 modification, which could directly bind to RBBP5 and negatively regulate its expression. On the other hand, we also confirmed that p16 (a cancer suppressor gene) was a downstream target of H3K4me3, the promoter of which can directly bind to H3K4me3. Mechanistically, our data revealed that RBBP5 inactivated the Wnt/β-catenin and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) pathways (P < 0.05), leading to melanoma suppression. Histone methylation is rising as an important factor affecting tumorigenicity and tumor progression. Our findings verified the significance of RBBP5-mediated H3K4 modification in melanoma and the potential regulatory mechanisms of melanoma proliferation and growth, suggesting that RBBP5 is a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiqin Yang
- 1Department of Gynecology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University (Tumor Hospital of Yunnan Province), Kunming 650118, China
- 2Departments of Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650032, China
| | - Yue Jia
- 1Department of Gynecology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University (Tumor Hospital of Yunnan Province), Kunming 650118, China
| | - Shaojia Wang
- 1Department of Gynecology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University (Tumor Hospital of Yunnan Province), Kunming 650118, China
| | - Yongjun Zhang
- 1Department of Gynecology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University (Tumor Hospital of Yunnan Province), Kunming 650118, China
| | - Wen Fan
- 1Department of Gynecology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University (Tumor Hospital of Yunnan Province), Kunming 650118, China
- 3Departments of Reproduction, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650106, China
| | - Xin Wang
- 1Department of Gynecology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University (Tumor Hospital of Yunnan Province), Kunming 650118, China
| | - Liang He
- 1Department of Gynecology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University (Tumor Hospital of Yunnan Province), Kunming 650118, China
| | - Xiaoyu Shen
- 1Department of Gynecology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University (Tumor Hospital of Yunnan Province), Kunming 650118, China
| | - Xiangqun Yang
- 1Department of Gynecology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University (Tumor Hospital of Yunnan Province), Kunming 650118, China
| | - Yi Zhang
- 1Department of Gynecology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University (Tumor Hospital of Yunnan Province), Kunming 650118, China
| | - Hongying Yang
- 1Department of Gynecology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University (Tumor Hospital of Yunnan Province), Kunming 650118, China
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Motwani J, Eccles MR. Genetic and Genomic Pathways of Melanoma Development, Invasion and Metastasis. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:1543. [PMID: 34680938 PMCID: PMC8535311 DOI: 10.3390/genes12101543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2021] [Revised: 09/27/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Melanoma is a serious form of skin cancer that accounts for 80% of skin cancer deaths. Recent studies have suggested that melanoma invasiveness is attributed to phenotype switching, which is a reversible type of cell behaviour with similarities to epithelial to mesenchymal transition. Phenotype switching in melanoma is reported to be independent of genetic alterations, whereas changes in gene transcription, and epigenetic alterations have been associated with invasiveness in melanoma cell lines. Here, we review mutational, transcriptional, and epigenomic alterations that contribute to tumour heterogeneity in melanoma, and their potential to drive melanoma invasion and metastasis. We also discuss three models that are hypothesized to contribute towards aspects of tumour heterogeneity and tumour progression in melanoma, namely the clonal evolution model, the cancer stem cell model, and the phenotype switching model. We discuss the merits and disadvantages of each model in explaining tumour heterogeneity in melanoma, as a precursor to invasion and metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jyoti Motwani
- Department of Pathology, Dunedin School of Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand;
| | - Michael R. Eccles
- Department of Pathology, Dunedin School of Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand;
- Maurice Wilkins Centre for Molecular Biodiscovery, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
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7
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Abstract
The epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and the corresponding reverse process, mesenchymal-epithelial transition (MET), are dynamic and reversible cellular programs orchestrated by many changes at both biochemical and morphological levels. A recent surge in identifying the molecular mechanisms underlying EMT/MET has led to the development of various mathematical models that have contributed to our improved understanding of dynamics at single-cell and population levels: (a) multi-stability-how many phenotypes can cells attain during an EMT/MET?, (b) reversibility/irreversibility-what time and/or concentration of an EMT inducer marks the "tipping point" when cells induced to undergo EMT cannot revert?, (c) symmetry in EMT/MET-do cells take the same path when reverting as they took during the induction of EMT?, and (d) non-cell autonomous mechanisms-how does a cell undergoing EMT alter the tendency of its neighbors to undergo EMT? These dynamical traits may facilitate a heterogenous response within a cell population undergoing EMT/MET. Here, we present a few examples of designing different mathematical models that can contribute to decoding EMT/MET dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shubham Tripathi
- PhD Program in Systems, Synthetic, and Physical Biology, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
- Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Jianhua Xing
- Department of Computational and Systems Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
| | - Herbert Levine
- Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA.
- Department of Physics and Department of Bioengineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Mohit Kumar Jolly
- Centre for BioSystems Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, Karnataka, India.
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NEAT1/miR-200b-3p/SMAD2 axis promotes progression of melanoma. Aging (Albany NY) 2020; 12:22759-22775. [PMID: 33202380 PMCID: PMC7746346 DOI: 10.18632/aging.103909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2020] [Accepted: 07/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Melanoma is a skin malignancy with a high mutation frequency of genetic alterations. MicroRNA (miR)-200b-3p is involved in various cancers, while in melanoma its bio-function remains unknown. In this study, we found that miR-200b-3p was down-regulated in melanoma tissues and cell lines compared to benign nevus cells. Overexpression of miR-200b-3p significantly inhibited the proliferation and invasion of melanoma cells. According to bioinformatics analysis and sequencing data, we supposed that SMAD family member 2 (SMAD2) was the target gene and nuclear enriched abundant transcript 1 (NEAT1) was the upstream long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) of miR-200b-3p. These predictions were verified by western blotting and quantitative real-time reverse transcription PCR (RT-qPCR). Luciferase reporter assays revealed that NEAT1 up-regulated SMAD2 by directly sponging miR-200b-3p. In vitro and in vivo, we demonstrated that both NEAT1 and SMAD2 could promote the proliferation and invasion of melanoma cells, and these effects were reversed by up-regulating miR-200b-3p. In addition, NEAT1/miR-200b-3p/SMAD2 axis promoted melanoma progression by activating EMT signaling pathway and immune responses. Taken together, the NEAT1/miR-200b-3p/SMAD2 signaling pathway promotes melanoma via activation of EMT, cell invasion and is related with immune responses, which provides new insights into the molecular mechanisms and therapeutic targets for melanoma.
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9
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Granados K, Poelchen J, Novak D, Utikal J. Cellular Reprogramming-A Model for Melanoma Cellular Plasticity. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E8274. [PMID: 33167306 PMCID: PMC7663830 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21218274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2020] [Revised: 10/29/2020] [Accepted: 10/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Cellular plasticity of cancer cells is often associated with phenotypic heterogeneity and drug resistance and thus remains a major challenge for the treatment of melanoma and other types of cancer. Melanoma cells have the capacity to switch their phenotype during tumor progression, from a proliferative and differentiated phenotype to a more invasive and dedifferentiated phenotype. However, the molecular mechanisms driving this phenotype switch are not yet fully understood. Considering that cellular heterogeneity within the tumor contributes to the high plasticity typically observed in melanoma, it is crucial to generate suitable models to investigate this phenomenon in detail. Here, we discuss the use of complete and partial reprogramming into induced pluripotent cancer (iPC) cells as a tool to obtain new insights into melanoma cellular plasticity. We consider this a relevant topic due to the high plasticity of melanoma cells and its association with a strong resistance to standard anticancer treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karol Granados
- Skin Cancer Unit, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany; (K.G.); (J.P.); (D.N.)
- Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, University Medical Center Mannheim, Ruprecht-Karl University of Heidelberg, D-68135 Mannheim, Germany
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, University of Costa Rica (UCR), Rodrigo Facio Campus, San Pedro Montes Oca, San Jose 2060, Costa Rica
| | - Juliane Poelchen
- Skin Cancer Unit, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany; (K.G.); (J.P.); (D.N.)
- Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, University Medical Center Mannheim, Ruprecht-Karl University of Heidelberg, D-68135 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Daniel Novak
- Skin Cancer Unit, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany; (K.G.); (J.P.); (D.N.)
- Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, University Medical Center Mannheim, Ruprecht-Karl University of Heidelberg, D-68135 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Jochen Utikal
- Skin Cancer Unit, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany; (K.G.); (J.P.); (D.N.)
- Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, University Medical Center Mannheim, Ruprecht-Karl University of Heidelberg, D-68135 Mannheim, Germany
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10
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Su W, Guan Y, Huang B, Wang J, Wei Y, Zhao Y, Jiao Q, Ji J, Yu D, Xu L. Bioinformatic analysis reveals hub genes and pathways that promote melanoma metastasis. BMC Cancer 2020; 20:863. [PMID: 32894090 PMCID: PMC7487637 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-020-07372-5] [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: 04/24/2020] [Accepted: 08/31/2020] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Melanoma has the highest mortality rate of all skin tumors, and metastases are the major cause of death from it. The molecular mechanism leading to melanoma metastasis is currently unclear. METHODS With the goal of revealing the underlying mechanism, three data sets with accession numbers GSE8401, GSE46517 and GSE7956 were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. After identifying the differentially expressed gene (DEG) of primary melanoma and metastatic melanoma, three kinds of analyses were performed, namely functional annotation, protein-protein interaction (PPI) network and module construction, and co-expression and drug-gene interaction prediction analysis. RESULTS A total of 41 up-regulated genes and 79 down-regulated genes was selected for subsequent analyses. Results of pathway enrichment analysis showed that extracellular matrix organization and proteoglycans in cancer are closely related to melanoma metastasis. In addition, seven pivotal genes were identified from PPI network, including CXCL8, THBS1, COL3A1, TIMP3, KIT, DCN, and IGFBP5, which have all been verified in the TCGA database and clinical specimens, but only CXCL8, THBS1 and KIT had significant differences in expression. CONCLUSIONS To conclude, CXCL8, THBS1 and KIT may be the hub genes in the metastasis of melanoma and thus may be regarded as therapeutic targets in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenxing Su
- Department of Dermatology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, No. 1055 Sanxiang Street, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215000, People's Republic of China.,Department of Medicine, Soochow University, No. 199 Renai Street, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215000, People's Republic of China
| | - Yi Guan
- School of Foreign Languages, Soochow University, No. 1 Shizi Street, Suzhou, 215000, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Biao Huang
- Department of Medicine, Soochow University, No. 199 Renai Street, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215000, People's Republic of China.,Department of Burn and Plastic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, No. 188 Shizi Street, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215000, People's Republic of China
| | - Juanjuan Wang
- Department of Dermatology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, No. 1055 Sanxiang Street, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215000, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuqian Wei
- Department of Dermatology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, No. 1055 Sanxiang Street, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215000, People's Republic of China
| | - Ying Zhao
- Department of Dermatology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, No. 1055 Sanxiang Street, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215000, People's Republic of China
| | - Qingqing Jiao
- Department of Dermatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, No. 188 Shizi Street, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215000, People's Republic of China.
| | - Jiang Ji
- Department of Dermatology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, No. 1055 Sanxiang Street, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215000, People's Republic of China.
| | - Daojiang Yu
- Department of Plastic Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, No. 1055 Sanxiang Street, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215000, People's Republic of China.
| | - Longjiang Xu
- Department of Pathology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, No. 1055 Sanxiang Street, Suzhou, 215000, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
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11
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Silvestri S, Porcellato I, Mechelli L, Menchetti L, Iussich S, De Maria R, Sforna M, Bongiovanni L, Brachelente C. E-Cadherin Expression in Canine Melanocytic Tumors: Histological, Immunohistochemical, and Survival Analysis. Vet Pathol 2020; 57:608-619. [PMID: 32578507 DOI: 10.1177/0300985820934385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
E-cadherin, a glycoprotein involved in cell-cell adhesion, has a pivotal role in epithelial-mesenchymal transition, a process through which neoplastic epithelial cells develop an invasive phenotype. In human cutaneous melanomas, decreased E-cadherin expression is associated with shorter survival and increased Breslow thickness, whereas in the dog its role is poorly understood. Tumor thickness and modified Clark level were recently proposed as useful features to assess canine melanocytic tumors, but no studies investigated their association with E-cadherin expression. We performed immunohistochemistry on 77 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded primary canine melanocytic tumors. A 3-tier and a 2-tier classification system for assessing E-cadherin expression were tested, with the latter being more informative for the assessment of canine melanocytic tumors. E-cadherin expression was lower in cutaneous melanomas than melanocytomas, as well as in amelanotic tumors compared to pigmented tumors. In amelanotic melanomas, absent E-cadherin expression was associated with an unfavorable outcome, suggesting a potential use of this marker in defining the prognosis of amelanotic melanomas. E-cadherin expression was lower in tumors with greater tumor thickness and modified Clark level ≥IV, suggesting its possible utility in identifying the most invasive tumors. The expression of E-cadherin in oral melanomas was heterogeneous, but was associated with pigmentation and clinical outcome; thus, E-cadherin evaluation could be advantageous to detect the most aggressive neoplasms. However, cutaneous melanomas without E-cadherin expression frequently had a favorable clinical outcome. Hence, its importance as prognostic factor should be carefully considered depending on the tumor origin.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Laura Bongiovanni
- 90051University of Teramo, Teramo, Italy
- Present address: Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
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12
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Kong L, Lu X, Chen X, Wu Y, Zhang Y, Shi H, Li J. Qigesan inhibits esophageal cancer cell invasion and migration by inhibiting Gas6/Axl-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Aging (Albany NY) 2020; 12:9714-9725. [PMID: 32432570 PMCID: PMC7288918 DOI: 10.18632/aging.103238] [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: 01/14/2020] [Accepted: 03/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Qigesan (QGS) has been used to effectively treat esophageal cancer (EC) for decades in China, but the mechanism by which it suppresses EC metastasis remains unknown. In this study, we examined the effects of QGS on EC cell mobility. Using immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence, expression of Gas6 and Axl, which promote tumor cell migration and invasion, was examined in carcinoma tissues and adjacent normal tissues from EC patients. Levels of Gas6, Axl, and the Gas6/Axl complex were also examined in ECA109 and TE13 EC cells treated with QGS. In addition, immunofluorescent staining and quantitative protein analysis were used to examine E-cadherin, N-cadherin, and Snail levels in ECA109 and TE13 EC cells after QSG administration, and cell mobility was assessed. The results demonstrated that levels of Gas6 and Axl expression are higher in EC tissues than in adjacent normal tissues. Moreover, QGS decreased Gas6/Axl levels, increased E-cadherin expression, decreased Snail and N-cadherin expression, and inhibited epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in EC cells. QGS thus suppresses EMT in EC by inhibiting Gas6/Axl binding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lingyu Kong
- College of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, Hebei, China
| | - Xin Lu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Tangshan Maternal and Children Hospital, Tangshan 063000, Hebei, China
| | - Xuanyu Chen
- College of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, Hebei, China
| | - Yunyan Wu
- Research Center, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050011, Hebei, China
| | - Yushuang Zhang
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tumor Hospital of Hebei Province, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050011, Hebei, China
| | - Huijuan Shi
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tumor Hospital of Hebei Province, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050011, Hebei, China
| | - Jing Li
- College of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, Hebei, China,Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tumor Hospital of Hebei Province, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050011, Hebei, China
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13
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Transcriptional downregulation of MHC class I and melanoma de- differentiation in resistance to PD-1 inhibition. Nat Commun 2020; 11:1897. [PMID: 32312968 PMCID: PMC7171183 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-15726-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 140] [Impact Index Per Article: 35.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2019] [Accepted: 03/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Transcriptomic signatures designed to predict melanoma patient responses to PD-1 blockade have been reported but rarely validated. We now show that intra-patient heterogeneity of tumor responses to PD-1 inhibition limit the predictive performance of these signatures. We reasoned that resistance mechanisms will reflect the tumor microenvironment, and thus we examined PD-1 inhibitor resistance relative to T-cell activity in 94 melanoma tumors collected at baseline and at time of PD-1 inhibitor progression. Tumors were analyzed using RNA sequencing and flow cytometry, and validated functionally. These analyses confirm that major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I downregulation is a hallmark of resistance to PD-1 inhibitors and is associated with the MITFlow/AXLhigh de-differentiated phenotype and cancer-associated fibroblast signatures. We demonstrate that TGFß drives the treatment resistant phenotype (MITFlow/AXLhigh) and contributes to MHC class I downregulation in melanoma. Combinations of anti-PD-1 with drugs that target the TGFß signaling pathway and/or which reverse melanoma de-differentiation may be effective future therapeutic strategies. A significant proportion of patients develop innate or acquired resistance to immune checkpoint inhibitors. Here, the authors show that resistance to anti-PD-1 blockade is associated with TGF-beta driven major histocompatibility complex I (MHCI) down-regulation and a de-differentiated phenotype in melanoma patients.
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14
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Tripathi S, Chakraborty P, Levine H, Jolly MK. A mechanism for epithelial-mesenchymal heterogeneity in a population of cancer cells. PLoS Comput Biol 2020; 16:e1007619. [PMID: 32040502 PMCID: PMC7034928 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1007619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2019] [Revised: 02/21/2020] [Accepted: 12/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Epithelial-mesenchymal heterogeneity implies that cells within the same tumor can exhibit different phenotypes-epithelial, mesenchymal, or one or more hybrid epithelial-mesenchymal phenotypes. This behavior has been reported across cancer types, both in vitro and in vivo, and implicated in multiple processes associated with metastatic aggressiveness including immune evasion, collective dissemination of tumor cells, and emergence of cancer cell subpopulations with stem cell-like properties. However, the ability of a population of cancer cells to generate, maintain, and propagate this heterogeneity has remained a mystifying feature. Here, we used a computational modeling approach to show that epithelial-mesenchymal heterogeneity can emerge from the noise in the partitioning of biomolecules (such as RNAs and proteins) among daughter cells during the division of a cancer cell. Our model captures the experimentally observed temporal changes in the fractions of different phenotypes in a population of murine prostate cancer cells, and describes the hysteresis in the population-level dynamics of epithelial-mesenchymal plasticity. The model is further able to predict how factors known to promote a hybrid epithelial-mesenchymal phenotype can alter the phenotypic composition of a population. Finally, we used the model to probe the implications of phenotypic heterogeneity and plasticity for different therapeutic regimens and found that co-targeting of epithelial and mesenchymal cells is likely to be the most effective strategy for restricting tumor growth. By connecting the dynamics of an intracellular circuit to the phenotypic composition of a population, our study serves as a first step towards understanding the generation and maintenance of non-genetic heterogeneity in a population of cancer cells, and towards the therapeutic targeting of phenotypic heterogeneity and plasticity in cancer cell populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shubham Tripathi
- PhD Program in Systems, Synthetic, and Physical Biology, Rice University, Houston, TX, United States of America
- Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, Rice University, Houston, TX, United States of America
- Department of Physics, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, United States of America
| | - Priyanka Chakraborty
- Centre for BioSystems Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
| | - Herbert Levine
- Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, Rice University, Houston, TX, United States of America
- Department of Physics, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, United States of America
- * E-mail: (H.L.); (M.K.J.)
| | - Mohit Kumar Jolly
- Centre for BioSystems Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
- * E-mail: (H.L.); (M.K.J.)
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15
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Makowiecka A, Malek N, Mazurkiewicz E, Mrówczyńska E, Nowak D, Mazur AJ. Thymosin β4 Regulates Focal Adhesion Formation in Human Melanoma Cells and Affects Their Migration and Invasion. Front Cell Dev Biol 2019; 7:304. [PMID: 31921836 PMCID: PMC6935720 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2019.00304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2019] [Accepted: 11/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Thymosin β4 (Tβ4), a multifunctional 44-amino acid polypeptide and a member of actin-binding proteins (ABPs), plays an important role in developmental processes and wound healing. In recent years an increasing number of data has been published suggesting Tβ4's involvement in tumorigenesis. However, Tβ4's role in melanoma tumor development still remains to be elucidated. In our study we demonstrate that Tβ4 is crucial for melanoma adhesion and invasion. For the purpose of our research we tested melanoma cell lines differing in invasive potential. Moreover, we applied shRNAs to silence TMSB4X (gene encoding Tβ4) expression in a cell line with high TMSB4X expression. We found out that Tβ4 is not only a component of focal adhesions (FAs) and interacts with several FAs components but also regulates FAs formation. We demonstrate that Tβ4 level has an impact on FAs' number and morphology. Moreover, manipulation with TMSB4X expression resulted in changes in cells' motility on non-coated and MatrigelTM (resembling basement membrane composition)-coated surfaces and drastically decreased invasion abilities of the cells. Additionally, a correlation between Tβ4 expression level and exhibition of mesenchymal-like [epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)] features was discovered. Cells with lowered TMSB4X expression were less EMT-progressed than control cells. Summarizing, obtained results show that Tβ4 by regulating melanoma cells' adhesion has an impact on motility features and EMT. Our study not only contributes to a better understanding of the processes underlying melanoma cells' capacity to create metastases but also highlights Tβ4 as a potential target for melanoma management therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksandra Makowiecka
- Department of Cell Pathology, Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Wrocław, Wrocław, Poland
| | - Natalia Malek
- Department of Cell Pathology, Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Wrocław, Wrocław, Poland
| | - Ewa Mazurkiewicz
- Department of Cell Pathology, Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Wrocław, Wrocław, Poland
| | - Ewa Mrówczyńska
- Department of Cell Pathology, Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Wrocław, Wrocław, Poland
| | - Dorota Nowak
- Department of Cell Pathology, Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Wrocław, Wrocław, Poland
| | - Antonina Joanna Mazur
- Department of Cell Pathology, Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Wrocław, Wrocław, Poland
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16
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Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition in Skin Cancers: A Review. Anal Cell Pathol (Amst) 2019; 2019:3851576. [PMID: 31934531 PMCID: PMC6942705 DOI: 10.1155/2019/3851576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2019] [Revised: 10/07/2019] [Accepted: 11/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is involved in physiologic processes such as embryogenesis and wound healing. A similar mechanism occurs in some tumors where cells leave the epithelial layer and gain mesenchymal particularities in order to easily migrate to other tissues. This process can explain the invasiveness and aggressiveness of these tumors which metastasize, by losing the epithelial phenotype (loss of E-cadherin, desmoplakin, and laminin-1) and acquiring mesenchymal markers (N-cadherin). Complex changes and interactions happen between the tumor cells and the microenvironment involving different pathways, transcription factors, altered expression of adhesion molecules, reorganization of cytoskeletal proteins, production of ECM-degrading enzymes, and changes in specific microRNAs. The purpose of this review is to determine particularities of the EMT process in the most common malignant cutaneous tumors (squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma, and melanoma) which still have an increasingly high incidence. More studies are required on this topic in order to establish clear correlations. High costs related to skin cancer therapies in general as well as high impact on patients' quality of life demand finding new, reliable prognostic and therapeutic markers with significant public health impact.
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17
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Abstract
Melanocyte development is orchestrated by a complex interconnecting regulatory network of genes and synergistic interactions. Piebaldism and Waardenburg syndrome are neurocristopathies that arise from mutations in genes involved in this complex network. Our understanding of melanocyte development, Piebaldism, and Waardenburg syndrome has improved dramatically over the past decade. The diagnosis and classification of Waardenburg syndrome, first proposed in 1992 and based on phenotype, have expanded over the past three decades to include genotype. This review focuses on the current understanding of human melanocyte development and the evaluation and management of Piebaldism and Waardenburg syndrome. Management is often challenging and requires a multidisciplinary approach.
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18
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Amschler K, Beyazpinar I, Erpenbeck L, Kruss S, Spatz JP, Schön MP. Morphological Plasticity of Human Melanoma Cells Is Determined by Nanoscopic Patterns of E- and N-Cadherin Interactions. J Invest Dermatol 2018; 139:562-572. [PMID: 30393081 DOI: 10.1016/j.jid.2018.09.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2017] [Revised: 09/07/2018] [Accepted: 09/07/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Loss of E-cadherin and concomitant upregulation of N-cadherin is known as the cadherin switch, and has been implicated in melanoma progression. Mechanistically, homophilic ligation of N-cadherin-expressing melanoma cells with N-cadherin presented within the microenvironment is thought to facilitate invasion. However, the biophysical aspects governing molecular specificity and function of such interactions remain unclear. By using precisely defined nano-patterns of N- or E-cadherin (with densities tunable by more than one order of magnitude from 78 to 1,128 ligands/μm2), we analyzed adhesion and spreading of six different human melanoma cell lines with distinct constitutive cadherin expression patterns. Cadherin-mediated homophilic cell interactions (N/N and E/E) with cadherin-functionalized nano-matrices revealed an unexpected functional dichotomy inasmuch as melanoma cell adhesion was cadherin density-dependent, while spreading and lamellipodia formation were independent of cadherin density. Surprisingly, E-cadherin-expressing melanoma cells also interacted with N-cadherin-presenting nano-matrices, suggesting heterophilic (N/E) interactions. However, cellular spreading in these cases occurred only at high densities of N-cadherin (i.e., >285 ligands/μm2). Overall, our approach using nano-patterned biomimetic surfaces provides a platform to further refine the roles of cadherins in tumor cell behavior and it revealed an intriguing flexibility of mutually compensating N- and E-cadherin interactions relevant for melanoma progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katharina Amschler
- Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, University Medical Center, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Ilkay Beyazpinar
- Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, University Medical Center, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Luise Erpenbeck
- Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, University Medical Center, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Sebastian Kruss
- Institute of Physical Chemistry, Georg August University, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Joachim P Spatz
- Department of Biointerface Science and Technology, Max Planck Institute for Medical Research, Heidelberg, Germany; Laboratory of Biophysical Chemistry, University of Heidelberg; Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Michael P Schön
- Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, University Medical Center, Göttingen, Germany; Lower Saxony Institute of Occupational Dermatology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.
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19
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The Role of PPARβ/δ in Melanoma Metastasis. Int J Mol Sci 2018; 19:ijms19102860. [PMID: 30241392 PMCID: PMC6213649 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19102860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2018] [Revised: 09/14/2018] [Accepted: 09/18/2018] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Peroxisome proliferator⁻activated receptor (PPAR) β/δ, a ligand-activated transcription factor, is involved in diverse biological processes including cell proliferation, cell differentiation, inflammation and energy homeostasis. Besides its well-established roles in metabolic disorders, PPARβ/δ has been linked to carcinogenesis and was reported to inhibit melanoma cell proliferation, anchorage-dependent clonogenicity and ectopic xenograft tumorigenicity. However, PPARβ/δ's role in tumour progression and metastasis remains controversial. METHODS In the present studies, the consequence of PPARβ/δ inhibition either by global genetic deletion or by a specific PPARβ/δ antagonist, 10h, on malignant transformation of melanoma cells and melanoma metastasis was examined using both in vitro and in vivo models. RESULTS Our study showed that 10h promotes epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), migration, adhesion, invasion and trans-endothelial migration of mouse melanoma B16/F10 cells. We further demonstrated an increased tumour cell extravasation in the lungs of wild-type mice subjected to 10h treatment and in Pparβ/δ-/- mice in an experimental mouse model of blood-borne pulmonary metastasis by tail vein injection. This observation was further supported by an increased tumour burden in the lungs of Pparβ/δ-/- mice as demonstrated in the same animal model. CONCLUSION These results indicated a protective role of PPARβ/δ in melanoma progression and metastasis.
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20
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Vlčková K, Vachtenheim J, Réda J, Horák P, Ondrušová L. Inducibly decreased MITF levels do not affect proliferation and phenotype switching but reduce differentiation of melanoma cells. J Cell Mol Med 2018; 22:2240-2251. [PMID: 29369499 PMCID: PMC5867098 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.13506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2017] [Accepted: 11/16/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Melanoma arises from neural crest-derived melanocytes which reside mostly in the skin in an adult organism. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a tumorigenic programme through which cells acquire mesenchymal, more pro-oncogenic phenotype. The reversible phenotype switching is an event still not completely understood in melanoma. The EMT features and increased invasiveness are associated with lower levels of the pivotal lineage identity maintaining and melanoma-specific transcription factor MITF (microphthalmia-associated transcription factor), whereas increased proliferation is linked to higher MITF levels. However, the precise role of MITF in phenotype switching is still loosely characterized. To exclude the changes occurring upstream of MITF during MITF regulation in vivo, we employed a model whereby MITF expression was inducibly regulated by shRNA in melanoma cell lines. We found that the decrease in MITF caused only moderate attenuation of proliferation of the whole cell line population. Proliferation was decreased in five of 15 isolated clones, in three of them profoundly. Reduction in MITF levels alone did not generally produce EMT-like characteristics. The stem cell marker levels also did not change appreciably, only a sharp increase in SOX2 accompanied MITF down-regulation. Oppositely, the downstream differentiation markers and the MITF transcriptional targets melastatin and tyrosinase were profoundly decreased, as well as the downstream target livin. Surprisingly, after the MITF decline, invasiveness was not appreciably affected, independently of proliferation. The results suggest that low levels of MITF may still maintain relatively high proliferation and might reflect, rather than cause, the EMT-like changes occurring in melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kateřina Vlčková
- Department of Transcription and Cell SignalingInstitute of Medical Biochemistry and Laboratory DiagnosticsFirst Faculty of MedicineCharles UniversityPragueCzech Republic
| | - Jiri Vachtenheim
- Department of Transcription and Cell SignalingInstitute of Medical Biochemistry and Laboratory DiagnosticsFirst Faculty of MedicineCharles UniversityPragueCzech Republic
| | - Jiri Réda
- Department of Transcription and Cell SignalingInstitute of Medical Biochemistry and Laboratory DiagnosticsFirst Faculty of MedicineCharles UniversityPragueCzech Republic
| | - Pavel Horák
- Department of Transcription and Cell SignalingInstitute of Medical Biochemistry and Laboratory DiagnosticsFirst Faculty of MedicineCharles UniversityPragueCzech Republic
| | - Lubica Ondrušová
- Department of Transcription and Cell SignalingInstitute of Medical Biochemistry and Laboratory DiagnosticsFirst Faculty of MedicineCharles UniversityPragueCzech Republic
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21
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Borgna V, Villegas J, Burzio VA, Belmar S, Araya M, Jeldes E, Lobos-González L, Silva V, Villota C, Oliveira-Cruz L, Lopez C, Socias T, Castillo O, Burzio LO. Mitochondrial ASncmtRNA-1 and ASncmtRNA-2 as potent targets to inhibit tumor growth and metastasis in the RenCa murine renal adenocarcinoma model. Oncotarget 2018; 8:43692-43708. [PMID: 28620146 PMCID: PMC5546434 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.18460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2016] [Accepted: 05/28/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Knockdown of antisense noncoding mitochondrial RNAs (ASncmtRNAs) induces apoptosis in several human and mouse tumor cell lines, but not normal cells, suggesting this approach for a selective therapy against different types of cancer. Here we show that in vitro knockdown of murine ASncmtRNAs induces apoptotic death of mouse renal adenocarcinoma RenCa cells, but not normal murine kidney epithelial cells. In a syngeneic subcutaneous RenCa model, treatment delayed and even reversed tumor growth. Since the subcutaneous model does not reflect the natural microenviroment of renal cancer, we used an orthotopic model of RenCa cells inoculated under the renal capsule. These studies showed inhibition of tumor growth and metastasis. Direct metastasis assessment by tail vein injection of RenCa cells also showed a drastic reduction in lung metastatic nodules. In vivo treatment reduces survivin, N-cadherin and P-cadherin levels, providing a molecular basis for metastasis inhibition. In consequence, the treatment significantly enhanced mouse survival in these models. Our results suggest that the ASncmtRNAs could be potent and selective targets for therapy against human renal cell carcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincenzo Borgna
- Andes Biotechnologies SpA, Santiago, Chile.,Fundación Ciencia & Vida, Ñuñoa, Santiago, Chile.,Servicio de Urología, Hospital Barros Luco-Trudeau, Universidad de Santiago, Santiago, Chile
| | - Jaime Villegas
- Andes Biotechnologies SpA, Santiago, Chile.,Fundación Ciencia & Vida, Ñuñoa, Santiago, Chile.,Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Andrés Bello, Santiago, Chile
| | - Verónica A Burzio
- Andes Biotechnologies SpA, Santiago, Chile.,Fundación Ciencia & Vida, Ñuñoa, Santiago, Chile.,Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Andrés Bello, Santiago, Chile
| | | | - Mariela Araya
- Andes Biotechnologies SpA, Santiago, Chile.,Fundación Ciencia & Vida, Ñuñoa, Santiago, Chile
| | - Emanuel Jeldes
- Andes Biotechnologies SpA, Santiago, Chile.,Fundación Ciencia & Vida, Ñuñoa, Santiago, Chile.,Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Andrés Bello, Santiago, Chile
| | - Lorena Lobos-González
- Andes Biotechnologies SpA, Santiago, Chile.,Fundación Ciencia & Vida, Ñuñoa, Santiago, Chile
| | - Verónica Silva
- Andes Biotechnologies SpA, Santiago, Chile.,Fundación Ciencia & Vida, Ñuñoa, Santiago, Chile
| | - Claudio Villota
- Andes Biotechnologies SpA, Santiago, Chile.,Fundación Ciencia & Vida, Ñuñoa, Santiago, Chile.,Facultad de Salud, Universidad Bernardo O Higgins, Santiago, Chile
| | - Luciana Oliveira-Cruz
- Andes Biotechnologies SpA, Santiago, Chile.,Fundación Ciencia & Vida, Ñuñoa, Santiago, Chile
| | - Constanza Lopez
- Andes Biotechnologies SpA, Santiago, Chile.,Fundación Ciencia & Vida, Ñuñoa, Santiago, Chile
| | - Teresa Socias
- Andes Biotechnologies SpA, Santiago, Chile.,Fundación Ciencia & Vida, Ñuñoa, Santiago, Chile
| | - Octavio Castillo
- Facultad de Salud, Universidad Bernardo O Higgins, Santiago, Chile.,Centro de Cirugía Robótica, Clínica Indisa, Santa María, Santiago, Chile
| | - Luis O Burzio
- Andes Biotechnologies SpA, Santiago, Chile.,Fundación Ciencia & Vida, Ñuñoa, Santiago, Chile.,Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Andrés Bello, Santiago, Chile
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22
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Lobos-González L, Silva V, Araya M, Restovic F, Echenique J, Oliveira-Cruz L, Fitzpatrick C, Briones M, Villegas J, Villota C, Vidaurre S, Borgna V, Socias M, Valenzuela S, Lopez C, Socias T, Varas M, Díaz J, Burzio LO, Burzio VA. Targeting antisense mitochondrial ncRNAs inhibits murine melanoma tumor growth and metastasis through reduction in survival and invasion factors. Oncotarget 2018; 7:58331-58350. [PMID: 27507060 PMCID: PMC5295434 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.11110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2016] [Accepted: 07/19/2016] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
We reported that knockdown of the antisense noncoding mitochondrial RNAs (ASncmtRNAs) induces apoptotic death of several human tumor cell lines, but not normal cells, suggesting this approach for selective therapy against different types of cancer. In order to translate these results to a preclinical scenario, we characterized the murine noncoding mitochondrial RNAs (ncmtRNAs) and performed in vivo knockdown in syngeneic murine melanoma models. Mouse ncmtRNAs display structures similar to the human counterparts, including long double-stranded regions arising from the presence of inverted repeats. Knockdown of ASncmtRNAs with specific antisense oligonucleotides (ASO) reduces murine melanoma B16F10 cell proliferation and induces apoptosis in vitro through downregulation of pro-survival and metastasis markers, particularly survivin. For in vivo studies, subcutaneous B16F10 melanoma tumors in C57BL/6 mice were treated systemically with specific and control antisense oligonucleotides (ASO). For metastasis studies, tumors were resected, followed by systemic administration of ASOs and the presence of metastatic nodules in lungs and liver was assessed. Treatment with specific ASO inhibited tumor growth and metastasis after primary tumor resection. In a metastasis-only assay, mice inoculated intravenously with cells and treated with the same ASO displayed reduced number and size of melanoma nodules in the lungs, compared to controls. Our results suggest that ASncmtRNAs could be potent targets for melanoma therapy. To our knowledge, the ASncmtRNAs are the first potential non-nuclear targets for melanoma therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorena Lobos-González
- Andes Biotechnologies SpA, Santiago, Chile.,Fundación Ciencia & Vida, Santiago, Chile.,Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Independencia, Santiago, Chile
| | - Verónica Silva
- Andes Biotechnologies SpA, Santiago, Chile.,Fundación Ciencia & Vida, Santiago, Chile
| | - Mariela Araya
- Andes Biotechnologies SpA, Santiago, Chile.,Fundación Ciencia & Vida, Santiago, Chile
| | - Franko Restovic
- Andes Biotechnologies SpA, Santiago, Chile.,Fundación Ciencia & Vida, Santiago, Chile.,Present address: Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Javiera Echenique
- Andes Biotechnologies SpA, Santiago, Chile.,Fundación Ciencia & Vida, Santiago, Chile
| | - Luciana Oliveira-Cruz
- Andes Biotechnologies SpA, Santiago, Chile.,Fundación Ciencia & Vida, Santiago, Chile
| | - Christopher Fitzpatrick
- Andes Biotechnologies SpA, Santiago, Chile.,Fundación Ciencia & Vida, Santiago, Chile.,Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Andrés Bello, República, Santiago, Chile
| | - Macarena Briones
- Andes Biotechnologies SpA, Santiago, Chile.,Fundación Ciencia & Vida, Santiago, Chile
| | - Jaime Villegas
- Andes Biotechnologies SpA, Santiago, Chile.,Fundación Ciencia & Vida, Santiago, Chile.,Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Andrés Bello, República, Santiago, Chile
| | - Claudio Villota
- Andes Biotechnologies SpA, Santiago, Chile.,Fundación Ciencia & Vida, Santiago, Chile.,Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Andrés Bello, República, Santiago, Chile
| | - Soledad Vidaurre
- Andes Biotechnologies SpA, Santiago, Chile.,Facultad de Salud, Deporte y Recreación, Universidad Bernardo O'Higgins, Santiago, Chile
| | - Vincenzo Borgna
- Andes Biotechnologies SpA, Santiago, Chile.,Fundación Ciencia & Vida, Santiago, Chile.,Servicio de Urología, Hospital Barros-Lucco-Trudeau, Santiago, Chile
| | | | | | - Constanza Lopez
- Andes Biotechnologies SpA, Santiago, Chile.,Fundación Ciencia & Vida, Santiago, Chile
| | - Teresa Socias
- Andes Biotechnologies SpA, Santiago, Chile.,Fundación Ciencia & Vida, Santiago, Chile
| | | | - Jorge Díaz
- Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Independencia, Santiago, Chile
| | - Luis O Burzio
- Andes Biotechnologies SpA, Santiago, Chile.,Fundación Ciencia & Vida, Santiago, Chile.,Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Andrés Bello, República, Santiago, Chile
| | - Verónica A Burzio
- Andes Biotechnologies SpA, Santiago, Chile.,Fundación Ciencia & Vida, Santiago, Chile.,Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Andrés Bello, República, Santiago, Chile
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23
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Abstract
Similar to embryonic development, changes in cell phenotypes defined as an epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) have been shown to play a role in the tumorigenic process. Although the first description of EMT in cancer was in cell cultures, evidence for its role in vivo is now widely reported but also actively debated. Moreover, current research has exemplified just how complex this phenomenon is in cancer, leaving many exciting, open questions for researchers to answer in the future. With these points in mind, we asked four scientists for their opinions on the role of EMT in cancer and the challenges faced by scientists working in this fast-moving field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Brabletz
- Department of Experimental Medicine 1, Nikolaus-Fiebiger Center for Molecular Medicine, FAU University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Glückstr. 6, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Raghu Kalluri
- Department of Cancer Biology, Metastasis Research Center, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77054, USA
| | - M Angela Nieto
- Instituto de Neurociencias CSIC-UMH, Avda. Ramón y Cajal s/n, 03550 San Juan de Alicante, Spain
| | - Robert A Weinberg
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Ludwig Massachusetts Institute for Technology (MIT) Center for Molecular Oncology and MIT Department of Biology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, USA
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24
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The transcription factor RUNX2 regulates receptor tyrosine kinase expression in melanoma. Oncotarget 2018; 7:29689-707. [PMID: 27102439 PMCID: PMC5045426 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.8822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2015] [Accepted: 03/28/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Receptor tyrosine kinases-based autocrine loops largely contribute to activate the MAPK and PI3K/AKT pathways in melanoma. However, the molecular mechanisms involved in generating these autocrine loops are still largely unknown. In the present study, we examine the role of the transcription factor RUNX2 in the regulation of receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) expression in melanoma. We have demonstrated that RUNX2-deficient melanoma cells display a significant decrease in three receptor tyrosine kinases, EGFR, IGF-1R and PDGFRβ. In addition, we found co-expression of RUNX2 and another RTK, AXL, in both melanoma cells and melanoma patient samples. We observed a decrease in phosphoAKT2 (S474) and phosphoAKT (T308) levels when RUNX2 knock down resulted in significant RTK down regulation. Finally, we showed a dramatic up regulation of RUNX2 expression with concomitant up-regulation of EGFR, IGF-1R and AXL in melanoma cells resistant to the BRAF V600E inhibitor PLX4720. Taken together, our results strongly suggest that RUNX2 might be a key player in RTK-based autocrine loops and a mediator of resistance to BRAF V600E inhibitors involving RTK up regulation in melanoma.
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25
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Jayachandran A, Prithviraj P, Lo PH, Walkiewicz M, Anaka M, Woods BL, Tan B, Behren A, Cebon J, McKeown SJ. Identifying and targeting determinants of melanoma cellular invasion. Oncotarget 2018; 7:41186-41202. [PMID: 27172792 PMCID: PMC5173051 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.9227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2015] [Accepted: 04/22/2016] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition is a critical process that increases the malignant potential of melanoma by facilitating invasion and dissemination of tumor cells. This study identified genes involved in the regulation of cellular invasion and evaluated whether they can be targeted to inhibit melanoma invasion. We identified Peroxidasin (PXDN), Netrin 4 (NTN4) and GLIS Family Zinc Finger 3 (GLIS3) genes consistently elevated in invasive mesenchymal-like melanoma cells. These genes and proteins were highly expressed in metastatic melanoma tumors, and gene silencing led to reduced melanoma invasion in vitro. Furthermore, migration of PXDN, NTN4 or GLIS3 siRNA transfected melanoma cells was inhibited following transplantation into the embryonic chicken neural tube compared to control siRNA transfected melanoma cells. Our study suggests that PXDN, NTN4 and GLIS3 play a functional role in promoting melanoma cellular invasion, and therapeutic approaches directed toward inhibiting the action of these proteins may reduce the incidence or progression of metastasis in melanoma patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aparna Jayachandran
- Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute, Olivia Newton-John Cancer and Wellness Centre, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia.,Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Melbourne-Austin Branch, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,School of Cancer Medicine, La Trobe University, Victoria, Australia.,The University of Queensland School of Medicine and the Gallipoli Medical Research Institute, Greenslopes Private Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Prashanth Prithviraj
- Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute, Olivia Newton-John Cancer and Wellness Centre, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia.,Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Melbourne-Austin Branch, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Pu-Han Lo
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Melbourne-Austin Branch, Victoria, Australia
| | - Marzena Walkiewicz
- Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute, Olivia Newton-John Cancer and Wellness Centre, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia.,Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Melbourne-Austin Branch, Victoria, Australia
| | - Matthew Anaka
- Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute, Olivia Newton-John Cancer and Wellness Centre, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia.,Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Melbourne-Austin Branch, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Briannyn L Woods
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - BeeShin Tan
- Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute, Olivia Newton-John Cancer and Wellness Centre, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia.,Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Melbourne-Austin Branch, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Andreas Behren
- Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute, Olivia Newton-John Cancer and Wellness Centre, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia.,Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Melbourne-Austin Branch, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,School of Cancer Medicine, La Trobe University, Victoria, Australia
| | - Jonathan Cebon
- Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute, Olivia Newton-John Cancer and Wellness Centre, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia.,Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Melbourne-Austin Branch, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,School of Cancer Medicine, La Trobe University, Victoria, Australia
| | - Sonja J McKeown
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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26
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Ma T, Zhao Y, Lu Q, Lu Y, Liu Z, Xue T, Shao Y. MicroRNA-30c functions as a tumor suppressor via targeting SNAI1 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Biomed Pharmacother 2018; 98:680-686. [PMID: 29304493 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2017.12.095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2017] [Revised: 12/18/2017] [Accepted: 12/19/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Aberrant expression of miRNAs was involved in tumor initiation, progression and metastasis in multiple cancers. Many kinds of microRNAs in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) have been researched, whereas miR-30c has not been included. METHODS Firstly, we explored the expression of miR-30c in ESCC tissue and serum samples and its relations to the survival. To further investigate its effects on ESCC cells, we completed a series of experiments. We detected the effects of ectopic miR-30c expression on the proliferation, migration and invasion of ESCC cells in vitro. We identified the target role of SNAI1 in ESCC using Dual-luciferase reporter assay and western blot assay. RESULTS The results showed miR-30c was significant down-regulated in ESCC tissues and cell lines. Clinically, we found lower miR-30c expression was significantly correlated with worse ESCC progression and survival. Also we clarified that miR-30c suppressed cell proliferation, invasion and epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) of ESCC cell lines. What's more, we figured out that miR-30c inhibits ESCC biological behaviors and EMT progress by directly binding to the 3'-UTR of SNAI1. CONCLUSION This study provides new insight into the mechanism responsible for the development of human ESCC. Therefore, miR-30c could be a promising biomarker and a therapeutic target for ESCC in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teng Ma
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Zhongda Hospital, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China.
| | - Ye Zhao
- Department of Gastroenterology, Zhongda Hospital, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Qitong Lu
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Zhongda Hospital, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Yun Lu
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Zhongda Hospital, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Zhiyong Liu
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Zhongda Hospital, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Tao Xue
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Zhongda Hospital, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Yongfeng Shao
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, China
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27
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Cohen-Solal KA, Kaufman HL, Lasfar A. Transcription factors as critical players in melanoma invasiveness, drug resistance, and opportunities for therapeutic drug development. Pigment Cell Melanoma Res 2017; 31:241-252. [DOI: 10.1111/pcmr.12666] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2017] [Accepted: 10/19/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Karine A. Cohen-Solal
- Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey; New Brunswick NJ USA
- Section of Surgical Oncology Research; Department of Surgery; Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School; Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey; New Brunswick NJ USA
| | - Howard L. Kaufman
- Department of Surgery; Rutgers University; New Brunswick NJ USA
- Department of Medicine; Rutgers University; New Brunswick NJ USA
| | - Ahmed Lasfar
- Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey; New Brunswick NJ USA
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology; Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy; Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey; Piscataway NJ USA
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28
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Zhou L, Yang K, Dunaway S, Abdel-Malek Z, Andl T, Kadekaro AL, Zhang Y. Suppression of MAPK signaling in BRAF-activated PTEN-deficient melanoma by blocking β-catenin signaling in cancer-associated fibroblasts. Pigment Cell Melanoma Res 2017; 31:297-307. [PMID: 29045061 DOI: 10.1111/pcmr.12657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2016] [Accepted: 10/07/2017] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in the tumor microenvironment have been associated with formation of a dynamic and optimized niche for tumor cells to grow and evade cell death induced by therapeutic agents. We recently reported that ablation of β-catenin expression in stromal fibroblasts and CAFs disrupted their biological activities in in vitro studies and in an in vivo B16F10 mouse melanoma model. Here, we show that the development of a BRAF-activated PTEN-deficient mouse melanoma was significantly suppressed in vivo after blocking β-catenin signaling in CAFs. Further analysis revealed that expression of phospho-Erk1/2 and phospho-Akt was greatly reduced, effectively abrogating the activating effects and abnormal cell cycle progression induced by Braf and Pten mutations. In addition, the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-like process was also suppressed in melanoma cells. Taken together, our data highlight an important crosstalk between CAFs and the RAF-MEK-ERK signaling cascade in BRAF-activated melanoma and may offer a new approach to abrogate host-dependent drug resistance in targeted therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linli Zhou
- Division of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Kun Yang
- Division of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Spencer Dunaway
- Department of Dermatology, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Zalfa Abdel-Malek
- Department of Dermatology, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Thomas Andl
- Burnett School of Biological Sciences, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, USA
| | - Ana Luisa Kadekaro
- Department of Dermatology, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Yuhang Zhang
- Division of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
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29
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Grzywa TM, Paskal W, Włodarski PK. Intratumor and Intertumor Heterogeneity in Melanoma. Transl Oncol 2017; 10:956-975. [PMID: 29078205 PMCID: PMC5671412 DOI: 10.1016/j.tranon.2017.09.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 184] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2017] [Revised: 09/14/2017] [Accepted: 09/17/2017] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Melanoma is a cancer that exhibits one of the most aggressive and heterogeneous features. The incidence rate escalates. A high number of clones harboring various mutations contribute to an exceptional level of intratumor heterogeneity of melanoma. It also refers to metastases which may originate from different subclones of primary lesion. Such component of the neoplasm biology is termed intertumor and intratumor heterogeneity. These levels of tumor heterogeneity hinder accurate diagnosis and effective treatment. The increasing number of research on the topic reflects the need for understanding limitation or failure of contemporary therapies. Majority of analyses concentrate on mutations in cancer-related genes. Novel high-throughput techniques reveal even higher degree of variations within a lesion. Consolidation of theories and researches indicates new routes for treatment options such as targets for immunotherapy. The demand for personalized approach in melanoma treatment requires extensive knowledge on intratumor and intertumor heterogeneity on the level of genome, transcriptome/proteome, and epigenome. Thus, achievements in exploration of melanoma variety are described in details. Particularly, the issue of tumor heterogeneity or homogeneity given BRAF mutations is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomasz M Grzywa
- The Department of Histology and Embryology, Laboratory of Centre for Preclinical Research, Medical University of Warsaw, Banacha 1b, 02-091 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Wiktor Paskal
- The Department of Histology and Embryology, Laboratory of Centre for Preclinical Research, Medical University of Warsaw, Banacha 1b, 02-091 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Paweł K Włodarski
- The Department of Histology and Embryology, Laboratory of Centre for Preclinical Research, Medical University of Warsaw, Banacha 1b, 02-091 Warsaw, Poland.
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30
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Haridas P, McGovern JA, McElwain SD, Simpson MJ. Quantitative comparison of the spreading and invasion of radial growth phase and metastatic melanoma cells in a three-dimensional human skin equivalent model. PeerJ 2017; 5:e3754. [PMID: 28890854 PMCID: PMC5590551 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.3754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2017] [Accepted: 08/11/2017] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Standard two-dimensional (2D) cell migration assays do not provide information about vertical invasion processes, which are critical for melanoma progression. We provide information about three-dimensional (3D) melanoma cell migration, proliferation and invasion in a 3D melanoma skin equivalent (MSE) model. In particular, we pay careful attention to compare the structure of the tissues in the MSE with similarly-prepared 3D human skin equivalent (HSE) models. The HSE model is identically prepared to the MSE model except that melanoma cells are omitted. Using the MSE model, we examine melanoma migration, proliferation and invasion from two different human melanoma cell lines. One cell line, WM35, is associated with the early phase of the disease where spreading is thought to be confined to the epidermis. The other cell line, SK-MEL-28, is associated with the later phase of the disease where spreading into the dermis is expected. METHODS 3D MSE and HSE models are constructed using human de-epidermised dermis (DED) prepared from skin tissue. Primary fibroblasts and primary keratinocytes are used in the MSE and HSE models to ensure the formation of a stratified epidermis, with a well-defined basement membrane. Radial spreading of cells across the surface of the HSE and MSE models is observed. Vertical invasion of melanoma cells downward through the skin is observed and measured using immunohistochemistry. All measurements of invasion are made at day 0, 9, 15 and 20, providing detailed time course data. RESULTS Both HSE and MSE models are similar to native skin in vivo, with a well-defined stratification of the epidermis that is separated from the dermis by a basement membrane. In the HSE and MSE we find fibroblast cells confined to the dermis, and differentiated keratinocytes in the epidermis. In the MSE, melanoma cells form colonies in the epidermis during the early part of the experiment. In the later stage of the experiment, the melanoma cells in the MSE invade deeper into the tissues. Interestingly, both the WM35 and SK-MEL-28 melanoma cells lead to a breakdown of the basement membrane and eventually enter the dermis. However, these two cell lines invade at different rates, with the SK-MEL-28 melanoma cells invading faster than the WM35 cells. DISCUSSION The MSE and HSE models are a reliable platform for studying melanoma invasion in a 3D tissue that is similar to native human skin. Interestingly, we find that the WM35 cell line, that is thought to be associated with radial spreading only, is able to invade into the dermis. The vertical invasion of melanoma cells into the dermal region appears to be associated with a localised disruption of the basement membrane. Presenting our results in terms of time course data, along with images and quantitative measurements of the depth of invasion extends previous 3D work that has often been reported without these details.
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Affiliation(s)
- Parvathi Haridas
- Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- School of Mathematical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Jacqui A. McGovern
- Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Sean D.L. McElwain
- Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- School of Mathematical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Matthew J. Simpson
- School of Mathematical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
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31
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Murtas D, Maxia C, Diana A, Pilloni L, Corda C, Minerba L, Tomei S, Piras F, Ferreli C, Perra MT. Role of epithelial–mesenchymal transition involved molecules in the progression of cutaneous melanoma. Histochem Cell Biol 2017; 148:639-649. [DOI: 10.1007/s00418-017-1606-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/16/2017] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
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32
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Delaunay T, Deschamps L, Haddada M, Walker F, Soosaipillai A, Soualmia F, El Amri C, Diamandis EP, Brattsand M, Magdolen V, Darmoul D. Aberrant expression of kallikrein-related peptidase 7 is correlated with human melanoma aggressiveness by stimulating cell migration and invasion. Mol Oncol 2017. [PMID: 28636767 PMCID: PMC5623816 DOI: 10.1002/1878-0261.12103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Members of the tissue kallikrein‐related peptidase (KLK) family not only regulate several important physiological functions, but aberrant expression has also been associated with various malignancies. Clinically, KLKs have been suggested as promising biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis in many types of cancer. As of yet, expression of KLKs and their role in skin cancers are, however, poorly addressed. Malignant melanoma is an aggressive disease associated with poor prognosis. Hence, diagnostic biomarkers to monitor melanoma progression are needed. Herein, we demonstrate that although mRNA of several KLKs are aberrantly expressed in melanoma cell lines, only the KLK7 protein is highly secreted in vitro. In line with these findings, ectopic expression of KLK7 in human melanomas and its absence in benign nevi were demonstrated by immunohistochemistry in vivo. Interestingly, overexpression of KLK7 induced a significant reduction in melanoma cell proliferation and colony formation. Moreover, KLK7 overexpression triggered an increase in cell motility and invasion associated with decreased expression of E‐cadherin and an upregulation of MCAM/CD146. Our results demonstrate, for the first time, that aberrant KLK7 expression leads to a switch from proliferative to invasive phenotype, suggesting a potential role of KLK7 in melanoma progression. Thus, we hypothesize that KLK7 may represent a potential biomarker for melanoma progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiphaine Delaunay
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), Hôpital Saint Louis, Paris, France.,Sorbonne Paris Cité, UMRS-S976, Université Paris Diderot, France
| | - Lydia Deschamps
- Department of Pathology, Hôpital Bichat-Claude Bernard, Paris, France
| | - Meriem Haddada
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), Hôpital Saint Louis, Paris, France.,Sorbonne Paris Cité, UMRS-S976, Université Paris Diderot, France
| | - Francine Walker
- Department of Pathology, Hôpital Bichat-Claude Bernard, Paris, France
| | | | - Feryel Soualmia
- UPMC Univ Paris 06, IBPS, UMR 8256 CNRS-UPMC, ERL INSERM U1164, Biological Adaptation and Ageing, Sorbonne Universités, Paris, France
| | - Chahrazade El Amri
- UPMC Univ Paris 06, IBPS, UMR 8256 CNRS-UPMC, ERL INSERM U1164, Biological Adaptation and Ageing, Sorbonne Universités, Paris, France
| | | | - Maria Brattsand
- Department of Medical Biosciences, Pathology, Umeå University, Sweden
| | - Viktor Magdolen
- Clinical Research Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Technische Universität München, Germany
| | - Dalila Darmoul
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), Hôpital Saint Louis, Paris, France.,Sorbonne Paris Cité, UMRS-S976, Université Paris Diderot, France
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33
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Arozarena I, Wellbrock C. Targeting invasive properties of melanoma cells. FEBS J 2017; 284:2148-2162. [PMID: 28196297 DOI: 10.1111/febs.14040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2016] [Revised: 01/26/2017] [Accepted: 02/10/2017] [Indexed: 02/11/2024]
Abstract
Melanoma is a skin cancer notorious for its metastatic potential. As an initial step of the metastatic cascade, melanoma cells part from the primary tumour and invade the surrounding tissue, which is crucial for their dissemination and the formation of distant secondary tumours. Over the last two decades, our understanding of both, general and melanoma specific mechanisms of invasion has significantly improved, but to date no efficient therapeutic strategy tackling the invasive properties of melanoma cells has reached the clinic. In this review, we assess the major contributions towards the understanding of the molecular biology of melanoma cell invasion with a focus on melanoma specific traits. These traits are based on the neural crest origin of melanoma cells and explain their intrinsic invasive nature. A particular emphasis is given not only to lineage specific signalling mediated by TGFβ, and noncanonical and canonical WNT signalling, but also to the role of PDE5A and RHO-GTPases in modulating modes of melanoma cell invasion. We discuss existing caveats in the current understanding of the metastatic properties of melanoma cells, as well as the relevance of the 'phenotype switch' model and 'co-operativity' between different phenotypes in heterogeneous tumours. At the centre of these phenotypes is the lineage commitment factor microphthalmia-associated transcription factor, one of the most crucial regulators of the balance between de-differentiation (neural crest specific gene expression) and differentiation (melanocyte specific gene expression) that defines invasive and noninvasive melanoma cell phenotypes. Finally, we provide insight into the current evidence linking resistance to targeted therapies to invasive properties of melanoma cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Imanol Arozarena
- Cancer Signalling Group, Navarrabiomed (Miguel Servet Foundation), Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra (IdiSNA), Pamplona, Spain
| | - Claudia Wellbrock
- Manchester Cancer Research Centre, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, UK
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Shields BD, Mahmoud F, Taylor EM, Byrum SD, Sengupta D, Koss B, Baldini G, Ransom S, Cline K, Mackintosh SG, Edmondson RD, Shalin S, Tackett AJ. Indicators of responsiveness to immune checkpoint inhibitors. Sci Rep 2017; 7:807. [PMID: 28400597 PMCID: PMC5429745 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-01000-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2017] [Accepted: 03/20/2017] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Modulation of the immune system can produce anti-tumor responses in various cancer types, including melanoma. Recently, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI), in single agent and combination regimens, have produced durable and long-lasting clinical responses in a subset of metastatic melanoma patients. These monoclonal antibodies, developed against CTLA-4 and PD-1, block immune-inhibitory receptors on activated T-cells, amplifying the immune response. However, even when using anti-CTLA-4 and anti-PD-1 in combination, approximately half of patients exhibit innate resistance and suffer from disease progression. Currently, it is impossible to predict therapeutic response. Here, we report the first proteomic and histone epigenetic analysis of patient metastatic melanoma tumors taken prior to checkpoint blockade, which revealed biological signatures that can stratify patients as responders or non-responders. Furthermore, our findings provide evidence of mesenchymal transition, a known mechanism of immune-escape, in non-responding melanoma tumors. We identified elevated histone H3 lysine (27) trimethylation (H3K27me3), decreased E-cadherin, and other protein features indicating a more mesenchymal phenotype in non-responding tumors. Our results have implications for checkpoint inhibitor therapy as patient specific responsiveness can be predicted through readily assayable proteins and histone epigenetic marks, and pathways activated in non-responders have been identified for therapeutic development to enhance responsiveness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bradley D Shields
- Departments of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301 West Markham Street, Little Rock, Arkansas, 72205, USA
| | - Fade Mahmoud
- Departments of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301 West Markham Street, Little Rock, Arkansas, 72205, USA
| | - Erin M Taylor
- Departments of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301 West Markham Street, Little Rock, Arkansas, 72205, USA
| | - Stephanie D Byrum
- Departments of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301 West Markham Street, Little Rock, Arkansas, 72205, USA
| | - Deepanwita Sengupta
- Departments of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301 West Markham Street, Little Rock, Arkansas, 72205, USA
| | - Brian Koss
- Departments of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301 West Markham Street, Little Rock, Arkansas, 72205, USA
| | - Giulia Baldini
- Departments of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301 West Markham Street, Little Rock, Arkansas, 72205, USA
| | - Seth Ransom
- Departments of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301 West Markham Street, Little Rock, Arkansas, 72205, USA
| | - Kyle Cline
- Departments of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301 West Markham Street, Little Rock, Arkansas, 72205, USA
| | - Samuel G Mackintosh
- Departments of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301 West Markham Street, Little Rock, Arkansas, 72205, USA
| | - Ricky D Edmondson
- Departments of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301 West Markham Street, Little Rock, Arkansas, 72205, USA
| | - Sara Shalin
- Departments of Pathology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301 West Markham Street, Little Rock, Arkansas, 72205, USA
| | - Alan J Tackett
- Departments of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301 West Markham Street, Little Rock, Arkansas, 72205, USA.
- Departments of Pathology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301 West Markham Street, Little Rock, Arkansas, 72205, USA.
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35
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De Souza LM, Robertson BM, Robertson GP. Future of circulating tumor cells in the melanoma clinical and research laboratory settings. Cancer Lett 2017; 392:60-70. [PMID: 28163189 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2017.01.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2016] [Revised: 01/12/2017] [Accepted: 01/13/2017] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Circulating tumor cells (CTC) have become a field of interest for oncologists based on the premise that they constitute the underpinning for metastatic dissemination. The lethal nature of cancer is no longer attributed to solid tumor formation, but rather to the process of metastasis; shifting the focus of current studies towards the isolation and identification of metastatic progenitors, such as CTCs. CTCs originate from primary tumor masses that undergo morphologic and genetic alterations, which involve the release of mesenchymal-like cancer cells into the bloodstream, capable of invading nearby tissues for secondary tumor development. Cancerous cells contained in the primary tumor mass acquire the motile mesenchymal phenotype as a result of the Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition, where substantial variations in protein expression and signaling pathways take place. CTCs that migrate from the primary tumor, intravasate into the systemic vasculature, are transported through the bloodstream, and invade tissues and organs suitable for secondary tumor development. While only a limited number of CTCs are viable in the bloodstream, their ability to elude the immune system, evade apoptosis and successfully metastasize at secondary tumor sites, makes CTCs promising candidates for unraveling the triggers that initiates the metastatic process. In this article, these subjects are explored in greater depth to elucidate the potential use of CTCs in the detection, disease staging and management of metastatic melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luisa M De Souza
- The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Departments of Pharmacology, 500 University Drive, Hershey, PA 17033, USA.
| | - Bailey M Robertson
- The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Departments of Pharmacology, 500 University Drive, Hershey, PA 17033, USA
| | - Gavin P Robertson
- The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Departments of Pharmacology, 500 University Drive, Hershey, PA 17033, USA; Pathology, 500 University Drive, Hershey, PA 17033, USA; Dermatology, 500 University Drive, Hershey, PA 17033, USA; Surgery, 500 University Drive, Hershey, PA 17033, USA; The Melanoma and Skin Cancer Center, 500 University Drive, Hershey, PA 17033, USA; The Melanoma Therapeutics Program, 500 University Drive, Hershey, PA 17033, USA.
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36
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Yan S, Holderness BM, Li Z, Seidel GD, Gui J, Fisher JL, Ernstoff MS. Epithelial-Mesenchymal Expression Phenotype of Primary Melanoma and Matched Metastases and Relationship with Overall Survival. Anticancer Res 2017; 36:6449-6456. [PMID: 27919967 DOI: 10.21873/anticanres.11243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2016] [Revised: 10/07/2016] [Accepted: 10/10/2016] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
E-Cadherin and N-cadherin are important components of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). The majority of studies on EMT in melanoma have been performed with cultured cell lines or pooled melanoma samples. The goal of our study was to evaluate the expression of E-cadherin and N-cadherin in matched tissue samples from primary and metastatic sites of melanoma and to determine the correlation with survival outcome. We analyzed tissues from 42 melanoma primary lesions and their corresponding metastases, as well as 53 benign nevi, for expression levels of E-cadherin and N-cadherin using immunohistochemical methods. There were heterogenous expression patterns of E- and N-cadherin in both primary and metastatic melanomas. Overall, metastatic tumor showed a decrease in E-cadherin expression and an increase in N-cadherin expression compared to the primary tumor, although the difference did not reach statistical significance (p=0.24 and 0.28 respectively). A switch of membranous expression from E-cadherin to N-cadherin from primary to metastatic melanoma was seen in eight patients (19%). Aberrant E-cadherin expression (defined as negative to weak membranous E-cadherin or positive nuclear E-cadherin expression) was more frequently observed in metastatic than in primary melanomas (p=0.03). Multivariate analysis showed that absence of N-cadherin expression in primary melanomas and the presence of aberrant E-cadherin expression in primary melanomas and metastatic melanomas was associated with a significantly worse overall survival. Our data support the importance of E-cadherin and N-cadherin proteins in melanoma progression and patient survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaofeng Yan
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH, U.S.A
| | - Britt M Holderness
- Department of Hematology/Oncology, Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH, U.S.A
| | - Zhongze Li
- Biostatistics Shared Resource, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH, U.S.A
| | - Gregory D Seidel
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH, U.S.A
| | - Jiang Gui
- Department of Biomedical Data Science, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH, U.S.A
| | - Jan L Fisher
- Department of Medicine, Norris Cotton Cancer Center, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH, U.S.A
| | - Marc S Ernstoff
- Department of Medicine, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY, U.S.A.
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Fisetin, a dietary flavonoid, augments the anti-invasive and anti-metastatic potential of sorafenib in melanoma. Oncotarget 2016; 7:1227-41. [PMID: 26517521 PMCID: PMC4811456 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.6237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2015] [Accepted: 10/11/2015] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Melanoma is the most aggressive and deadly form of cutaneous neoplasm due to its propensity to metastasize. Oncogenic BRAF drives sustained activation of the BRAF/MEK/ERK (MAPK) pathway and cooperates with PI3K/AKT/mTOR (PI3K) signaling to induce epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT), leading to cell invasion and metastasis. Therefore, targeting these pathways is a promising preventive/therapeutic strategy. We have shown that fisetin, a flavonoid, reduces human melanoma cell invasion by inhibiting EMT. In addition, fisetin inhibited melanoma cell proliferation and tumor growth by downregulating the PI3K pathway. In this investigation, we aimed to determine whether fisetin can potentiate the anti-invasive and anti-metastatic effects of sorafenib in BRAF-mutated melanoma. We found that combination treatment (fisetin + sorafenib) more effectively reduced the migration and invasion of BRAF-mutated melanoma cells both in vitro and in raft cultures compared to individual agents. Combination treatment also effectively inhibited EMT as observed by a decrease in N-cadherin, vimentin and fibronectin and an increase in E-cadherin both in vitro and in xenograft tumors. Furthermore, combination therapy effectively inhibited Snail1, Twist1, Slug and ZEB1 protein expression compared to monotherapy. The expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in xenograft tumors was further reduced in combination treatment compared to individual agents. Bioluminescent imaging of athymic mice, intravenously injected with stably transfected CMV-luciferase-ires-puromycin. T2A.EGFP-tagged A375 melanoma cells, demonstrated fewer lung metastases following combination treatment versus monotherapy. Our findings demonstrate that fisetin potentiates the anti-invasive and anti-metastatic effects of sorafenib. Our data suggest that fisetin may be a worthy adjuvant chemotherapy for the management of melanoma.
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38
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Sharma R, Fedorenko I, Spence PT, Sondak VK, Smalley KSM, Koomen JM. Activity-Based Protein Profiling Shows Heterogeneous Signaling Adaptations to BRAF Inhibition. J Proteome Res 2016; 15:4476-4489. [PMID: 27934295 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jproteome.6b00613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Patients with BRAF V600E mutant melanoma are typically treated with targeted BRAF kinase inhibitors, such as vemurafenib and dabrafenib. Although these drugs are initially effective, they are not curative. Most of the focus to date has been upon genetic mechanisms of acquired resistance; therefore, we must better understand the global signaling adaptations that mediate escape from BRAF inhibition. In the current study, we have used activity-based protein profiling (ABPP) with ATP-analogue probes to enrich kinases and other enzyme classes that contribute to BRAF inhibitor (BRAFi) resistance in four paired isogenic BRAFi-naïve/resistant cell line models. Our analysis showed these cell line models, which also differ in their PTEN status, have considerable heterogeneity in their kinase ATP probe uptake in comparing both naïve cells and adaptations to chronic drug exposure. A number of kinases including FAK1, SLK, and TAOK2 had increased ATP probe uptake in BRAFi resistant cells, while KHS1 (M4K5) and BRAF had decreased ATP probe uptake in the BRAFi-resistant cells. Gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis revealed BRAFi resistance is associated with a significant enhancement in ATP probe uptake in proteins implicated in cytoskeletal organization and adhesion, and decreases in ATP probe uptake in proteins associated with cell metabolic processes. The ABPP approach was able to identify key phenotypic mediators critical for each BRAFi resistant cell line. Together, these data show that common phenotypic adaptations to BRAF inhibition can be mediated through very different signaling networks, suggesting considerable redundancy within the signaling of BRAF mutant melanoma cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ritin Sharma
- Molecular Oncology, ‡Tumor Biology, §Cutaneous Oncology, and ∥The Chemical Biology and Molecular Medicine Program, Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute , 12902 Magnolia Drive, Tampa, Florida 33612, United States
| | - Inna Fedorenko
- Molecular Oncology, ‡Tumor Biology, §Cutaneous Oncology, and ∥The Chemical Biology and Molecular Medicine Program, Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute , 12902 Magnolia Drive, Tampa, Florida 33612, United States
| | - Paige T Spence
- Molecular Oncology, ‡Tumor Biology, §Cutaneous Oncology, and ∥The Chemical Biology and Molecular Medicine Program, Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute , 12902 Magnolia Drive, Tampa, Florida 33612, United States
| | - Vernon K Sondak
- Molecular Oncology, ‡Tumor Biology, §Cutaneous Oncology, and ∥The Chemical Biology and Molecular Medicine Program, Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute , 12902 Magnolia Drive, Tampa, Florida 33612, United States
| | - Keiran S M Smalley
- Molecular Oncology, ‡Tumor Biology, §Cutaneous Oncology, and ∥The Chemical Biology and Molecular Medicine Program, Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute , 12902 Magnolia Drive, Tampa, Florida 33612, United States
| | - John M Koomen
- Molecular Oncology, ‡Tumor Biology, §Cutaneous Oncology, and ∥The Chemical Biology and Molecular Medicine Program, Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute , 12902 Magnolia Drive, Tampa, Florida 33612, United States
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39
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Molecular effects of 1-naphthyl-methylcarbamate and solar radiation exposures on human melanocytes. Toxicol In Vitro 2016; 38:67-76. [PMID: 27829164 DOI: 10.1016/j.tiv.2016.11.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2016] [Revised: 09/30/2016] [Accepted: 11/03/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Carbaryl (1-naphthyl-methylcarbamate), a broad-spectrum insecticide, has recently been associated with the development of cutaneous melanoma in an epidemiological cohort study with U.S. farm workers also exposed to ultraviolet radiation, the main etiologic factor for skin carcinogenesis. We hypothesized that carbaryl exposure may increase deleterious effects of UV solar radiation on skin melanocytes. This study aimed to characterize human melanocytes after individual or combined exposure to carbaryl (100μM) and solar radiation (375mJ/cm2). In a microarray analysis, carbaryl, but not solar radiation, induced an oxidative stress response, evidenced by the upregulation of antioxidant genes, such as Hemeoxygenase-1 (HMOX1), and downregulation of Microphtalmia-associated Transcription Factor (MITF), the main regulator of melanocytic activity; results were confirmed by qRT-PCR. Carbaryl and solar radiation induced a gene response suggestive of DNA damage and cell cycle alteration. The expression of CDKN1A, BRCA1/2 and MDM2 genes was notably more intense in the combined treatment group, in a synergistic manner. Flow cytometry assays demonstrated S-phase cell cycle arrest, reduced apoptosis levels and faster induction of cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPD) lesions in carbaryl treated groups. Our data suggests that carbaryl is genotoxic to human melanocytes, especially when associated with solar radiation.
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40
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Lu S, Cai C, Yan G, Zhou Z, Wan Y, Chen V, Chen L, Cooper GF, Obeid LM, Hannun YA, Lee AV, Lu X. Signal-Oriented Pathway Analyses Reveal a Signaling Complex as a Synthetic Lethal Target for p53 Mutations. Cancer Res 2016; 76:6785-6794. [PMID: 27758891 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-16-1740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2016] [Revised: 08/31/2016] [Accepted: 09/18/2016] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Defining processes that are synthetic lethal with p53 mutations in cancer cells may reveal possible therapeutic strategies. In this study, we report the development of a signal-oriented computational framework for cancer pathway discovery in this context. We applied our bipartite graph-based functional module discovery algorithm to identify transcriptomic modules abnormally expressed in multiple tumors, such that the genes in a module were likely regulated by a common, perturbed signal. For each transcriptomic module, we applied our weighted k-path merge algorithm to search for a set of somatic genome alterations (SGA) that likely perturbed the signal, that is, the candidate members of the pathway that regulate the transcriptomic module. Computational evaluations indicated that our methods-identified pathways were perturbed by SGA. In particular, our analyses revealed that SGA affecting TP53, PTK2, YWHAZ, and MED1 perturbed a set of signals that promote cell proliferation, anchor-free colony formation, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). These proteins formed a signaling complex that mediates these oncogenic processes in a coordinated fashion. Disruption of this signaling complex by knocking down PTK2, YWHAZ, or MED1 attenuated and reversed oncogenic phenotypes caused by mutant p53 in a synthetic lethal manner. This signal-oriented framework for searching pathways and therapeutic targets is applicable to all cancer types, thus potentially impacting precision medicine in cancer. Cancer Res; 76(23); 6785-94. ©2016 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Songjian Lu
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.,Center for Causal Discovery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Chunhui Cai
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.,Center for Causal Discovery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Gonghong Yan
- University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.,Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.,Magee-Womens Research Institute, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Zhuan Zhou
- University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.,Department of Cell Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Yong Wan
- University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.,Department of Cell Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Vicky Chen
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.,Center for Causal Discovery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Lujia Chen
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.,Center for Causal Discovery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Gregory F Cooper
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.,Center for Causal Discovery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Lina M Obeid
- Department of Medicine, the State University of New York at Stony Brook, Stony Brook, New York
| | - Yusuf A Hannun
- Department of Medicine, the State University of New York at Stony Brook, Stony Brook, New York
| | - Adrian V Lee
- Center for Causal Discovery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. .,University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.,Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.,Magee-Womens Research Institute, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Xinghua Lu
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. .,Center for Causal Discovery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
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41
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Mitchell B, Dhingra JK, Mahalingam M. BRAF and Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition: Lessons From Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma and Primary Cutaneous Melanoma. Adv Anat Pathol 2016; 23:244-71. [PMID: 27145091 DOI: 10.1097/pap.0000000000000113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The increased prevalence of BRAF mutations in thyroid carcinoma and primary cutaneous melanoma (PCM) hint that dysregulation of BRAF might contribute to the noted association between PCM and thyroid carcinoma. A recent study evaluating the rate of BRAFV600E mutations among patients who had been diagnosed with primary papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) and PCM showed that patients with either PCM or PTC were at an increased risk of developing the other as a second primary malignant neoplasm. Furthermore, the authors noted that samples from patients suffering from both malignancies exhibited a higher rate of incidence of the BRAFV600E mutation, compared with patients not suffering from both malignancies. These studies support the hypothesis that the pathogenesis of these 2 malignancies might share a conserved molecular pattern associated with dysregulation of the BRAF protein. One mechanism through which BRAF might contribute to PCM and thyroid carcinoma progression is through induction of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Specifically, the Snail/E-cadherin axis has been demonstrated as a pathway dysregulated by BRAF, leading to EMT in both malignancies. Our analysis focuses on the results of these recent investigations, and through a review of select molecules relevant to EMT, looks to provide a context by which to better understand the relevance and role of stromal-parenchymal signaling and the BRAF mutation in the pathogenesis of PTC and PCM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brendon Mitchell
- *University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL †Department of Otolaryngology, Tufts Medical center, Boston, MA ‡Dermatopathology Section, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, VA Consolidated Laboratories, West Roxbury, MA
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42
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Standard melanoma-associated markers do not identify the MM127 metastatic melanoma cell line. Sci Rep 2016; 6:24569. [PMID: 27087056 PMCID: PMC4834532 DOI: 10.1038/srep24569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2015] [Accepted: 03/31/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Reliable identification of different melanoma cell lines is important for many aspects of melanoma research. Common markers used to identify melanoma cell lines include: S100; HMB-45; and Melan-A. We explore the expression of these three markers in four different melanoma cell lines: WM35; WM793; SK-MEL-28; and MM127. The expression of these markers is examined at both the mRNA and protein level. Our results show that the metastatic cell line, MM127, cannot be detected using any of the commonly used melanoma-associated markers. This implies that it would be very difficult to identify this particular cell line in a heterogeneous sample, and as a result this cell line should be used with care.
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43
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Gallagher SJ, Tiffen JC, Hersey P. Histone Modifications, Modifiers and Readers in Melanoma Resistance to Targeted and Immune Therapy. Cancers (Basel) 2015; 7:1959-82. [PMID: 26426052 PMCID: PMC4695870 DOI: 10.3390/cancers7040870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2015] [Revised: 09/17/2015] [Accepted: 09/18/2015] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The treatment of melanoma has been revolutionized by new therapies targeting MAPK signaling or the immune system. Unfortunately these therapies are hindered by either primary resistance or the development of acquired resistance. Resistance mechanisms involving somatic mutations in genes associated with resistance have been identified in some cases of melanoma, however, the cause of resistance remains largely unexplained in other cases. The importance of epigenetic factors targeting histones and histone modifiers in driving the behavior of melanoma is only starting to be unraveled and provides significant opportunity to combat the problems of therapy resistance. There is also an increasing ability to target these epigenetic changes with new drugs that inhibit these modifications to either prevent or overcome resistance to both MAPK inhibitors and immunotherapy. This review focuses on changes in histones, histone reader proteins and histone positioning, which can mediate resistance to new therapeutics and that can be targeted for future therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stuart J Gallagher
- Melanoma Immunology and Oncology Group, Centenary Institute, University of Sydney, Camperdown 2050, Australia.
- Melanoma Institute Australia, Crow's Nest 2065, Sydney, Australia.
| | - Jessamy C Tiffen
- Melanoma Immunology and Oncology Group, Centenary Institute, University of Sydney, Camperdown 2050, Australia.
- Melanoma Institute Australia, Crow's Nest 2065, Sydney, Australia.
| | - Peter Hersey
- Melanoma Immunology and Oncology Group, Centenary Institute, University of Sydney, Camperdown 2050, Australia.
- Melanoma Institute Australia, Crow's Nest 2065, Sydney, Australia.
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44
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Mohammed AA, Rotondo F, Munoz DG, Kovacs K, Bilbao JM, Karamchandani JR, Di Ieva A, Cusimano MD. Diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers of a sellar melanocytic tumor mimicking pituitary adenoma: Case report and literature review. Pathol Res Pract 2015; 211:682-7. [DOI: 10.1016/j.prp.2015.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2014] [Revised: 04/14/2015] [Accepted: 04/17/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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45
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Wu X, Liu X, Koul S, Lee CY, Zhang Z, Halmos B. AXL kinase as a novel target for cancer therapy. Oncotarget 2015; 5:9546-63. [PMID: 25337673 PMCID: PMC4259419 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.2542] [Citation(s) in RCA: 138] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2014] [Accepted: 09/29/2014] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The AXL receptor tyrosine kinase and its major ligand, GAS6 have been demonstrated to be overexpressed and activated in many human cancers (such as lung, breast, and pancreatic cancer) and have been correlated with poor prognosis, promotion of increased invasiveness/metastasis, the EMT phenotype and drug resistance. Targeting AXL in different model systems with specific small molecule kinase inhibitors or antibodies alone or in combination with other drugs can lead to inactivation of AXL-mediated signaling pathways and can lead to regained drug sensitivity and improved therapeutic efficacy, defining AXL as a promising novel target for cancer therapeutics. This review highlights the data supporting AXL as a novel treatment candidate in a variety of cancers as well as the current status of drug development targeting the AXL/GAS6 axis and future perspectives in this emerging field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoliang Wu
- Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Xuewen Liu
- Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China. Division of Hematology/Oncology, Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, New York Presbyterian Hospital-Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Sanjay Koul
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, New York Presbyterian Hospital-Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Chang Youl Lee
- Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Chuncheon Sacred Heart Hospital Hallym University Medical Center, Chuncheon-si Gangwon-do 200-704 Republic of Korea
| | - Zhenfeng Zhang
- Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Balazs Halmos
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, New York Presbyterian Hospital-Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
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46
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Jayachandran A, Anaka M, Prithviraj P, Hudson C, McKeown SJ, Lo PH, Vella LJ, Goding CR, Cebon J, Behren A. Thrombospondin 1 promotes an aggressive phenotype through epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in human melanoma. Oncotarget 2015; 5:5782-97. [PMID: 25051363 PMCID: PMC4170613 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.2164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 97] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), in which epithelial cells loose their polarity and become motile mesenchymal cells, is a determinant of melanoma metastasis. We compared gene expression signatures of mesenchymal-like melanoma cells with those of epithelial-like melanoma cells, and identified Thrombospondin 1 (THBS1) as highly up-regulated in the mesenchymal phenotype. This study investigated whether THBS1, a major physiological activator of transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta, is involved in melanoma EMT-like process. We sought to examine expression patterns in distinct melanoma phenotypes including invasive, de-differentiated, label-retaining and drug resistant populations that are putatively associated with an EMT-like process. Here we show that THBS1 expression and secretion was elevated in melanoma cells exhibiting invasive, drug resistant, label retaining and mesenchymal phenotypes and correlated with reduced expression of genes involved in pigmentation. Elevated THBS1 levels were detected in Vemurafenib resistant melanoma cells and inhibition of THBS1 led to significantly reduced chemoresistance in melanoma cells. Notably, siRNA-mediated silencing of THBS1 and neutralizing antibody to THBS1 reduced invasion in mesenchymal-like melanoma cells, while ectopic THBS1 expression in epithelial-like melanoma cells enhanced invasion. Furthermore, the loss of THBS1 inhibited in vivo motility of melanoma cells within the embryonic chicken neural tube. In addition, we found aberrant THBS1 protein expression in metastatic melanoma tumor biopsies. These results implicate a role for THBS1 in EMT, and hence THBS1 may serve as a novel target for strategies aimed at the treatment of melanoma invasion and drug resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aparna Jayachandran
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Melbourne-Austin Branch, Cancer Immunobiology Laboratory, Heidelberg, VIC 3084, Australia. Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Victoria, 3010, Australia
| | - Matthew Anaka
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Melbourne-Austin Branch, Cancer Immunobiology Laboratory, Heidelberg, VIC 3084, Australia. Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Victoria, 3010, Australia
| | - Prashanth Prithviraj
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Melbourne-Austin Branch, Cancer Immunobiology Laboratory, Heidelberg, VIC 3084, Australia. Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Victoria, 3010, Australia
| | - Christopher Hudson
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Melbourne-Austin Branch, Cancer Immunobiology Laboratory, Heidelberg, VIC 3084, Australia
| | - Sonja J McKeown
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University of Melbourne, Victoria, 3010, Australia
| | - Pu-Han Lo
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Melbourne-Austin Branch, Cancer Immunobiology Laboratory, Heidelberg, VIC 3084, Australia
| | - Laura J Vella
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Melbourne-Austin Branch, Cancer Immunobiology Laboratory, Heidelberg, VIC 3084, Australia. Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Victoria, 3010, Australia
| | - Colin R Goding
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 7DQ, UK
| | - Jonathan Cebon
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Melbourne-Austin Branch, Cancer Immunobiology Laboratory, Heidelberg, VIC 3084, Australia. Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Victoria, 3010, Australia
| | - Andreas Behren
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Melbourne-Austin Branch, Cancer Immunobiology Laboratory, Heidelberg, VIC 3084, Australia. Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Victoria, 3010, Australia
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47
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van Kempen LC, Redpath M, Robert C, Spatz A. Molecular pathology of cutaneous melanoma. Melanoma Manag 2014; 1:151-164. [PMID: 30190820 DOI: 10.2217/mmt.14.23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Cutaneous melanoma is associated with strong prognostic phenotypic features, such as gender, Breslow's thickness and ulceration, although the biological significance of these variables is largely unknown. It is likely that these features are surrogates of important biological events rather than directly promoting cutaneous melanoma progression. In this article, we address the molecular mechanisms that drive these phenotypic changes. Furthermore, we present a comprehensive overview of recurrent genetic abnormalities, both germline and somatic, in relation to cutaneous melanoma subtypes, ultraviolet exposure and anatomical localization, as well as pre-existing and targeted therapy-induced mutations that may contribute to resistance. The increasing knowledge of critically important oncogenes and tumor-suppressor genes is promoting a transition in melanoma diagnosis, in which single-gene testing will be replaced by multiplex and multidimensional analyses that combine classical histopathological characteristics with the molecular profile for the prognostication and selection of melanoma therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Léon C van Kempen
- McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.,Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, Montreal, QC, Canada.,McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.,Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Margaret Redpath
- McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.,McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Caroline Robert
- Gustave Roussy Cancer Institute, Villejuif, Paris, France.,Gustave Roussy Cancer Institute, Villejuif, Paris, France
| | - Alan Spatz
- McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.,Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, Montreal, QC, Canada.,Department of Pathology, Jewish General Hospital, 3755 Cote Ste Catherine, Montreal, QC, H3T 1E2, Canada.,McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.,Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, Montreal, QC, Canada.,Department of Pathology, Jewish General Hospital, 3755 Cote Ste Catherine, Montreal, QC, H3T 1E2, Canada
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48
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Suzuki A, Maeda T, Baba Y, Shimamura K, Kato Y. Acidic extracellular pH promotes epithelial mesenchymal transition in Lewis lung carcinoma model. Cancer Cell Int 2014; 14:129. [PMID: 25493076 PMCID: PMC4260188 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-014-0129-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2014] [Accepted: 11/13/2014] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) is thought to be an essential feature of malignant tumor cells when they spread into the stroma. Despite the extracellular acidity of tumor tissues, the effect of acidic extracellular pH (pHe) on EMT in carcinoma models, including the Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) model, remains unclear. Methods High and low metastatic LLC variants were generated by repeated tail vein injection of metastatic cells. DMEM/F12 medium, which has been supplemented with 15 mM HEPES, 4 mM phosphoric acid, and 1 g/L NaHCO3 and adjusted to the desire pH with HCl or NaOH, was used for cell culture. EMT marker gene expression was determined by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Migration and invasion activities were analyzed by wound healing assay and the Boyden chamber assay through Matrigel®, respectively. Results Low metastatic variant LLCm1 cells showed a cobble-stone like morphology at pHe 7.4. At pHe 6.8, however, their morphology became fibroblastic, similar in shape to high metastatic variant LLCm4 cells. Steady state levels of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (Mmp9) mRNA were induced by acidic pHe, maximizing at pH 6.8, with the levels of Mmp9 mRNA higher in LLCm4 than in LLCm1 cells. Both variants showed decreased levels of E-cadherin and increased levels of vimentin at pHe 6.8. Acidic pHe also induced expression of mRNAs encoding the E-cadherin repressors, Zeb2, Twist1 and Twist2, as well as enhancing cell motility and in vitro invasion through Matrigel®. Conclusions Acidic pHe can induce EMT in some types of carcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atsuko Suzuki
- Department of Oral Function and Molecular Biology, Ohu University School of Dentistry, Koriyama, Japan ; Department of Oral Physiology and Biochemistry, Ohu University Graduate School of Dentistry, Koriyama, Japan
| | - Toyonobu Maeda
- Department of Oral Function and Molecular Biology, Ohu University School of Dentistry, Koriyama, Japan
| | - Yuh Baba
- Department of General Clinical Medicine, Ohu University School of Dentistry, Koriyama, Japan
| | - Kazuhiro Shimamura
- Department of Oral Growth and Development, Ohu University School of Dentistry, Koriyama, Japan
| | - Yasumasa Kato
- Department of Oral Function and Molecular Biology, Ohu University School of Dentistry, Koriyama, Japan ; Department of Oral Physiology and Biochemistry, Ohu University Graduate School of Dentistry, Koriyama, Japan
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49
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Abstract
The control of cellular growth and proliferation is key to the maintenance of homeostasis. Survival, proliferation, and arrest are regulated, in part, by Growth Arrest Specific 6 (Gas6) through binding to members of the TAM receptor tyrosine kinase family. Activation of the TAM receptors leads to downstream signaling through common kinases, but the exact mechanism within each cellular context varies and remains to be completely elucidated. Deregulation of the TAM family, due to its central role in mediating cellular proliferation, has been implicated in multiple diseases. Axl was cloned as the first TAM receptor in a search for genes involved in the progression of chronic to acute-phase leukemia, and has since been established as playing a critical role in the progression of cancer. The oncogenic nature of Axl is demonstrated through its activation of signaling pathways involved in proliferation, migration, inhibition of apoptosis, and therapeutic resistance. Despite its recent discovery, significant progress has been made in the development of effective clinical therapeutics targeting Axl. In order to accurately define the role of Axl in normal and diseased processes, it must be analyzed in a cell type-specific context.
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50
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Cariaga-Martínez AE, Cortés I, García E, Pérez-García V, Pajares MJ, Idoate MA, Redondo-Muñóz J, Antón IM, Carrera AC. Phosphoinositide 3-kinase p85beta regulates invadopodium formation. Biol Open 2014; 3:924-36. [PMID: 25217619 PMCID: PMC4197441 DOI: 10.1242/bio.20148185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The acquisition of invasiveness is characteristic of tumor progression. Numerous genetic changes are associated with metastasis, but the mechanism by which a cell becomes invasive remains unclear. Expression of p85β, a regulatory subunit of phosphoinositide-3-kinase, markedly increases in advanced carcinoma, but its mode of action is unknown. We postulated that p85β might facilitate cell invasion. We show that p85β localized at cell adhesions in complex with focal adhesion kinase and enhanced stability and maturation of cell adhesions. In addition, p85β induced development at cell adhesions of an F-actin core that extended several microns into the cell z-axis resembling the skeleton of invadopodia. p85β lead to F-actin polymerization at cell adhesions by recruiting active Cdc42/Rac at these structures. In accordance with p85β function in invadopodium-like formation, p85β levels increased in metastatic melanoma and p85β depletion reduced invadopodium formation and invasion. These results show that p85β enhances invasion by inducing cell adhesion development into invadopodia-like structures explaining the metastatic potential of tumors with increased p85β levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ariel E Cariaga-Martínez
- Department of Immunology and Oncology, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología (CNB-CSIC), Campus de Cantoblanco, Madrid E-28049, Spain
| | - Isabel Cortés
- Department of Immunology and Oncology, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología (CNB-CSIC), Campus de Cantoblanco, Madrid E-28049, Spain
| | - Esther García
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología (CNB-CSIC), Campus de Cantoblanco, Madrid E-28049, Spain
| | - Vicente Pérez-García
- Department of Immunology and Oncology, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología (CNB-CSIC), Campus de Cantoblanco, Madrid E-28049, Spain
| | - María J Pajares
- Biomarkers Laboratory, Division of Oncology, Center for Applied Biomedical Research (CIMA), University of Navarra, Pamplona E-31008, Spain
| | - Miguel A Idoate
- Pathology Department, Hospital Clinic of Navarra, University of Navarra, Pamplona, E-31008, Spain
| | - Javier Redondo-Muñóz
- Department of Immunology and Oncology, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología (CNB-CSIC), Campus de Cantoblanco, Madrid E-28049, Spain
| | - Inés M Antón
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología (CNB-CSIC), Campus de Cantoblanco, Madrid E-28049, Spain
| | - Ana C Carrera
- Department of Immunology and Oncology, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología (CNB-CSIC), Campus de Cantoblanco, Madrid E-28049, Spain
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