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Haider S, Chakraborty S, Chowdhury G, Chakrabarty A. Opposing Interplay between Nuclear Factor Erythroid 2-Related Factor 2 and Forkhead BoxO 1/3 is Responsible for Sepantronium Bromide's Poor Efficacy and Resistance in Cancer cells: Opportunity for Combination Therapy in Triple Negative Breast Cancer. ACS Pharmacol Transl Sci 2024; 7:1237-1251. [PMID: 38751638 PMCID: PMC11091984 DOI: 10.1021/acsptsci.3c00279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2023] [Revised: 03/29/2024] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024]
Abstract
Survivin, a cancer-cell-specific multifunctional protein, is regulated by many oncogenic signaling pathways and an effective therapeutic target. Although, several types of survivin-targeting agents have been developed over the past few decades, none of them received clinical approval. This could be because survivin expression is tightly controlled by the feedback interaction between different signaling molecules. Of the several signaling pathways that are known to regulate survivin expression, the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/AKT serine-threonine kinase/forkhead boxO (PI3K/AKT/FoxO) pathway is well-known for feedback loops constructed by cross-talk among different molecules. Using sepantronium bromide (YM155), the first of its class of survivin-suppressant, we uncovered the existence of an interesting cross-talk between Nuclear Factor Erythroid 2-Related Factor 2 (NRF2) and FoxO transcription factors that also contributes to YM155 resistance in triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells. Pharmacological manipulation to interrupt this interaction not only helped restore/enhance the drug-sensitivity but also prompted effective immune clearance of cancer cells. Because the YM155-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) initiates this feedback, we believe that it will be occurring for many ROS-producing chemotherapeutic agents. Our work provides a rational explanation for the poor efficacy of YM155 compared to standard chemotherapy in clinical trials. Finally, the triple drug combination approach used herein might help reintroducing YM155 into the clinical pipeline, and given the high survivin expression in TNBC cells in general, it could be effective in treating this subtype of breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaista Haider
- Department
of Life Sciences, Shiv Nadar Institution
of Eminence, Greater Noida Gautam
Buddha Nagar Uttar Pradesh 201314, India
| | - Shayantani Chakraborty
- Department
of Life Sciences, Shiv Nadar Institution
of Eminence, Greater Noida Gautam
Buddha Nagar Uttar Pradesh 201314, India
| | - Goutam Chowdhury
- Independent
Researcher, Greater Noida Gautam Buddha Nagar Uttar Pradesh 201308, India
| | - Anindita Chakrabarty
- Department
of Life Sciences, Shiv Nadar Institution
of Eminence, Greater Noida Gautam
Buddha Nagar Uttar Pradesh 201314, India
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Ito T, Saito A, Kamikawa Y, Nakazawa N, Imaizumi K. AIbZIP/CREB3L4 Promotes Cell Proliferation via the SKP2-p27 Axis in Luminal Androgen Receptor Subtype Triple-Negative Breast Cancer. Mol Cancer Res 2024; 22:373-385. [PMID: 38236913 PMCID: PMC10985479 DOI: 10.1158/1541-7786.mcr-23-0629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2023] [Revised: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Breast cancer ranks first in incidence and fifth in cancer-related deaths among all types of cancer globally. Among breast cancer, triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) has few known therapeutic targets and a poor prognosis. Therefore, new therapeutic targets and strategies against TNBC are required. We found that androgen-induced basic leucine zipper (AIbZIP), also known as cyclic AMP-responsive element-binding protein 3-like protein 4 (CREB3L4), which is encoded by Creb3l4, is highly upregulated in a particular subtype of TNBC, luminal androgen receptor (LAR) subtype. We analyzed the function of AIbZIP through depletion of AIbZIP by siRNA knockdown in LAR subtype TNBC cell lines, MFM223 and MDAMB453. In AIbZIP-depleted cells, the proliferation ratios of cells were greatly suppressed. Moreover, G1-S transition was inhibited in AIbZIP-depleted cells. We comprehensively analyzed the expression levels of proteins that regulate G1-S transition and found that p27 was specifically upregulated in AIbZIP-depleted cells. Furthermore, we identified that this p27 downregulation was caused by protein degradation modulated by the ubiquitin-proteasome system via F-box protein S-phase kinase-associated protein 2 (SKP2) upregulation. Our findings demonstrate that AIbZIP is a novel p27-SKP2 pathway-regulating factor and a potential molecule that contributes to LAR subtype TNBC progression. IMPLICATIONS This research shows a new mechanism for the proliferation of LAR subtype TNBC regulated by AIbZIP, that may provide novel insight into the LAR subtype TNBC progression and the molecular mechanisms involved in cell proliferation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taichi Ito
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Atsushi Saito
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Yasunao Kamikawa
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Nayuta Nakazawa
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Kazunori Imaizumi
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
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Anayyat U, Ahad F, Muluh TA, Zaidi SAA, Usmani F, Yang H, Li M, Hassan HA, Wang X. Immunotherapy: Constructive Approach for Breast Cancer Treatment. BREAST CANCER (DOVE MEDICAL PRESS) 2023; 15:925-951. [PMID: 38116189 PMCID: PMC10729681 DOI: 10.2147/bctt.s424624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
A novel and rapid therapeutic approach is the treatment of human breast cancer by enhancing the host's immune system. In initial findings, program death one (PD-1) and program cell death ligand one (PD-L1) showed positive results towards solid tumors, but tumor relapse and drug resistance are the major concerns. Breast cancer therapy has been transformed by the advent of immune checkpoint blockades (ICBs). Triple-negative breast cancers (TNBCs) have exhibited enduring responses to clinical usage of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICBs) like atezolizumab and pembrolizumab. Nonetheless, a notable proportion of individuals with TNBC do not experience advantages from these treatments, and there is limited comprehension of the resistance mechanisms. Another approach to overcome resistance is cancer stem cells (CSCs), as these cells are crucial for the initiation and growth of tumors in the body. Various cancer vaccines are created using stem cells (dendritic, whole cell, bacterial) and focus primarily on targeting tumor-related antigens. The ultimate objective of cancer vaccines is to immunize the patients by active artificial immunity against cancer, though. In this review, we primarily focused on existing immunotherapeutic options, immune checkpoint blockers, the latest progress in understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying resistance to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICBs), advanced strategies to overcome resistance to ICBs, cancer stem cell antigens and molecular markers, ongoing clinical trials for BCs and cancer vaccines for breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Umer Anayyat
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Health Sciences Center, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518055, People’s Republic of China
| | - Faiza Ahad
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Health Sciences Center, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518055, People’s Republic of China
| | - Tobias Achu Muluh
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Health Sciences Center, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518055, People’s Republic of China
| | - Syed Aqib Ali Zaidi
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Health Sciences Center, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518055, People’s Republic of China
| | - Faiza Usmani
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Hua Yang
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Health Sciences Center, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518055, People’s Republic of China
| | - Mengqing Li
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Health Sciences Center, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518055, People’s Republic of China
| | - Hammad Ali Hassan
- Department of Cell Developmental and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Xiaomei Wang
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Health Sciences Center, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518055, People’s Republic of China
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Zhang Q, Yang Z, Hao X, Dandreo LJ, He L, Zhang Y, Wang F, Wu X, Xu L. Niclosamide improves cancer immunotherapy by modulating RNA-binding protein HuR-mediated PD-L1 signaling. Cell Biosci 2023; 13:192. [PMID: 37848943 PMCID: PMC10583380 DOI: 10.1186/s13578-023-01137-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/19/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) represents a revolutionary advance in cancer treatment but remains limited success in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Here we aim to explore the mechanism of RNA-binding protein (RBP) HuR in cancer immune evasion by post-transcriptionally regulating PD-L1 and evaluate the potential of HuR inhibition to improve immune response. METHODS The binding between HuR and PD-L1 mRNA was determined by ribonucleoprotein immunoprecipitation and RNA pull-down assays. The HuR knockout clones were established by CRISPR/Cas9 technology. The protein levels were assessed by Western blot, immunohistochemistry, and immunocytochemistry. The function and molecular mechanism of HuR-PD-L1 were determined by in vitro T cell activation and killing assay and in vivo efficacy assay. RESULTS We found that HuR directly bound to and stabilized PD-L1 mRNA. Knocking out HuR reduced PD-L1 levels and promoted T cell activation. We discovered that niclosamide reduced PD-L1 by inhibiting HuR cytoplasmic translocation, and diminished glycosylation of PD-L1. Niclosamide enhanced T cell-mediated killing of cancer cells and significantly improved the efficacy of anti-PD-1 immunotherapy in two syngeneic animal tumor models. CONCLUSION We identified HuR as a novel posttranscriptional regulator of PD-L1, which plays an important role in tumor immune evasion. Niclosamide might be a promising repurposed drug to improve the patient response to immunotherapy by targeting HuR-PD-L1 axis. Our study demonstrates a novel strategy for targeting HuR/PD-L1 and provides the first proof-of-principle for repurposing niclosamide as a HuR inhibitor to overcome cancer immune evasion and improve response to ICB immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Zhang
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The University of Kansas, 1567 Irving Hill Rd, Lawrence, KS, 66045-7534, USA
| | - Zhe Yang
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The University of Kansas, 1567 Irving Hill Rd, Lawrence, KS, 66045-7534, USA
| | - Xinbao Hao
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The University of Kansas, 1567 Irving Hill Rd, Lawrence, KS, 66045-7534, USA
| | - Lauren J Dandreo
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The University of Kansas, 1567 Irving Hill Rd, Lawrence, KS, 66045-7534, USA
| | - Lily He
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology & Therapeutics, The University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, 66160, USA
| | - Yuxia Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology & Therapeutics, The University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, 66160, USA
| | - Fen Wang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, 66160, USA
| | - Xiaoqing Wu
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The University of Kansas, 1567 Irving Hill Rd, Lawrence, KS, 66045-7534, USA.
- The University of Kansas Cancer Center, The University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, 66160, USA.
| | - Liang Xu
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The University of Kansas, 1567 Irving Hill Rd, Lawrence, KS, 66045-7534, USA.
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, 66160, USA.
- The University of Kansas Cancer Center, The University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, 66160, USA.
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Erlichman N, Meshel T, Baram T, Abu Raiya A, Horvitz T, Ben-Yaakov H, Ben-Baruch A. The Cell-Autonomous Pro-Metastatic Activities of PD-L1 in Breast Cancer Are Regulated by N-Linked Glycosylation-Dependent Activation of STAT3 and STAT1. Cells 2023; 12:2338. [PMID: 37830552 PMCID: PMC10571791 DOI: 10.3390/cells12192338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2023] [Revised: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023] Open
Abstract
PD-L1 has been characterized as an inhibitory immune checkpoint, leading to the suppression of potential anti-tumor immune activities in many cancer types. In view of the relatively limited efficacy of immune checkpoint blockades against PD-L1 in breast cancer, our recent study addressed the possibility that in addition to its immune-inhibitory functions, PD-L1 promotes the pro-metastatic potential of the cancer cells themselves. Indeed, our published findings demonstrated that PD-L1 promoted pro-metastatic functions of breast cancer cells in a cell-autonomous manner, both in vitro and in vivo. These functions fully depended on the integrity of the S283 intracellular residue of PD-L1. Here, using siRNAs and the S283A-PD-L1 variant, we demonstrate that the cell-autonomous pro-metastatic functions of PD-L1-tumor cell proliferation and invasion, and release of the pro-metastatic chemokine CXCL8-required the activation of STAT3 and STAT1 in luminal A and triple-negative breast cancer cells. The cell-autonomous pro-metastatic functions of PD-L1 were potently impaired upon inhibition of N-linked glycosylation (kifunensine). Site-specific mutants at each of the N-linked glycosylation sites of PD-L1 (N35, N192, N200, and N219) revealed that they were all required for PD-L1-induced pro-metastatic functions to occur; the N219 site was the main regulator of STAT3 and STAT1 activation, with accompanying roles for N192 and N200 (depending on the cell type). Using a T cell-independent mouse system, we found that cells expressing N35A-PD-L1 and N219A-PD-L1 had a significantly lower tumorigenic and metastatic potential than cells expressing WT-PD-L1. TCGA analyses revealed significant associations between reduced survival and high levels of α-mannosidase II (inferring on N-linked glycosylation) in breast cancer patients. These findings suggest that N-linked glycosylation of PD-L1 may be used to screen for patients who are at greater risk of disease progression, and that modalities targeting N-linked glycosylated PD-L1 may lead to the inhibition of its cell-autonomous pro-metastatic functions and to lower tumor progression in breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Adit Ben-Baruch
- The Shmunis School of Biomedicine and Cancer Research, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel; (N.E.); (T.M.); (T.B.); (A.A.R.); (T.H.); (H.B.-Y.)
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6
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Zheng Q, Shi S, Zhang N, Chen H. A novel cuproptosis-related genes model in breast cancer prognosis. Medicine (Baltimore) 2023; 102:e34507. [PMID: 37543823 PMCID: PMC10402946 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000034507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer (BRCA) is a highly heterogeneous malignancy with an urgent need to build a proper model to predict its prognosis. Cuproptosis is a recently discovered form of cell death, mediated by protein fatty acylation and tightly associated with mitochondrial metabolism. The role of cuproptosis-related genes (CRGs) in BRCA remains to be explored. We aimed to investigate the applications of CRGs in BRCA prognosis in different clinical contexts, including chemotherapy and immunotherapy, via bioinformatics analysis of the messenger RNA profiles and clinical data obtained from public databases. Molecular subtyping of CRGs was performed through consistent clustering analysis. Differentially expressed genes between different CRG clusters were identified. The differentially expressed genes were then used to build a risk assessment model using least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression to predict patient survival with BRCA. The model was then validated with the data from the Molecular Taxonomy of Breast Cancer International Consortium, GSE96058, and GSE20685. Differences in somatic mutations, copy number variations, hallmark pathways, drug responses, and prognosis of immunotherapy and chemotherapy were analyzed by comparing the high-risk and low-risk groups. Patients with high-risk scores showed worse overall survival than those with low-risk scores. The results indicated significant differences between the 2 groups immune-related biological pathways and the variable immune status. It also suggests the differential sensitivity to chemotherapy between the 2 groups. The CRGs model showed the promise to predict the prognosis of BRCA patients and shed light on their treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qun Zheng
- Center of Clinical Reproductive Medicine, Jinhua People's Hospital, Jinhua, Zhejiang Province, P. R. China
| | - Shuai Shi
- Center of Clinical Reproductive Medicine, Jinhua People's Hospital, Jinhua, Zhejiang Province, P. R. China
| | - Ning Zhang
- Medical Molecular Biology Laboratory, School of Medicine, Jinhua Polytechnic, Jinhua, Zhejiang Province, P. R. China
| | - Haohao Chen
- Medical Molecular Biology Laboratory, School of Medicine, Jinhua Polytechnic, Jinhua, Zhejiang Province, P. R. China
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7
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Chen X, Yan Y, Liu W, Liu Y, Thakur A, Liang Q, Xu Z. Targeting RAS guanyl releasing protein 1 promotes T lymphocytes infiltrations and improves anti-programmed death receptor ligand 1 therapy response of triple-negative breast cancer. Clin Transl Med 2023; 13:e1335. [PMID: 37461253 PMCID: PMC10352603 DOI: 10.1002/ctm2.1335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2023] [Revised: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 07/20/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Xi Chen
- Department of Pharmacy, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Yuanliang Yan
- Department of Pharmacy, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Wangrui Liu
- Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yuanhong Liu
- Department of Pharmacy, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Abhimanyu Thakur
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, Ben May Department for Cancer Research, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Qiuju Liang
- Department of Pharmacy, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Zhijie Xu
- Department of Pathology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
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Tufail M. The MALAT1-breast cancer interplay: insights and implications. Expert Rev Mol Diagn 2023; 23:665-678. [PMID: 37405385 DOI: 10.1080/14737159.2023.2233902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2023] [Accepted: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 07/06/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Breast cancer (BC) is a major public health concern, and identifying new biomarkers and therapeutic targets is critical to improving patient outcomes. MALAT1, a long noncoding RNA, has emerged as a promising candidate due to its overexpression in BC and the associated poor prognosis. Understanding the role of MALAT1 in BC progression is paramount for the development of effective therapeutic strategies. COVERED AREA This review delves into the structure and function of MALAT1, and examines its expression pattern in breast cancer (BC) and its association with different BC subtypes. This review focuses on the interactions between MALAT1 and microRNAs (miRNAs) and the various signaling pathways involved in BC. Furthermore, this study investigates the influence of MALAT1 on the BC tumor microenvironment and the possible influence of MALAT1 on immune checkpoint regulation. This study also sheds light the role of MALAT1 in breast cancer resistance. EXPERT OPINION MALAT1 has been shown to play a key role in the progression of BC, highlighting its importance as a potential therapeutic target. Further studies are needed to elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms by which MALAT1 contributes to the development of BC. In combination with standard therapy, there is a need to evaluates the potential of treatments targeting MALAT1, which may lead to improved treatment outcomes. Moreover, study of MALAT1 as a diagnostic and prognostic marker promises improved BC management. Continued efforts to decipher the functional role of MALAT1 and explore its clinical utility are critical to advancing the BC research field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Tufail
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, China
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Suntiparpluacha M, Chanthercrob J, Sa-nguanraksa D, Sitthikornpaiboon J, Chaiboonchoe A, Kueanjinda P, Jinawath N, Sampattavanich S. Retrospective study of transcriptomic profiling identifies Thai triple-negative breast cancer patients who may benefit from immune checkpoint and PARP inhibitors. PeerJ 2023; 11:e15350. [PMID: 37334114 PMCID: PMC10269579 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.15350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 04/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a rare and aggressive breast cancer subtype. Unlike the estrogen receptor-positive subtype, whose recurrence risk can be predicted by gene expression-based signature, TNBC is more heterogeneous, with diverse drug sensitivity levels to standard regimens. This study explored the benefit of gene expression-based profiling for classifying the molecular subtypes of Thai TNBC patients. Methods The nCounter-based Breast 360 gene expression was used to classify Thai TNBC retrospective cohort subgroups. Their expression profiles were then compared against the previously established TNBC classification system. The differential characteristics of the tumor microenvironment and DNA damage repair signatures across subgroups were also explored. Results Thai TNBC cohort could be classified into four main subgroups, corresponding to the LAR, BL-2, and M subtypes based on Lehmann's TNBC classification. The PAM50 gene set classified most samples as basal-like subtypes except for Group 1. Group 1 exhibited similar enrichment of the metabolic and hormone response pathways to the LAR subtype. Group 2 shared pathway activation with the BL-2 subtype. Group 3 showed an increase in the EMT pathway, similar to the M subtype. Group 4 showed no correlation with Lehmann's TNBC. The tumor microenvironment (TME) analysis showed high TME cell abundance with increased expression of immune blockade genes in Group 2. Group 4 exhibited low TME cell abundance and reduced immune blockade gene expressions. We also observed distinct signatures of the DNA double-strand break repair genes in Group 1. Conclusions Our study reported unique characteristics between the four TNBC subgroups and showed the potential use of immune checkpoint and PARP inhibitors in subsets of Thai TNBC patients. Our findings warrant further clinical investigation to validate TNBC's sensitivity to these regimens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monthira Suntiparpluacha
- Siriraj Center of Research Excellence for Systems Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Jantappapa Chanthercrob
- Siriraj Center of Research Excellence for Systems Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Doonyapat Sa-nguanraksa
- Division of Head Neck and Breast Surgery, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Juthamas Sitthikornpaiboon
- Siriraj Center of Research Excellence for Systems Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Amphun Chaiboonchoe
- Siriraj Center of Research Excellence for Systems Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Patipark Kueanjinda
- Center of Excellence in Immunology and Immune-mediated Diseases, Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Natini Jinawath
- Program in Translational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Chakri Naruebodindra Medical Institute, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Samut Prakan, Thailand
- Integrative Computational BioScience (ICBS) Center, Mahidol University, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand
| | - Somponnat Sampattavanich
- Siriraj Center of Research Excellence for Systems Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
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Torres-Ruiz S, Tormo E, Garrido-Cano I, Lameirinhas A, Rojo F, Madoz-Gúrpide J, Burgués O, Hernando C, Bermejo B, Martínez MT, Lluch A, Cejalvo JM, Eroles P. High VEGFR3 Expression Reduces Doxorubicin Efficacy in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24043601. [PMID: 36835014 PMCID: PMC9966352 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24043601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2022] [Revised: 02/07/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Due to the lack of specific targets, cytotoxic chemotherapy still represents the common standard treatment for triple-negative breast patients. Despite the harmful effect of chemotherapy on tumor cells, there is evidence that treatment could modulate the tumor microenvironment in a way favoring the propagation of the tumor. In addition, the lymphangiogenesis process and its factors could be involved in this counter-therapeutic event. In our study, we have evaluated the expression of the main lymphangiogenic receptor VEGFR3 in two triple-negative breast cancer in vitro models, resistant or not to doxorubicin treatment. The expression of the receptor, at mRNA and protein levels, was higher in doxorubicin-resistant cells than in parental cells. In addition, we confirmed the upregulation of VEGFR3 levels after a short treatment with doxorubicin. Furthermore, VEGFR3 silencing reduced cell proliferation and migration capacities in both cell lines. Interestingly, high VEGFR3 expression was significantly positively correlated with worse survival in patients treated with chemotherapy. Furthermore, we have found that patients with high expression of VEGFR3 present shorter relapse-free survival than patients with low levels of the receptor. In conclusion, elevated VEGFR3 levels correlate with poor survival in patients and with reduced doxorubicin treatment efficacy in vitro. Our results suggest that the levels of this receptor could be a potential marker of meager doxorubicin response. Consequently, our results suggest that the combination of chemotherapy and VEGFR3 blockage could be a potentially useful therapeutic strategy for the treatment of triple-negative breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Eduardo Tormo
- Biomedical Research Institute INCLIVA, 46010 Valencia, Spain
- Center for Biomedical Network Research on Cancer (CIBERONC), 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Ana Lameirinhas
- Biomedical Research Institute INCLIVA, 46010 Valencia, Spain
| | - Federico Rojo
- Center for Biomedical Network Research on Cancer (CIBERONC), 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Department of Pathology, Fundación Jiménez Díaz, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Juan Madoz-Gúrpide
- Center for Biomedical Network Research on Cancer (CIBERONC), 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Department of Pathology, Fundación Jiménez Díaz, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Octavio Burgués
- Biomedical Research Institute INCLIVA, 46010 Valencia, Spain
- Center for Biomedical Network Research on Cancer (CIBERONC), 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Department of Pathology, Hospital Clínico Universitario de Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain
| | - Cristina Hernando
- Biomedical Research Institute INCLIVA, 46010 Valencia, Spain
- Department of Medical Oncology, Hospital Clínico Universitario de Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain
| | - Begoña Bermejo
- Biomedical Research Institute INCLIVA, 46010 Valencia, Spain
- Center for Biomedical Network Research on Cancer (CIBERONC), 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Department of Medical Oncology, Hospital Clínico Universitario de Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain
| | - María Teresa Martínez
- Biomedical Research Institute INCLIVA, 46010 Valencia, Spain
- Department of Medical Oncology, Hospital Clínico Universitario de Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain
| | - Ana Lluch
- Biomedical Research Institute INCLIVA, 46010 Valencia, Spain
- Center for Biomedical Network Research on Cancer (CIBERONC), 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Department of Medical Oncology, Hospital Clínico Universitario de Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain
- Department of Medicine, Universidad de Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain
| | - Juan Miguel Cejalvo
- Biomedical Research Institute INCLIVA, 46010 Valencia, Spain
- Center for Biomedical Network Research on Cancer (CIBERONC), 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Department of Medical Oncology, Hospital Clínico Universitario de Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain
| | - Pilar Eroles
- Biomedical Research Institute INCLIVA, 46010 Valencia, Spain
- Center for Biomedical Network Research on Cancer (CIBERONC), 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Department of Physiology, Universidad de Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain
- Department of Biotechnology, Universidad Politécnica de Valencia, 46022 Valencia, Spain
- Correspondence:
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Special Issue: Resistance to Targeted Therapies in Human Cancer. Biomedicines 2023; 11:biomedicines11020414. [PMID: 36830950 PMCID: PMC9953462 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11020414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer is the second leading cause of death worldwide, accounting for approximately 10 million deaths in 2020 [...].
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Ribeiro R, Carvalho MJ, Goncalves J, Moreira JN. Immunotherapy in triple-negative breast cancer: Insights into tumor immune landscape and therapeutic opportunities. Front Mol Biosci 2022; 9:903065. [PMID: 36060249 PMCID: PMC9437219 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2022.903065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2022] [Accepted: 07/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a clinically aggressive subtype of breast cancer that represents 15-20% of breast tumors and is more prevalent in young pre-menopausal women. It is the subtype of breast cancers with the highest metastatic potential and recurrence at the first 5 years after diagnosis. In addition, mortality increases when a complete pathological response is not achieved. As TNBC cells lack estrogen, progesterone, and HER2 receptors, patients do not respond well to hormone and anti-HER2 therapies, and conventional chemotherapy remains the standard treatment. Despite efforts to develop targeted therapies, this disease continues to have a high unmet medical need, and there is an urgent demand for customized diagnosis and therapeutics. As immunotherapy is changing the paradigm of anticancer treatment, it arises as an alternative treatment for TNBC patients. TNBC is classified as an immunogenic subtype of breast cancer due to its high levels of tumor mutational burden and presence of immune cell infiltrates. This review addresses the implications of these characteristics for the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of the disease. Herein, the role of immune gene signatures and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes as biomarkers in TNBC is reviewed, identifying their application in patient diagnosis and stratification, as well as predictors of efficacy. The expression of PD-L1 expression is already considered to be predictive of response to checkpoint inhibitor therapy, but the challenges regarding its value as biomarker are described. Moreover, the rationales for different formats of immunotherapy against TNBC currently under clinical research are discussed, and major clinical trials are highlighted. Immune checkpoint inhibitors have demonstrated clinical benefit, particularly in early-stage tumors and when administered in combination with chemotherapy, with several regimens approved by the regulatory authorities. The success of antibody-drug conjugates and research on other emerging approaches, such as vaccines and cell therapies, will also be addressed. These advances give hope on the development of personalized, more effective, and safe treatments, which will improve the survival and quality of life of patients with TNBC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rita Ribeiro
- CNC—Center for Neurosciences and Cell Biology, Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), University of Coimbra, Faculty of Medicine (Polo 1), Coimbra, Portugal
- iMed.ULisboa—Research Institute for Medicines, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
- Univ Coimbra—University of Coimbra, CIBB, Faculty of Pharmacy, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Maria João Carvalho
- Univ Coimbra—University of Coimbra, CIBB, Faculty of Pharmacy, Coimbra, Portugal
- CHUC—Coimbra Hospital and University Centre, Department of Gynaecology, Coimbra, Portugal
- Univ Coimbra—University Clinic of Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- iCBR—Institute for Clinical and Biomedical Research Area of Environment Genetics and Oncobiology (CIMAGO), Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- CACC—Clinical Academic Center of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - João Goncalves
- iMed.ULisboa—Research Institute for Medicines, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - João Nuno Moreira
- CNC—Center for Neurosciences and Cell Biology, Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), University of Coimbra, Faculty of Medicine (Polo 1), Coimbra, Portugal
- Univ Coimbra—University of Coimbra, CIBB, Faculty of Pharmacy, Coimbra, Portugal
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