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Mancini V, Raffa S, Fiorio Pla A, French D, Torrisi MR, Ranieri D, Belleudi F. TRPA1 Contributes to FGFR2c Signaling and to Its Oncogenic Outcomes in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma-Derived Cell Lines. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:609. [PMID: 38339360 PMCID: PMC10854535 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16030609] [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: 12/12/2023] [Revised: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) signaling is a key modulator of cellular processes dysregulated in cancer. We recently found that the high expression of the mesenchymal FGFR2c variant in human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC)-derived cells triggers the PKCε-mediated improvement of EMT and of MCL-1/SRC-dependent cell invasion. Since other membrane proteins can affect the receptor tyrosine kinase signaling, including transient receptor potential channels (TRPs), in this work, we investigated the role of TRPs in the FGFR2c/PKCε oncogenic axis. Our results highlighted that either the FGFR2c/PKCε axis shut-off obtained by shRNA or its sustained activation via ligand stimulation induces TRPA1 downregulation, suggesting a channel/receptor dependence. Indeed, biochemical molecular and immunofluorescence approaches demonstrated that the transient depletion of TRPA1 by siRNA was sufficient to attenuate FGFR2c downstream signaling pathways, as well as the consequent enhancement of EMT. Moreover, the biochemical check of MCL1/SRC signaling and the in vitro assay of cellular motility suggested that TRPA1 also contributes to the FGFR2c-induced enhancement of PDAC cell invasiveness. Finally, the use of a selective channel antagonist indicated that the contribution of TRPA1 to the FGFR2c oncogenic potential is independent of its pore function. Thus, TRPA1 could represent a putative candidate for future target therapies in PDAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanessa Mancini
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy; (V.M.); (S.R.); (D.F.); (M.R.T.); (F.B.)
| | - Salvatore Raffa
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy; (V.M.); (S.R.); (D.F.); (M.R.T.); (F.B.)
| | - Alessandra Fiorio Pla
- Turin Cell Physiology Laboratory, Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Turin, 10125 Torino, Italy;
| | - Deborah French
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy; (V.M.); (S.R.); (D.F.); (M.R.T.); (F.B.)
| | - Maria Rosaria Torrisi
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy; (V.M.); (S.R.); (D.F.); (M.R.T.); (F.B.)
| | - Danilo Ranieri
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy; (V.M.); (S.R.); (D.F.); (M.R.T.); (F.B.)
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita, della Salute e delle Professioni Sanitarie, Università degli Studi “Link Campus University”, 00165 Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Belleudi
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy; (V.M.); (S.R.); (D.F.); (M.R.T.); (F.B.)
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2
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Behrens D, Pfohl U, Conrad T, Becker M, Brzezicha B, Büttner B, Wagner S, Hallas C, Lawlor R, Khazak V, Linnebacher M, Wartmann T, Fichtner I, Hoffmann J, Dahlmann M, Walther W. Establishment and Thorough Characterization of Xenograft (PDX) Models Derived from Patients with Pancreatic Cancer for Molecular Analyses and Chemosensitivity Testing. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:5753. [PMID: 38136299 PMCID: PMC10741928 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15245753] [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: 09/29/2023] [Revised: 12/02/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Patient-derived xenograft (PDX) tumor models are essential for identifying new biomarkers, signaling pathways and novel targets, to better define key factors of therapy response and resistance mechanisms. Therefore, this study aimed at establishing pancreas carcinoma (PC) PDX models with thorough molecular characterization, and the identification of signatures defining responsiveness toward drug treatment. In total, 45 PC-PDXs were generated from 120 patient tumor specimens and the identity of PDX and corresponding patient tumors was validated. The majority of engrafted PDX models represent ductal adenocarcinomas (PDAC). The PDX growth characteristics were assessed, with great variations in doubling times (4 to 32 days). The mutational analyses revealed an individual mutational profile of the PDXs, predominantly showing alterations in the genes encoding KRAS, TP53, FAT1, KMT2D, MUC4, RNF213, ATR, MUC16, GNAS, RANBP2 and CDKN2A. Sensitivity of PDX toward standard of care (SoC) drugs gemcitabine, 5-fluorouracil, oxaliplatin and abraxane, and combinations thereof, revealed PDX models with sensitivity and resistance toward these treatments. We performed correlation analyses of drug sensitivity of these PDX models and their molecular profile to identify signatures for response and resistance. This study strongly supports the importance and value of PDX models for improvement in therapies of PC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana Behrens
- Experimental Pharmacology and Oncology GmbH, Robert-Rössle-Str. 10, 13125 Berlin, Germany (M.D.)
| | - Ulrike Pfohl
- Experimental Pharmacology and Oncology GmbH, Robert-Rössle-Str. 10, 13125 Berlin, Germany (M.D.)
- CELLphenomics GmbH, Robert-Rössle-Str. 10, 13125 Berlin, Germany
| | - Theresia Conrad
- Experimental Pharmacology and Oncology GmbH, Robert-Rössle-Str. 10, 13125 Berlin, Germany (M.D.)
| | - Michael Becker
- Experimental Pharmacology and Oncology GmbH, Robert-Rössle-Str. 10, 13125 Berlin, Germany (M.D.)
| | - Bernadette Brzezicha
- Experimental Pharmacology and Oncology GmbH, Robert-Rössle-Str. 10, 13125 Berlin, Germany (M.D.)
| | - Britta Büttner
- Experimental Pharmacology and Oncology GmbH, Robert-Rössle-Str. 10, 13125 Berlin, Germany (M.D.)
| | - Silvia Wagner
- Department of General, Visceral and Transplant Surgery, University Hospital Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Cora Hallas
- Institut für Hämatopathologie, Fangdieckstr. 75, 22547 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Rita Lawlor
- ARC-Net Research Center, University and Hospital Trust of Verona, Piazzale A. Scuro 10, 37134 Verona, Italy
| | | | - Michael Linnebacher
- Clinic of General Surgery, Molecular Oncology and Immunotherapy, University Medical Center Rostock, 18057 Rostock, Germany
| | - Thomas Wartmann
- University Clinic for General, Visceral, Vascular and Transplantation Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Otto-von-Guericke-University, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Iduna Fichtner
- Experimental Pharmacology and Oncology GmbH, Robert-Rössle-Str. 10, 13125 Berlin, Germany (M.D.)
| | - Jens Hoffmann
- Experimental Pharmacology and Oncology GmbH, Robert-Rössle-Str. 10, 13125 Berlin, Germany (M.D.)
| | - Mathias Dahlmann
- Experimental Pharmacology and Oncology GmbH, Robert-Rössle-Str. 10, 13125 Berlin, Germany (M.D.)
| | - Wolfgang Walther
- Experimental Pharmacology and Oncology GmbH, Robert-Rössle-Str. 10, 13125 Berlin, Germany (M.D.)
- Experimental and Clinical Research Center, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Lindenberger Weg 80, 13125 Berlin, Germany
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine, Robert-Rössle-Str. 10, 13125 Berlin, Germany
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3
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Li H, Li J, Qu X, Dai H, Liu J, Ma M, Wang J, Dong W, Wang W. Establishment and validation of a novel lysosome-related gene signature for predicting prognosis and immune landscape in hepatocellular carcinoma. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 2023; 149:17543-17557. [PMID: 37903936 DOI: 10.1007/s00432-023-05477-5] [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: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 11/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Recent studies have shown that lysosomes not only provide energy for tumor cell growth, but also participate in the occurrence and development of malignant tumors by regulating various ways of tumor cell death. However, the role of lysosome associated genes (LSAGs) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains unclear. METHODS Transcriptome data and clinical data of HCC were downloaded from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and the International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC) databases. We identified differential expression of LSAGs by comparing tumor tissue with normal liver tissue. Subsequently, we used univariate COX analysis and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) COX regression to construct the prognostic feature of LSAGs. Kaplan-Meier survival curve and receiver operating characteristic curve were used to evaluate the predictive ability of LSAGs feature. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) were used for functional enrichment analysis of risk differential genes. The relationship between LSAGs score and tumor microenvironment and chemotherapy drug sensitivity was analyzed. Finally, the cellular communication of tumor cells with high and low expression of model LSAGs was explored. RESULTS We identified sixteen prognostic associated LSAGs, four of which were selected to construct prognostic feature of LSAGs. Patients in the low LSAGs group had a better prognosis than those in the high LSAGs group. GO and KEGG analyses showed that risk differential genes were enriched in leukocyte migration, cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction and PI3K-Akt signaling pathway. The group with low LSAGs score had lower immune score. Patients in the high LSAGs group were more sensitive to drugs for chemotherapy. In addition, tumor cells with high expression of model LSAGs showed stronger association with immune cells through the interleukin-2 (IL2), fibroblast growth factor (FGF), adiponectin, and bone morphogenetic proteins (BMP) signaling pathways. CONCLUSION We established a LSAGs signature that had the ability to predict clinical prognosis and immune landscape, proposing potential therapeutic targets for HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haoling Li
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Translational Cancer Research, Bengbu Medical College, Anhui, 233030, China
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Bengbu Medical College, Anhui, 233030, China
| | - Jing Li
- Department of Pharmacy, Shanghai Pudong New Area People's Hospital, Shanghai, 201299, China
| | - Xiangyu Qu
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Bengbu Medical College, Anhui, 233030, China
| | - Hengwen Dai
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Bengbu Medical College, Anhui, 233030, China
| | - Junjie Liu
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Bengbu Medical College, Anhui, 233030, China
| | - Mengxi Ma
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Bengbu Medical College, Anhui, 233030, China
| | - Jian Wang
- Department of Pharmacy, Shanghai Pudong New Area People's Hospital, Shanghai, 201299, China.
| | - Wei Dong
- Department of Hepatic Surgery, The Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200438, China.
| | - Wenrui Wang
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Translational Cancer Research, Bengbu Medical College, Anhui, 233030, China.
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Bengbu Medical College, Anhui, 233030, China.
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4
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Polak KL, Tamagno I, Parameswaran N, Smigiel J, Chan ER, Yuan X, Rios B, Jackson MW. Oncostatin-M and OSM-Receptor Feed-Forward Activation of MAPK Induces Separable Stem-like and Mesenchymal Programs. Mol Cancer Res 2023; 21:975-990. [PMID: 37310811 PMCID: PMC10527478 DOI: 10.1158/1541-7786.mcr-22-0715] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2022] [Revised: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Patients diagnosed with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) frequently present with advanced metastatic disease and exhibit a poor response to therapy, resulting in poor outcomes. The tumor microenvironment cytokine Oncostatin-M (OSM) initiates PDAC plasticity, inducing the reprogramming to a stem-like/mesenchymal state, which enhances metastasis and therapy resistance. Using a panel of PDAC cells driven through epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) by OSM or the transcription factors ZEB1 or SNAI1, we find that OSM uniquely induces tumor initiation and gemcitabine resistance independently of its ability to induce a CD44HI/mesenchymal phenotype. In contrast, while ZEB1 and SNAI1 induce a CD44HI/mesenchymal phenotype and migration comparable with OSM, they are unable to promote tumor initiation or robust gemcitabine resistance. Transcriptomic analysis identified that OSM-mediated stemness requires MAPK activation and sustained, feed-forward transcription of OSMR. MEK and ERK inhibitors prevented OSM-driven transcription of select target genes and stem-like/mesenchymal reprogramming, resulting in reduced tumor growth and resensitization to gemcitabine. We propose that the unique properties of OSMR, which hyperactivates MAPK signaling when compared with other IL6 family receptors, make it an attractive therapeutic target, and that disrupting the OSM-OSMR-MAPK feed-forward loop may be a novel way to therapeutically target the stem-like behaviors common to aggressive PDAC. IMPLICATIONS Small-molecule MAPK inhibitors may effectively target the OSM/OSMR-axis that leads to EMT and tumor initiating properties that promote aggressive PDAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelsey L Polak
- Department of Pathology and Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Case Western Reserve University Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Ilaria Tamagno
- Department of Pathology and Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Case Western Reserve University Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Neetha Parameswaran
- Department of Pathology and Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Case Western Reserve University Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Jacob Smigiel
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - E. Ricky Chan
- Department of Pathology and Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Case Western Reserve University Cleveland, OH, USA
- Department of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Xueer Yuan
- Department of Pathology and Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Case Western Reserve University Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Brenda Rios
- Cancer Biology Program, Vanderbilt School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Mark W. Jackson
- Department of Pathology and Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Case Western Reserve University Cleveland, OH, USA
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5
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Oh K, Yoo YJ, Torre-Healy LA, Rao M, Fassler D, Wang P, Caponegro M, Gao M, Kim J, Sasson A, Georgakis G, Powers S, Moffitt RA. Coordinated single-cell tumor microenvironment dynamics reinforce pancreatic cancer subtype. Nat Commun 2023; 14:5226. [PMID: 37633924 PMCID: PMC10460409 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-40895-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2022] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Bulk analyses of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) samples are complicated by the tumor microenvironment (TME), i.e. signals from fibroblasts, endocrine, exocrine, and immune cells. Despite this, we and others have established tumor and stroma subtypes with prognostic significance. However, understanding of underlying signals driving distinct immune and stromal landscapes is still incomplete. Here we integrate 92 single cell RNA-seq samples from seven independent studies to build a reproducible PDAC atlas with a focus on tumor-TME interdependence. Patients with activated stroma are synonymous with higher myofibroblastic and immunogenic fibroblasts, and furthermore show increased M2-like macrophages and regulatory T-cells. Contrastingly, patients with 'normal' stroma show M1-like recruitment, elevated effector and exhausted T-cells. To aid interoperability of future studies, we provide a pretrained cell type classifier and an atlas of subtype-based signaling factors that we also validate in mouse data. Ultimately, this work leverages the heterogeneity among single-cell studies to create a comprehensive view of the orchestra of signaling interactions governing PDAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ki Oh
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Yun Jae Yoo
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Luke A Torre-Healy
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Manisha Rao
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
- Department of Pathology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Danielle Fassler
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Pei Wang
- Department of Cell Systems & Anatomy, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Michael Caponegro
- Department of Pharmacology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Mei Gao
- Department of Surgery, University of Kentucky and Markey Cancer Center, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Joseph Kim
- Department of Surgery, University of Kentucky and Markey Cancer Center, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Aaron Sasson
- Department of Surgery, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
- Stony Brook Cancer Center, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Georgios Georgakis
- Department of Surgery, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
- Stony Brook Cancer Center, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Scott Powers
- Department of Pathology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
- Stony Brook Cancer Center, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Richard A Moffitt
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA.
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
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6
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Resovi A, Persichitti P, Brunelli L, Minoli L, Borsotti P, Garattini G, Tironi M, Dugnani E, Redegalli M, De Simone G, Pastorelli R, Bani MR, Piemonti L, Mosher DF, Giavazzi R, Taraboletti G, Belotti D. Fibronectin fragments generated by pancreatic trypsin act as endogenous inhibitors of pancreatic tumor growth. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2023; 42:201. [PMID: 37559126 PMCID: PMC10411016 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-023-02778-y] [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: 03/22/2023] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 08/11/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The pancreatic microenvironment has a defensive role against cancer but it can acquire tumor-promoting properties triggered by multiple mechanisms including alterations in the equilibrium between proteases and their inhibitors. The identification of proteolytic events, targets and pathways would set the basis for the design of new therapeutic approaches. METHODS AND RESULTS Here we demonstrate that spheroids isolated from human and murine healthy pancreas and co-transplanted orthotopically with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) in mouse pancreas inhibited tumor growth. The effect was mediated by trypsin-generated fibronectin (FN) fragments released by pancreatic spheroids. Tumor inhibition was observed also in a model of acute pancreatitis associated with trypsin activation. Mass spectrometry proteomic analysis of fragments and mAb against different FN epitopes identified the FN type III domain as responsible for the activity. By inhibiting integrin α5β1, FAK and FGFR1 signaling, the fragments induced tumor cell detachment and reduced cell proliferation. Consistent with the mutual relationship between the two pathways, FGF2 restored both FGFR1 and FAK signaling and promoted PDAC cell adhesion and proliferation. FAK and FGFR inhibitors additively inhibited PDAC growth in vitro and in orthotopic in vivo models. CONCLUSIONS This study identifies a novel role for pancreatic trypsin and fibronectin cleavage as a mechanism of protection against cancer by the pancreatic microenvironment. The finding of a FAK-FGFR cross-talk in PDAC support the combination of FAK and FGFR inhibitors for PDAC treatment to emulate the protective effect of the normal pancreas against cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Resovi
- Department of Oncology, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Bergamo and Milan, Italy
| | - Perla Persichitti
- Department of Oncology, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Bergamo and Milan, Italy
| | - Laura Brunelli
- Department of Environmental Science, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Lucia Minoli
- Department of Oncology, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Bergamo and Milan, Italy
| | - Patrizia Borsotti
- Department of Oncology, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Bergamo and Milan, Italy
| | - Giulia Garattini
- Department of Oncology, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Bergamo and Milan, Italy
| | - Matteo Tironi
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Bergamo, Italy
| | - Erica Dugnani
- Diabetes Research Institute, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milano, Italy
| | - Miriam Redegalli
- Department of Oncology, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Bergamo and Milan, Italy
| | - Giulia De Simone
- Department of Environmental Science, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Roberta Pastorelli
- Department of Environmental Science, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Maria Rosa Bani
- Department of Oncology, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Bergamo and Milan, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Piemonti
- Diabetes Research Institute, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milano, Italy
| | - Deane F Mosher
- Departments of Biomolecular Chemistry and Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Raffaella Giavazzi
- Department of Oncology, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Bergamo and Milan, Italy
| | - Giulia Taraboletti
- Department of Oncology, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Bergamo and Milan, Italy
| | - Dorina Belotti
- Department of Oncology, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Bergamo and Milan, Italy.
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7
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Coetzee AS, Carter EP, Rodríguez-Fernández L, Heward J, Wang Q, Karim SA, Boughetane L, Milton C, Uyulur F, Morton JP, Kocher HM, Grose RP. Nuclear FGFR1 promotes pancreatic stellate cell-driven invasion through up-regulation of Neuregulin 1. Oncogene 2023; 42:491-500. [PMID: 36357571 PMCID: PMC9918430 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-022-02513-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2022] [Revised: 10/10/2022] [Accepted: 10/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs) are key to the treatment-refractory desmoplastic phenotype of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and have received considerable attention as a stromal target for cancer therapy. This approach demands detailed understanding of their pro- and anti-tumourigenic effects. Interrogating PSC-cancer cell interactions in 3D models, we identified nuclear FGFR1 as critical for PSC-led invasion of cancer cells. ChIP-seq analysis of FGFR1 in PSCs revealed a number of FGFR1 interaction sites within the genome, notably NRG1, which encodes the ERBB ligand Neuregulin. We show that nuclear FGFR1 regulates transcription of NRG1, which in turn acts in autocrine fashion through an ERBB2/4 heterodimer to promote invasion. In support of this, recombinant NRG1 in 3D model systems rescued the loss of invasion incurred by FGFR inhibition. In vivo we demonstrate that, while FGFR inhibition does not affect the growth of pancreatic tumours in mice, local invasion into the pancreas is reduced. Thus, FGFR and NRG1 may present new stromal targets for PDAC therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abigail S Coetzee
- Centre for Tumour Biology, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, EC1M 6BQ, UK
| | - Edward P Carter
- Centre for Tumour Biology, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, EC1M 6BQ, UK
| | - Lucía Rodríguez-Fernández
- Centre for Tumour Biology, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, EC1M 6BQ, UK
| | - James Heward
- Centre for Cancer Genomics and Computational Biology, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, EC1M 6BQ, UK
| | - Qiaoying Wang
- Centre for Tumour Biology, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, EC1M 6BQ, UK
| | - Saadia A Karim
- Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute, Garscube Estate, Switchback Road, Glasgow, G61 1BD, UK
| | - Lina Boughetane
- Centre for Tumour Biology, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, EC1M 6BQ, UK
| | - Christopher Milton
- Centre for Tumour Biology, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, EC1M 6BQ, UK
| | - Firat Uyulur
- Centre for Cancer Genomics and Computational Biology, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, EC1M 6BQ, UK
| | - Jennifer P Morton
- Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute, Garscube Estate, Switchback Road, Glasgow, G61 1BD, UK
- Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G61 1QH, UK
| | - Hemant M Kocher
- Centre for Tumour Biology, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, EC1M 6BQ, UK.
| | - Richard P Grose
- Centre for Tumour Biology, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, EC1M 6BQ, UK.
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8
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Wang F, Yan X, Hua Y, Song J, Liu D, Yang C, Peng F, Kang F, Hui Y. PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway and its related molecules participate in PROK1 silence-induced anti-tumor effects on pancreatic cancer. Open Life Sci 2023; 18:20220538. [PMID: 37070074 PMCID: PMC10105552 DOI: 10.1515/biol-2022-0538] [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: 04/21/2022] [Revised: 09/28/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 04/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The PI3K/AKT/mTOR (phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B/mammalian target of rapamycin) pathway can be initiated by PROK1 (prokineticin 1), but its effect and mechanism of action in pancreatic carcinoma (PC) are not fully understood. In this study, we elucidated the roles of PROK1 and its related molecules in PC in vivo. PANC-1 cells with PROK1 knockdown were injected into BALB/c nude mice. The growth and weight of the tumor were monitored and measured, which was followed by TUNEL (terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase biotin-dUTP nick end labeling), immunohistochemical staining, and hematoxylin and eosin staining. The key proteins related to proliferation, apoptosis, and the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway were determined by Western blotting. We also used public databases to identify the molecules related to PROK1. The reduction of PROK1 inhibited angiopoiesis and promoted apoptosis in vivo. PCNA-1, cyclin D1, and Bcl-2 decreased considerably, while Bax and cleaved caspase-3 increased significantly after PROK1 inhibition. The PI3K/AKT/mTOR signal inhibition was also closely associated with PROK1 knockdown. The possible related molecules of PROK1, such as von Willebrand factor, were screened and considered to be involved in the aberrant activation of PI3K/AKT. In conclusion, PROK1 knockdown significantly prevented tumor growth and promoted apoptosis of human PC cells in vivo, where the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway was probably inhibited. Therefore, PROK1, along with its related molecules, might be important targets for PC therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng Wang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, No. 804 South Shengli Street, Xingqing District, Yinchuan750001, Ningxia, China
- Ningxia Clinical Medical Research Center of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgical Diseases, Yinchuan750001, China
| | - Xiaogang Yan
- Department of Surgical Oncology, The First People’s Hospital of Yinchuan, Yinchuan750001, China
| | - Yongqiang Hua
- Minimally Invasive Treatment Center, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai200032, China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai200032, China
| | - Jianjun Song
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, No. 804 South Shengli Street, Xingqing District, Yinchuan750001, Ningxia, China
- Ningxia Clinical Medical Research Center of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgical Diseases, Yinchuan750001, China
| | - Di Liu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, No. 804 South Shengli Street, Xingqing District, Yinchuan750001, Ningxia, China
- Ningxia Clinical Medical Research Center of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgical Diseases, Yinchuan750001, China
| | - Chun Yang
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan750001, China
| | - Fei Peng
- Department of Hepatobiliary Pancreatic Surgery, Edong Healthcare Huangshi Central Hospital, Huangshi435002, Hubei, China
| | - Fuping Kang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, No. 804 South Shengli Street, Xingqing District, Yinchuan750001, Ningxia, China
- Ningxia Clinical Medical Research Center of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgical Diseases, Yinchuan750001, China
| | - Yongfeng Hui
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, No. 804 South Shengli Street, Xingqing District, Yinchuan750001, Ningxia, China
- Ningxia Clinical Medical Research Center of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgical Diseases, Yinchuan750001, China
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9
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Zhang L, Lovell S, De Vita E, Jagtap PKA, Lucy D, Goya Grocin A, Kjær S, Borg A, Hennig J, Miller AK, Tate EW. A KLK6 Activity-Based Probe Reveals a Role for KLK6 Activity in Pancreatic Cancer Cell Invasion. J Am Chem Soc 2022; 144:22493-22504. [PMID: 36413626 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.2c07378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer has the lowest survival rate of all common cancers due to late diagnosis and limited treatment options. Serine hydrolases are known to mediate cancer progression and metastasis through initiation of signaling cascades and cleavage of extracellular matrix proteins, and the kallikrein-related peptidase (KLK) family of secreted serine proteases have emerging roles in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). However, the lack of reliable activity-based probes (ABPs) to profile KLK activity has hindered progress in validation of these enzymes as potential targets or biomarkers. Here, we developed potent and selective ABPs for KLK6 by using a positional scanning combinatorial substrate library and characterized their binding mode and interactions by X-ray crystallography. The optimized KLK6 probe IMP-2352 (kobs/I = 11,000 M-1 s-1) enabled selective detection of KLK6 activity in a variety of PDAC cell lines, and we observed that KLK6 inhibition reduced the invasiveness of PDAC cells that secrete active KLK6. KLK6 inhibitors were combined with N-terminomics to identify potential secreted protein substrates of KLK6 in PDAC cells, providing insights into KLK6-mediated invasion pathways. These novel KLK6 ABPs offer a toolset to validate KLK6 and associated signaling partners as targets or biomarkers across a range of diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leran Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, Molecular Sciences Research Hub, Imperial College London, London W12 0BZ, U.K
| | - Scott Lovell
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Bath, Bath BA2 7AX, U.K
| | - Elena De Vita
- Department of Chemistry, Molecular Sciences Research Hub, Imperial College London, London W12 0BZ, U.K
| | - Pravin Kumar Ankush Jagtap
- Structural and Computational Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg 69117, Germany.,Chair of Biochemistry IV, Biophysical Chemistry, University of Bayreuth, Bayreuth 95447, Germany
| | - Daniel Lucy
- Department of Chemistry, Molecular Sciences Research Hub, Imperial College London, London W12 0BZ, U.K
| | - Andrea Goya Grocin
- Department of Chemistry, Molecular Sciences Research Hub, Imperial College London, London W12 0BZ, U.K
| | - Svend Kjær
- Structural Biology Science Technology Platform, The Francis Crick Institute, London NW1 1AT, U.K
| | - Annabel Borg
- Structural Biology Science Technology Platform, The Francis Crick Institute, London NW1 1AT, U.K
| | - Janosch Hennig
- Structural and Computational Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg 69117, Germany.,Chair of Biochemistry IV, Biophysical Chemistry, University of Bayreuth, Bayreuth 95447, Germany
| | - Aubry K Miller
- Cancer Drug Development Group, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg 69120, Germany
| | - Edward W Tate
- Department of Chemistry, Molecular Sciences Research Hub, Imperial College London, London W12 0BZ, U.K
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10
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Zhang Z, Liu X, Chen D, Yu J. Radiotherapy combined with immunotherapy: the dawn of cancer treatment. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2022; 7:258. [PMID: 35906199 PMCID: PMC9338328 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-022-01102-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 157] [Impact Index Per Article: 78.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2022] [Revised: 06/19/2022] [Accepted: 06/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Radiotherapy (RT) is delivered for purposes of local control, but can also exert systemic effect on remote and non-irradiated tumor deposits, which is called abscopal effect. The view of RT as a simple local treatment has dramatically changed in recent years, and it is now widely accepted that RT can provoke a systemic immune response which gives a strong rationale for the combination of RT and immunotherapy (iRT). Nevertheless, several points remain to be addressed such as the interaction of RT and immune system, the identification of the best schedules for combination with immunotherapy (IO), the expansion of abscopal effect and the mechanism to amplify iRT. To answer these crucial questions, we roundly summarize underlying rationale showing the whole immune landscape in RT and clinical trials to attempt to identify the best schedules of iRT. In consideration of the rarity of abscopal effect, we propose that the occurrence of abscopal effect induced by radiation can be promoted to 100% in view of molecular and genetic level. Furthermore, the “radscopal effect” which refers to using low-dose radiation to reprogram the tumor microenvironment may amplify the occurrence of abscopal effect and overcome the resistance of iRT. Taken together, RT could be regarded as a trigger of systemic antitumor immune response, and with the help of IO can be used as a radical and systemic treatment and be added into current standard regimen of patients with metastatic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zengfu Zhang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Shandong University Cancer Center, Yantai Road, No. 2999, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Xu Liu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jiyan Road, No. 440, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Dawei Chen
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Shandong University Cancer Center, Yantai Road, No. 2999, Jinan, Shandong, China.
| | - Jinming Yu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Shandong University Cancer Center, Yantai Road, No. 2999, Jinan, Shandong, China.
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11
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The FGFR2c/PKCε Axis Controls MCL-1-Mediated Invasion in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Cells: Perspectives for Innovative Target Therapies. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10071652. [PMID: 35884957 PMCID: PMC9312859 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10071652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2022] [Revised: 06/27/2022] [Accepted: 07/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a lethal malignancy whose main characterizations are Kirsten Rat Sarcoma-activating mutations (KRAS) and a highly aggressive phenotype. Based on our recent findings demonstrating that the highly aberrant expression of the mesenchymal isoform of Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor 2 (FGFR2c) in PDAC cells activates Protein-Kinase C Epsilon (PKCε), which in turn controls receptor-mediated epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT), here we investigated the involvement of these signaling events in the establishment of additional tumorigenic features. Using PDAC cell lines expressing divergent levels of the FGFR2c and stable protein depletion approaches by short hairpin RNA (shRNA), we found that FGFR2c expression and its PKCε downstream signaling are responsible for the invasive response to Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 (FGF2) and for anchorage-independent growth. In addition, in vitro clonogenic assays, coupled with the check of the amount of cleaved Poly Adenosine Diphosphate-Ribose Polymerase 1 (PARP1) by Western blot, highlighted the involvement of both FGFR2c and PKCε in cell viability. Finally, monitoring of Myeloid Cell Leukemia 1 (MCL-1) expression and Sarcoma kinase family (SRC) phosphorylation suggested that the FGFR2c/PKCε axis could control cell migration/invasion possibly via MCL-1/SRC-mediated reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton. Being PKCs RAS-independent substrates, the identification of PKCε as a hub molecule downstream FGFR2c at the crossroad of signaling networks governing the main malignant tumor hallmarks could represent an important advance towards innovative target therapies overcoming RAS.
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12
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Gu W, Shen H, Xie L, Zhang X, Yang J. The Role of Feedback Loops in Targeted Therapy for Pancreatic Cancer. Front Oncol 2022; 12:800140. [PMID: 35651786 PMCID: PMC9148955 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.800140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2021] [Accepted: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, with limited treatment options and low long-term survival rates. The complex and variable signal regulation networks are one of the important reasons why it is difficult for pancreatic cancer to develop precise targeted therapy drugs. Numerous studies have associated feedback loop regulation with the development and therapeutic response of cancers including pancreatic cancer. Therefore, we review researches on the role of feedback loops in the progression of pancreatic cancer, and summarize the connection between feedback loops and several signaling pathways in pancreatic cancer, as well as recent advances in the intervention of feedback loops in pancreatic cancer treatment, highlighting the potential of capitalizing on feedback loops modulation in targeted therapy for pancreatic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weigang Gu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Affiliated Hangzhou First People’s Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - HongZhang Shen
- Department of Gastroenterology, Affiliated Hangzhou First People’s Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Lu Xie
- Department of Gastroenterology, Affiliated Hangzhou First People’s Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xiaofeng Zhang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Affiliated Hangzhou First People’s Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine for Biliary and Pancreatic Diseases of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Xiaofeng Zhang, ; Jianfeng Yang,
| | - Jianfeng Yang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Affiliated Hangzhou First People’s Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Xiaofeng Zhang, ; Jianfeng Yang,
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13
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Hrabák P, Kalousová M, Krechler T, Zima T. Pancreatic stellate cells - rising stars in pancreatic pathologies. Physiol Res 2021. [DOI: 10.33549//physiolres.934783] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Pluripotent pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs) receive growing interest in past decades. Two types of PSCs are recognized –vitamin A accumulating quiescent PSCs and activated PSCs- the main producents of extracellular matrix in pancreatic tissue. PSCs plays important role in pathogenesis of pancreatic fibrosis in pancreatic cancer and chronic pancreatitis. PSCs are intensively studied as potential therapeutical target because of their important role in developing desmoplastic stroma in pancreatic cancer. There also exists evidence that PSC are involved in other pathologies like type-2 diabetes mellitus. This article brings brief characteristics of PSCs and recent advances in research of these cells.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - M Kalousová
- 2Institute of Medical Biochemistry and Laboratory Diagnostics, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and General University Hospital in Prague, Czech Republic.
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14
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Roles of the FGF-FGFR Signaling System in Cancer Development and Inflammation. Cells 2021; 10:cells10092231. [PMID: 34571880 PMCID: PMC8471549 DOI: 10.3390/cells10092231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2021] [Accepted: 08/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
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