1
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Li H, Li X, Du W. Interplay between Wnt signaling molecules and exosomal miRNAs in breast cancer (Review). Oncol Rep 2024; 52:107. [PMID: 38940326 PMCID: PMC11234250 DOI: 10.3892/or.2024.8766] [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: 03/11/2024] [Accepted: 06/10/2024] [Indexed: 06/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer (BC) is the most common malignancy in women worldwide. Wnt signaling is involved in tumorigenesis and cancer progression, and is closely associated with the characteristics of BC. Variation in the expression of exosomal microRNAs (miRNAs) modulates key cancer phenotypes, such as cellular proliferation, epithelial‑mesenchymal transition, metastatic potential, immune evasion and treatment resistance. The present review aimed to discuss the importance of Wnt signaling and exosomal miRNAs in regulating the occurrence and development of BC. In addition, the present review determined the crosstalk between Wnt signaling and exosomal miRNAs, and highlighted potential diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hailong Li
- Department of Pathology, Changde Hospital, Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University (The First People's Hospital of Changde City), Changde, Hunan 415003, P.R. China
| | - Xia Li
- Department of Pathology, Changde Hospital, Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University (The First People's Hospital of Changde City), Changde, Hunan 415003, P.R. China
| | - Wei Du
- Department of Pathology, Changde Hospital, Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University (The First People's Hospital of Changde City), Changde, Hunan 415003, P.R. China
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2
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Vasileiou M, Diamantoudis SC, Tsianava C, Nguyen NP. Immunotherapeutic Strategies Targeting Breast Cancer Stem Cells. Curr Oncol 2024; 31:3040-3063. [PMID: 38920716 PMCID: PMC11203270 DOI: 10.3390/curroncol31060232] [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: 04/29/2024] [Revised: 05/23/2024] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women and is a leading cause of cancer death in women worldwide. Despite the implementation of multiple treatment options, including immunotherapy, breast cancer treatment remains a challenge. In this review, we aim to summarize present challenges in breast cancer immunotherapy and recent advancements in overcoming treatment resistance. We elaborate on the inhibition of signaling cascades, such as the Notch, Hedgehog, Hippo, and WNT signaling pathways, which regulate the self-renewal and differentiation of breast cancer stem cells and, consequently, disease progression and survival. Cancer stem cells represent a rare population of cancer cells, likely originating from non-malignant stem or progenitor cells, with the ability to evade immune surveillance and develop resistance to immunotherapeutic treatments. We also discuss the interactions between breast cancer stem cells and the immune system, including potential agents targeting breast cancer stem cell-associated signaling pathways, and provide an overview of the emerging approaches to breast cancer stem cell-targeted immunotherapy. Finally, we consider the development of breast cancer vaccines and adoptive cellular therapies, which train the immune system to recognize tumor-associated antigens, for eliciting T cell-mediated responses to target breast cancer stem cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Vasileiou
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Health Sciences, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 15771 Athens, Greece;
| | | | - Christina Tsianava
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Health Sciences, University of Patras, 26504 Patras, Greece
| | - Nam P. Nguyen
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Howard University, Washington, DC 20060, USA
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3
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Muttiah B, Ng SL, Lokanathan Y, Ng MH, Law JX. Extracellular Vesicles in Breast Cancer: From Intercellular Communication to Therapeutic Opportunities. Pharmaceutics 2024; 16:654. [PMID: 38794316 PMCID: PMC11125876 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics16050654] [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: 04/12/2024] [Revised: 05/03/2024] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer, a multifaceted and heterogeneous disease, poses significant challenges in terms of understanding its intricate resistance mechanisms and devising effective therapeutic strategies. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the intricate landscape of extracellular vesicles (EVs) in the context of breast cancer, highlighting their diverse subtypes, biogenesis, and roles in intercellular communication within the tumour microenvironment (TME). The discussion spans various aspects, from EVs and stromal cells in breast cancer to their influence on angiogenesis, immune response, and chemoresistance. The impact of EV production in different culture systems, including two dimensional (2D), three dimensional (3D), and organoid models, is explored. Furthermore, this review delves into the therapeutic potential of EVs in breast cancer, presenting emerging strategies such as engineered EVs for gene delivery, nanoplatforms for targeted chemotherapy, and disrupting tumour derived EVs as a treatment approach. Understanding these complex interactions of EV within the breast cancer milieu is crucial for identifying resistance mechanisms and developing new therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barathan Muttiah
- Centre for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Cheras, Kuala Lumpur 56000, Malaysia; (Y.L.); (M.H.N.)
| | - Sook Luan Ng
- Department of Craniofacial Diagnostics and Biosciences, Faculty of Dentistry, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz, Kuala Lumpur 50300, Malaysia;
| | - Yogeswaran Lokanathan
- Centre for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Cheras, Kuala Lumpur 56000, Malaysia; (Y.L.); (M.H.N.)
| | - Min Hwei Ng
- Centre for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Cheras, Kuala Lumpur 56000, Malaysia; (Y.L.); (M.H.N.)
| | - Jia Xian Law
- Centre for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Cheras, Kuala Lumpur 56000, Malaysia; (Y.L.); (M.H.N.)
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4
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Ray SK, Mukherjee S. Breast cancer stem cells as novel biomarkers. Clin Chim Acta 2024; 557:117855. [PMID: 38453050 DOI: 10.1016/j.cca.2024.117855] [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: 01/31/2024] [Revised: 03/02/2024] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024]
Abstract
Breast cancer is the most common cancer and the leading cause of mortality worldwide. Despite advancements in detection and treatment, it remains a major cause of cancer-related deaths in women. Breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs) are a crucial group of cells responsible for carcinogenesis, metastasis, medication resistance, and tumor recurrence. Identifying and understanding their molecular pathways is essential for developing effective breast cancer therapy. BCSCs are responsible for tumor genesis, development, metastasis, treatment resistance, and recurrence. Biomarkers are essential tools for identifying high-risk patients, improving diagnostic accuracy, developing follow-up programs, assessing treatment susceptibility, and predicting prognostic outcomes. Stem cell intervention therapy can provide specialized tools for precision therapy. Biomarker analysis in cancer patients is crucial to identify cells associated with disease progression and post-therapeutic relapse. However, negative post-therapeutic impacts can enhance cancer stemness by boosting BCSCs plasticity phenotypes, activating stemness pathways in non-BCSCs, and promoting senescence escape, leading to tumor relapse and metastasis. Despite the advancements in precision medicine, challenges persist in identifying stem cell markers, limiting the number of eligible patients for treatment. The diversity of biomedical research hinders the development of individualization-based preventative, monitoring, and treatment strategies, especially in oncology. Integrating and interpreting clinical and scientific data remains challenging. The development of stem cell-related indicators could significantly improve disease precision, enabling stem cell-targeted therapy and personalized treatment plans, although BCSCs are promising for breast cancer treatment optimization, serving as biomarkers for current therapy modalities. This summary discusses recent advancements in breast cancer stem cell research, including biomarkers, identification methods, molecular mechanisms, and tools for studying their biological origin and lineage development for precision medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suman Kumar Ray
- Independent Researcher, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh 462020, India
| | - Sukhes Mukherjee
- Department of Biochemistry, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh 462020, India.
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Qi Y, Li L, Wei Y, Ma F. PP2A as a potential therapeutic target for breast cancer: Current insights and future perspectives. Biomed Pharmacother 2024; 173:116398. [PMID: 38458011 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2024.116398] [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: 12/16/2023] [Revised: 02/28/2024] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer has become the most prevalent malignancy worldwide; however, therapeutic efficacy is far from satisfactory. To alleviate the burden of this disease, it is imperative to discover novel mechanisms and treatment strategies. Protein phosphatase 2 A (PP2A) comprises a family of mammalian serine/threonine phosphatases that regulate many cellular processes. PP2A is dysregulated in several human diseases, including oncological pathologies, and plays a pivotal role in the initiation and progression of tumours. The role of PP2A as a tumour suppressor has been extensively studied, and its regulation can serve as a target for anticancer therapy. Recent studies have shown that PP2A is a tumour promotor. PP2A-mediated anticancer therapy may involve two opposing mechanisms: activation and inhibition. In general, the contradictory roles of PP2A should not be overlooked, and more work is needed to determine the molecular mechanism by which PP2A affects in tumours. In this review, the literature on the role of PP2A in tumours, especially in breast cancer, was analysed. This review describes relevant targets of breast cancer, such as cell cycle control, DNA damage responses, epidermal growth factor receptor, immune modulation and cell death resistance, which may lead to effective therapeutic strategies or influence drug development in breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yalong Qi
- Department of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Center, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Chaoyang District, Pan jia yuan nan Road 17, Beijing 100021, China
| | - Lixi Li
- Department of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Center, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Chaoyang District, Pan jia yuan nan Road 17, Beijing 100021, China
| | - Yuhan Wei
- Department of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Center, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Chaoyang District, Pan jia yuan nan Road 17, Beijing 100021, China
| | - Fei Ma
- Department of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Center, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Chaoyang District, Pan jia yuan nan Road 17, Beijing 100021, China.
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Kubatka P, Koklesova L, Mazurakova A, Brockmueller A, Büsselberg D, Kello M, Shakibaei M. Cell plasticity modulation by flavonoids in resistant breast carcinoma targeting the nuclear factor kappa B signaling. Cancer Metastasis Rev 2024; 43:87-113. [PMID: 37789138 PMCID: PMC11016017 DOI: 10.1007/s10555-023-10134-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 08/31/2023] [Indexed: 10/05/2023]
Abstract
Cancer cell plasticity plays a crucial role in tumor initiation, progression, and metastasis and is implicated in the multiple cancer defense mechanisms associated with therapy resistance and therapy evasion. Cancer resistance represents one of the significant obstacles in the clinical management of cancer. Some reversal chemosensitizing agents have been developed to resolve this serious clinical problem, but they have not yet been proven applicable in oncological practice. Activated nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) is a frequently observed biomarker in chemoresistant breast cancer (BC). Therefore, it denotes an attractive cellular target to mitigate cancer resistance. We summarize that flavonoids represent an essential class of phytochemicals that act as significant regulators of NF-κB signaling and negatively affect the fundamental cellular processes contributing to acquired cell plasticity and drug resistance. In this regard, flavokawain A, icariin, alpinetin, genistein, wogonin, apigenin, oroxylin A, xanthohumol, EGCG, hesperidin, naringenin, orientin, luteolin, delphinidin, fisetin, norwogonin, curcumin, cardamonin, methyl gallate and catechin-3-O-gallate, ampelopsin, puerarin, hyperoside, baicalein, paratocarpin E, and kaempferol and also synthetic flavonoids such as LFG-500 and 5,3'-dihydroxy-3,6,7,8,4'-pentamethoxyflavone have been reported to specifically interfere with the NF-κB pathway with complex signaling consequences in BC cells and could be potentially crucial in re-sensitizing unresponsive BC cases. The targeting NF-κB by above-mentioned flavonoids includes the modification of tumor microenvironment and epithelial-mesenchymal transition, growth factor receptor regulations, and modulations of specific pathways such as PI3K/AKT, MAP kinase/ERK, and Janus kinase/signal transduction in BC cells. Besides that, NF-κB signaling in BC cells modulated by flavonoids has also involved the regulation of ATP-binding cassette transporters, apoptosis, autophagy, cell cycle, and changes in the activity of cancer stem cells, oncogenes, or controlling of gene repair. The evaluation of conventional therapies in combination with plasticity-regulating/sensitizing agents offers new opportunities to make significant progress towards a complete cure for cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Kubatka
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University in Bratislava, Martin, Slovakia.
| | - Lenka Koklesova
- Clinic of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University in Bratislava, Martin, Slovakia
| | - Alena Mazurakova
- Department of Anatomy, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University in Bratislava, Martin, Slovakia
| | - Aranka Brockmueller
- Chair of Vegetative Anatomy, Institute of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, LMU Munich, Pettenkoferstr. 11, D-80336, Munich, Germany
| | - Dietrich Büsselberg
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine in Qatar, Qatar Foundation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Martin Kello
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Pavol Jozef Safarik University, Kosice, Slovakia.
| | - Mehdi Shakibaei
- Chair of Vegetative Anatomy, Institute of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, LMU Munich, Pettenkoferstr. 11, D-80336, Munich, Germany.
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Lian W, Lian K, Lin T. Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System evaluation of breast lesions improved with virtual touch tissue imaging average grayscale values. Technol Health Care 2024; 32:925-936. [PMID: 37545278 DOI: 10.3233/thc-230306] [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] [Indexed: 08/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Early breast cancer diagnosis is of great clinical importance for selecting treatment options, improving prognosis, and enhancing the quality of patients' survival. OBJECTIVE We investigated the value of virtual touch tissue imaging average grayscale values (VAGV) helper Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) in diagnosing breast malignancy. METHODS We retrospectively analyzed 141 breast tumors in 134 patients. All breast lesions were diagnosed pathologically by biopsy or surgical excision. All patients first underwent conventional ultrasound (US) followed by virtual touch tissue imaging (VTI). The measurement of the VAGV of the lesion was performed by Image J software. BI-RADS classification was performed for each lesion according to the US. We performed a two-by-two comparison of the diagnostic values of VAGV, BI-RADS, and BI-RADS+VAGV. RESULTS VAGV was lower in malignant tumors than in benign ones (35.82 ± 13.39 versus 73.58 ± 42.69, P< 0.001). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) value, sensitivity, and specificity of VAGV was 0.834, 84.09%, and 69.07%, respectively. Among BI-RADS, VAGV, and BI-RADS+VAGV, BI-RADS+VAGV had the highest AUC (0.926 versus 0.882, P= 0.0066; 0.926 versus 0.834, P= 0.0012). There was perfect agreement between the two radiologists using VAGV (ICC= 0.9796) and substantial agreement using BI-RADS (Kappa= 0.725). CONCLUSION Our study shows that VAGV can accurately diagnose breast cancer. VAGV effectively improves the diagnostic performance of BI-RADS.
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López L, Fernández-Vañes L, Cabal VN, García-Marín R, Suárez-Fernández L, Codina-Martínez H, Lorenzo-Guerra SL, Vivanco B, Blanco-Lorenzo V, Llorente JL, López F, Hermsen MA. Sox2 and βIII-Tubulin as Biomarkers of Drug Resistance in Poorly Differentiated Sinonasal Carcinomas. J Pers Med 2023; 13:1504. [PMID: 37888115 PMCID: PMC10608336 DOI: 10.3390/jpm13101504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2023] [Revised: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 10/14/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Poorly differentiated sinonasal carcinomas (PDCs) are tumors that have a poor prognosis despite advances in classical treatment. Predictive and prognostic markers and new personalized treatments could improve the oncological outcomes of patients. In this study, we analyzed SOX2 and βIII-tubulin as biomarkers that could have prognostic and therapeutic impacts on these tumors. The cohort included 57 cases of PDCs: 36 sinonasal undifferentiated carcinoma (SNUC) cases, 13 olfactory neuroblastoma (ONB) cases, and 8 sinonasal neuroendocrine carcinoma (SNEC) cases. Clinical follow-up data were available for 26 of these cases. Sox2 expression was detected using immunohistochemistry in 6 (75%) SNEC cases, 19 (53%) SNUC cases, and 6 (46%) ONB cases. The absence of Sox2 staining correlated with a higher rate of recurrence (p = 0.015), especially distant recurrence. The majority of cases showed βIII-tubulin expression, with strong positivity in 85%, 75%, and 64% of SNEC, ONB, and SNUC cases, respectively. Tumors with stronger βIII-tubulin expression demonstrated longer disease-free survival than those with no expression or low expression (p = 0.049). Sox2 and βIII-tubulin expression is common in poorly differentiated sinonasal tumors and has prognostic and therapeutic utility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis López
- Department of Otolaryngology, Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias, 33011 Oviedo, Spain; (L.L.); (L.F.-V.); (J.L.L.)
| | - Laura Fernández-Vañes
- Department of Otolaryngology, Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias, 33011 Oviedo, Spain; (L.L.); (L.F.-V.); (J.L.L.)
| | - Virginia N. Cabal
- Department of Head and Neck Cancer, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias (ISPA), 33011 Oviedo, Spain; (V.N.C.); (R.G.-M.); (L.S.-F.); (H.C.-M.); (S.L.L.-G.); (M.A.H.)
| | - Rocío García-Marín
- Department of Head and Neck Cancer, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias (ISPA), 33011 Oviedo, Spain; (V.N.C.); (R.G.-M.); (L.S.-F.); (H.C.-M.); (S.L.L.-G.); (M.A.H.)
| | - Laura Suárez-Fernández
- Department of Head and Neck Cancer, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias (ISPA), 33011 Oviedo, Spain; (V.N.C.); (R.G.-M.); (L.S.-F.); (H.C.-M.); (S.L.L.-G.); (M.A.H.)
| | - Helena Codina-Martínez
- Department of Head and Neck Cancer, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias (ISPA), 33011 Oviedo, Spain; (V.N.C.); (R.G.-M.); (L.S.-F.); (H.C.-M.); (S.L.L.-G.); (M.A.H.)
| | - Sara L. Lorenzo-Guerra
- Department of Head and Neck Cancer, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias (ISPA), 33011 Oviedo, Spain; (V.N.C.); (R.G.-M.); (L.S.-F.); (H.C.-M.); (S.L.L.-G.); (M.A.H.)
| | - Blanca Vivanco
- Department of Pathology, Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias, 33011 Oviedo, Spain; (B.V.); (V.B.-L.)
| | - Verónica Blanco-Lorenzo
- Department of Pathology, Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias, 33011 Oviedo, Spain; (B.V.); (V.B.-L.)
| | - José L. Llorente
- Department of Otolaryngology, Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias, 33011 Oviedo, Spain; (L.L.); (L.F.-V.); (J.L.L.)
| | - Fernando López
- Department of Otolaryngology, Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias, 33011 Oviedo, Spain; (L.L.); (L.F.-V.); (J.L.L.)
| | - Mario A. Hermsen
- Department of Head and Neck Cancer, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias (ISPA), 33011 Oviedo, Spain; (V.N.C.); (R.G.-M.); (L.S.-F.); (H.C.-M.); (S.L.L.-G.); (M.A.H.)
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Ordaz-Ramos A, Tellez-Jimenez O, Vazquez-Santillan K. Signaling pathways governing the maintenance of breast cancer stem cells and their therapeutic implications. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1221175. [PMID: 37492224 PMCID: PMC10363614 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1221175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 07/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs) represent a distinct subpopulation of cells with the ability to self-renewal and differentiate into phenotypically diverse tumor cells. The involvement of CSC in treatment resistance and cancer recurrence has been well established. Numerous studies have provided compelling evidence that the self-renewal ability of cancer stem cells is tightly regulated by specific signaling pathways, which exert critical roles to maintain an undifferentiated phenotype and prevent the differentiation of CSCs. Signaling pathways such as Wnt/β-catenin, NF-κB, Notch, Hedgehog, TGF-β, and Hippo have been implicated in the promotion of self-renewal of many normal and cancer stem cells. Given the pivotal role of BCSCs in driving breast cancer aggressiveness, targeting self-renewal signaling pathways holds promise as a viable therapeutic strategy for combating this disease. In this review, we will discuss the main signaling pathways involved in the maintenance of the self-renewal ability of BCSC, while also highlighting current strategies employed to disrupt the signaling molecules associated with stemness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandro Ordaz-Ramos
- Innovation in Precision Medicine Laboratory, Instituto Nacional de Medicina Genómica, Mexico City, México
- Posgrado en Ciencias Biológicas, Unidad de Posgrado, Circuito de Posgrados, Ciudad Universitaria, Coyoacán, México
| | - Olivia Tellez-Jimenez
- Innovation in Precision Medicine Laboratory, Instituto Nacional de Medicina Genómica, Mexico City, México
- Posgrado en Ciencias Biológicas, Unidad de Posgrado, Circuito de Posgrados, Ciudad Universitaria, Coyoacán, México
| | - Karla Vazquez-Santillan
- Innovation in Precision Medicine Laboratory, Instituto Nacional de Medicina Genómica, Mexico City, México
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10
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Benjamin M, Malakar P, Sinha RA, Nasser MW, Batra SK, Siddiqui JA, Chakravarti B. Molecular signaling network and therapeutic developments in breast cancer brain metastasis. ADVANCES IN CANCER BIOLOGY - METASTASIS 2023; 7:100079. [PMID: 36536947 PMCID: PMC7613958 DOI: 10.1016/j.adcanc.2022.100079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Breast cancer (BC) is one of the most frequently diagnosed cancers in women worldwide. It has surpassed lung cancer as the leading cause of cancer-related death. Breast cancer brain metastasis (BCBM) is becoming a major clinical concern that is commonly associated with ER-ve and HER2+ve subtypes of BC patients. Metastatic lesions in the brain originate when the cancer cells detach from a primary breast tumor and establish metastatic lesions and infiltrate near and distant organs via systemic blood circulation by traversing the BBB. The colonization of BC cells in the brain involves a complex interplay in the tumor microenvironment (TME), metastatic cells, and brain cells like endothelial cells, microglia, and astrocytes. BCBM is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality and presents a challenge to developing successful cancer therapy. In this review, we discuss the molecular mechanism of BCBM and novel therapeutic strategies for patients with brain metastatic BC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mercilena Benjamin
- Lab Oncology, Dr. B.R.A.I.R.C.H. All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Pushkar Malakar
- Department of Biomedical Science and Technology, School of Biological Sciences, Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda Educational and Research Institute, Narendrapur, West Bengal, 700103, India
| | - Rohit Anthony Sinha
- Department of Endocrinology, Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, 226014, India
| | - Mohd Wasim Nasser
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198, USA
- Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68108, USA
| | - Surinder K. Batra
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198, USA
- Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68108, USA
| | - Jawed Akhtar Siddiqui
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198, USA
- Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68108, USA
| | - Bandana Chakravarti
- Department of Endocrinology, Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, 226014, India
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Ben-Yaakov H, Meshel T, Pasmanik-Chor M, Körner C, Ben-Baruch A. A Tumor Microenvironment-Driven Network Regulated by STAT3 and p65 Negatively Controls the Enrichment of Cancer Stem Cells in Human HR+/HER2- Breast Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15082255. [PMID: 37190183 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15082255] [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: 03/20/2023] [Revised: 04/04/2023] [Accepted: 04/05/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Hormone receptor-positive and HER2-negative (HR+/HER2-; luminal A) tumors are prevalent in breast cancer. Our past studies demonstrated that "TME Stimulation" (estrogen + TNFα + EGF, representing three arms of the tumor microenvironment, TME) has enriched metastasis-forming cancer stem cells (CSCs) in HR+/HER2- human breast cancer cells. Here, following information obtained by RNAseq analyses of TME-stimulated CSCs and Non-CSCs, we found that TME Stimulation has induced the activation of S727-STAT3, Y705-STAT3, STAT1 and p65. Upon TME Stimulation, stattic (STAT3 inhibitor) usage demonstrated that Y705-STAT3 activation negatively controlled CSC enrichment and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) traits, while inducing CXCL8 (IL-8) and PD-L1 expression. However, STAT3 knock-down (siSTAT3) had no effect on these functions; in terms of CSC enrichment, p65 had down-regulatory roles that compensated for the loss of an entire STAT3 protein. Y705-STAT3 and p65 acted additively in reducing CSC enrichment, and Y705A-STAT3 variant + sip65 has enriched chemo-resistant CSCs. Clinical data analyses revealed an inverse correlation between Y705-STAT3 + p65 phosphorylation and CSC signature in luminal A patients, and connection to improved disease course. Overall, we find regulatory roles for Y705-STAT3 and p65 in TME-stimulated HR+/HER2- tumors, with the ability to limit CSC enrichment. These findings raise concerns about using inhibitors of STAT3 and p65 as therapeutic strategies in the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hagar Ben-Yaakov
- The Shmunis School of Biomedicine and Cancer Research, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
| | - Tsipi Meshel
- The Shmunis School of Biomedicine and Cancer Research, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
| | - Metsada Pasmanik-Chor
- Bioinformatics Unit, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
| | - Cindy Körner
- Division of Molecular Genome Analysis, German Cancer Research Center, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - 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
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A Triphenylphosphonium-Functionalized Delivery System for an ATM Kinase Inhibitor That Ameliorates Doxorubicin Resistance in Breast Carcinoma Mammospheres. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15051474. [PMID: 36900267 PMCID: PMC10000448 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15051474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2022] [Revised: 02/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The enzyme ataxia-telangiectasia mutated (ATM) kinase is a pluripotent signaling mediator which activates cellular responses to genotoxic and metabolic stress. It has been shown that ATM enables the growth of mammalian adenocarcinoma stem cells, and therefore the potential benefits in cancer chemotherapy of a number of ATM inhibitors, such as KU-55933 (KU), are currently being investigated. We assayed the effects of utilizing a triphenylphosphonium-functionalized nanocarrier delivery system for KU on breast cancer cells grown either as a monolayer or in three-dimensional mammospheres. We observed that the encapsulated KU was effective against chemotherapy-resistant mammospheres of breast cancer cells, while having comparably lower cytotoxicity against adherent cells grown as monolayers. We also noted that the encapsulated KU sensitized the mammospheres to the anthracycline drug doxorubicin significantly, while having only a weak effect on adherent breast cancer cells. Our results suggest that triphenylphosphonium-functionalized drug delivery systems that contain encapsulated KU, or compounds with a similar impact, are a useful addition to chemotherapeutic treatment schemes that target proliferating cancers.
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