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Posani SH, Gillis NE, Lange CA. Glucocorticoid receptors orchestrate a convergence of host and cellular stress signals in triple negative breast cancer. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 2024; 243:106575. [PMID: 38950871 PMCID: PMC11344665 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsbmb.2024.106575] [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: 11/06/2023] [Revised: 06/06/2024] [Accepted: 06/24/2024] [Indexed: 07/03/2024]
Abstract
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive subtype of breast cancer that lacks expression of the nuclear steroid receptors that bind estrogens (ER) and progestogens (PRs) and does not exhibit HER2 (Human epidermal growth factor 2) receptor overexpression. Even in the face of initially effective chemotherapies, TNBC patients often relapse. One primary cause for therapy-resistant tumor progression is the activation of cellular stress signaling pathways. The glucocorticoid receptor (GR), a corticosteroid-activated transcription factor most closely related to PR, is a mediator of both endocrine/host stress and local tumor microenvironment (TME)-derived and cellular stress responses. Interestingly, GR expression is associated with a good prognosis in ER+ breast cancer but predicts poor prognosis in TNBC. Classically, GR's transcriptional activity is regulated by circulating glucocorticoids. Additionally, GR is regulated by ligand-independent signaling events. Notably, the stress-activated protein kinase, p38 MAP kinase, phosphorylates GR at serine 134 (Ser134) in response to TME-derived growth factors and cytokines, including HGF and TGFβ1. Phospho-Ser134-GR (p-Ser134-GR) associates with cytoplasmic and nuclear signaling molecules, including 14-3-3ζ, aryl hydrocarbon receptors (AhR), and hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs). Phospho-GR/HIF-containing transcriptional complexes upregulate gene sets whose protein products include the components of inducible oncogenic signaling pathways (PTK6) that further promote cancer cell survival, chemoresistance, altered metabolism, and migratory/invasive behavior in TNBC. Recent studies have implicated liganded p-Ser134-GR (p-GR) in dexamethasone-mediated upregulation of genes related to TNBC cell motility and dysregulated metabolism. Herein, we review the tumor-promoting roles of GR and discuss how both ligand-dependent and ligand-independent/stress signaling-driven inputs to p-GR converge to orchestrate metastatic TNBC progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sai Harshita Posani
- Molecular Pharmacology and Therapeutics Program, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis 55455, United States; Department of Pharmacology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis 55455, United States
| | - Noelle E Gillis
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis 55455, United States
| | - Carol A Lange
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis 55455, United States; Department of Medicine (Division of Hematology, Oncology, and Transplantation), University of Minnesota, Minneapolis 55455, United States; Department of Pharmacology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis 55455, United States.
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2
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Snijesh VP, Nimbalkar VP, Patil S, Rajarajan S, Anupama CE, Mahalakshmi S, Alexander A, Soundharya R, Ramesh R, Srinath BS, Jolly MK, Prabhu JS. Differential role of glucocorticoid receptor based on its cell type specific expression on tumor cells and infiltrating lymphocytes. Transl Oncol 2024; 45:101957. [PMID: 38643748 PMCID: PMC11039344 DOI: 10.1016/j.tranon.2024.101957] [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: 12/20/2023] [Revised: 03/12/2024] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 04/23/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The glucocorticoid receptor (GR) is frequently expressed in breast cancer (BC), and its prognostic implications are contingent on estrogen receptor (ER) status. To address conflicting reports and explore therapeutic potential, a GR signature (GRsig) independent of ER status was developed. We also investigated cell type-specific GR protein expression in BC tumor epithelial cells and infiltrating lymphocytes. METHODS GRsig was derived from Dexamethasone treated cell lines through a bioinformatic pipeline. Immunohistochemistry assessed GR protein expression. Associations between GRsig and tumor phenotypes (proliferation, cytolytic activity (CYT), immune cell distribution, and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) were explored in public datasets. Single-cell RNA sequencing data evaluated context-dependent GR roles, and a cell type-specific prognostic role was assessed in an independent BC cohort. RESULTS High GRsig levels were associated with a favorable prognosis across BC subtypes. Tumor-specific high GRsig correlated with lower proliferation, increased CYT, and anti-tumorigenic immune cells. Single-cell data analysis revealed higher GRsig expression in immune cells, negatively correlating with EMT while a positive correlation was observed with EMT primarily in tumor and stromal cells. Univariate and multivariate analyses demonstrated the robust and independent predictive capability of GRsig for favorable prognosis. GR protein expression on immune cells in triple-negative tumors indicated a favorable prognosis. CONCLUSION This study underscores the cell type-specific role of GR, where its expression on tumor cells is associated with aggressive features like EMT, while in infiltrating lymphocytes, it predicts a better prognosis, particularly within TNBC tumors. The GRsig emerges as a promising independent prognostic indicator across diverse BC subtypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- V P Snijesh
- Division of Molecular Medicine, St. John's Research Institute, St. John's Medical College, Bangalore, Karnataka, India; Centre for Doctoral Studies, Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Manipal, Karnataka, India
| | - Vidya P Nimbalkar
- Division of Molecular Medicine, St. John's Research Institute, St. John's Medical College, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
| | - Sharada Patil
- Division of Molecular Medicine, St. John's Research Institute, St. John's Medical College, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
| | - Savitha Rajarajan
- Division of Molecular Medicine, St. John's Research Institute, St. John's Medical College, Bangalore, Karnataka, India; Centre for Doctoral Studies, Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Manipal, Karnataka, India
| | - C E Anupama
- Division of Molecular Medicine, St. John's Research Institute, St. John's Medical College, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
| | - S Mahalakshmi
- Division of Molecular Medicine, St. John's Research Institute, St. John's Medical College, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
| | - Annie Alexander
- Division of Molecular Medicine, St. John's Research Institute, St. John's Medical College, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
| | - Ramu Soundharya
- IISc Mathematics Initiative, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, Karnataka-560012, India
| | - Rakesh Ramesh
- Department of Surgical Oncology, St. John's Medical College and Hospital, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
| | - B S Srinath
- Department of Surgery, Sri Shankara Cancer Hospital and Research Centre, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
| | - Mohit Kumar Jolly
- Department of Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, Karnataka-560012, India
| | - Jyothi S Prabhu
- Division of Molecular Medicine, St. John's Research Institute, St. John's Medical College, Bangalore, Karnataka, India.
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Dumas E, Grandal Rejo B, Gougis P, Houzard S, Abécassis J, Jochum F, Marande B, Ballesta A, Del Nery E, Dubois T, Alsafadi S, Asselain B, Latouche A, Espie M, Laas E, Coussy F, Bouchez C, Pierga JY, Le Bihan-Benjamin C, Bousquet PJ, Hotton J, Azencott CA, Reyal F, Hamy AS. Concomitant medication, comorbidity and survival in patients with breast cancer. Nat Commun 2024; 15:2966. [PMID: 38580683 PMCID: PMC10997660 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-47002-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 04/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Between 30% and 70% of patients with breast cancer have pre-existing chronic conditions, and more than half are on long-term non-cancer medication at the time of diagnosis. Preliminary epidemiological evidence suggests that some non-cancer medications may affect breast cancer risk, recurrence, and survival. In this nationwide cohort study, we assessed the association between medication use at breast cancer diagnosis and survival. We included 235,368 French women with newly diagnosed non-metastatic breast cancer. In analyzes of 288 medications, we identified eight medications positively associated with either overall survival or disease-free survival: rabeprazole, alverine, atenolol, simvastatin, rosuvastatin, estriol (vaginal or transmucosal), nomegestrol, and hypromellose; and eight medications negatively associated with overall survival or disease-free survival: ferrous fumarate, prednisolone, carbimazole, pristinamycin, oxazepam, alprazolam, hydroxyzine, and mianserin. Full results are available online from an interactive platform ( https://adrenaline.curie.fr ). This resource provides hypotheses for drugs that may naturally influence breast cancer evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elise Dumas
- Residual Tumor & Response to Treatment Laboratory, RT2Lab, Translational Research Department, INSERM, U932 Immunity and Cancer, Université Paris Cité, F-75005, Paris, France
- INSERM, U900, 75005, Paris, France
- MINES ParisTech, PSL Research University, CBIO-Centre for Computational Biology, 75006, Paris, France
| | - Beatriz Grandal Rejo
- Residual Tumor & Response to Treatment Laboratory, RT2Lab, Translational Research Department, INSERM, U932 Immunity and Cancer, Université Paris Cité, F-75005, Paris, France
| | - Paul Gougis
- Residual Tumor & Response to Treatment Laboratory, RT2Lab, Translational Research Department, INSERM, U932 Immunity and Cancer, Université Paris Cité, F-75005, Paris, France
| | - Sophie Houzard
- Health Data and Assessment, Health Survey Data Science and Assessment Division, French National Cancer Institute (Institut National du Cancer INCa), 92100, Boulogne-Billancourt, France
| | - Judith Abécassis
- Residual Tumor & Response to Treatment Laboratory, RT2Lab, Translational Research Department, INSERM, U932 Immunity and Cancer, Université Paris Cité, F-75005, Paris, France
- INRIA, Paris-Saclay University, CEA, Palaiseau, 91120, France
| | - Floriane Jochum
- Residual Tumor & Response to Treatment Laboratory, RT2Lab, Translational Research Department, INSERM, U932 Immunity and Cancer, Université Paris Cité, F-75005, Paris, France
- Department of Gynecology, Strasbourg University Hospital, Strasbourg, France
| | - Benjamin Marande
- Residual Tumor & Response to Treatment Laboratory, RT2Lab, Translational Research Department, INSERM, U932 Immunity and Cancer, Université Paris Cité, F-75005, Paris, France
| | - Annabelle Ballesta
- INSERM UMR-S 900, Institut Curie, MINES ParisTech CBIO, PSL Research University, 92210, Saint-Cloud, France
| | - Elaine Del Nery
- Département de Recherche Translationnelle - Plateforme Biophenics, PICT-IBISA, PSL Research University, Paris, France
| | - Thierry Dubois
- Institut Curie - PSL Research University Translational Research Department Breast Cancer Biology Group 26 rue d'Ulm, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Samar Alsafadi
- Institut Curie, PSL Research University, Uveal Melanoma Group, Translational Research Department, Paris, France
| | | | - Aurélien Latouche
- INSERM, U900, 75005, Paris, France
- INSERM UMR-S 900, Institut Curie, MINES ParisTech CBIO, PSL Research University, 92210, Saint-Cloud, France
- Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers, Paris, France
| | - Marc Espie
- Breast diseases Center Hôpital saint Louis APHP, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Enora Laas
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Université Paris Cité, Institut Curie, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Florence Coussy
- Department of Medical Oncology, Université Paris Cité, Institut Curie, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Clémentine Bouchez
- Breast diseases Center Hôpital saint Louis APHP, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Jean-Yves Pierga
- Department of Medical Oncology, Université Paris Cité, Institut Curie, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Christine Le Bihan-Benjamin
- Health Data and Assessment, Health Survey Data Science and Assessment Division, French National Cancer Institute (Institut National du Cancer INCa), 92100, Boulogne-Billancourt, France
| | - Philippe-Jean Bousquet
- Aix Marseille Univ, Inserm, IRD, SESSTIM, Équipe Labellisée Ligue Contre le Cancer, 13005, Marseille, France
- Health Survey Data Science and Assessment Division, French National Cancer Institute (Institut National du Cancer INCa), 92100, Boulogne-Billancourt, France
| | | | - Chloé-Agathe Azencott
- INSERM, U900, 75005, Paris, France
- MINES ParisTech, PSL Research University, CBIO-Centre for Computational Biology, 75006, Paris, France
- Institut Curie, PSL Research University, Paris, France
| | - Fabien Reyal
- Residual Tumor & Response to Treatment Laboratory, RT2Lab, Translational Research Department, INSERM, U932 Immunity and Cancer, Université Paris Cité, F-75005, Paris, France.
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Université Paris Cité, Institut Curie, 75005, Paris, France.
- Department of Surgery, Institut Jean Godinot, Reims, France.
| | - Anne-Sophie Hamy
- Residual Tumor & Response to Treatment Laboratory, RT2Lab, Translational Research Department, INSERM, U932 Immunity and Cancer, Université Paris Cité, F-75005, Paris, France
- Department of Medical Oncology, Université Paris Cité, Institut Curie, 75005, Paris, France
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Thakur D, Sengupta D, Mahapatra E, Das S, Sarkar R, Mukherjee S. Glucocorticoid receptor: a harmonizer of cellular plasticity in breast cancer-directs the road towards therapy resistance, metastatic progression and recurrence. Cancer Metastasis Rev 2024; 43:481-499. [PMID: 38170347 DOI: 10.1007/s10555-023-10163-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
Recent therapeutic advances have significantly uplifted the quality of life in breast cancer patients, yet several impediments block the road to disease-free survival. This involves unresponsiveness towards administered therapy, epithelial to mesenchymal transition, and metastatic progression with the eventual appearance of recurrent disease. Attainment of such characteristics is a huge adaptive challenge to which tumour cells respond by acquiring diverse phenotypically plastic states. Several signalling networks and mediators are involved in such a process. Glucocorticoid receptor being a mediator of stress response imparts prognostic significance in the context of breast carcinoma. Involvement of the glucocorticoid receptor in the signalling cascade of breast cancer phenotypic plasticity needs further elucidation. This review attempted to shed light on the inter-regulatory interactions of the glucocorticoid receptor with the mediators of the plasticity program in breast cancer; which may provide a hint for strategizing therapeutics against the glucocorticoid/glucocorticoid receptor axis so as to modulate phenotypic plasticity in breast carcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Debanjan Thakur
- Department of Environmental Carcinogenesis and Toxicology, Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute, 37, S. P. Mukherjee Road, Kolkata, 700 026, India
| | - Debomita Sengupta
- Department of Environmental Carcinogenesis and Toxicology, Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute, 37, S. P. Mukherjee Road, Kolkata, 700 026, India
| | - Elizabeth Mahapatra
- Department of Environmental Carcinogenesis and Toxicology, Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute, 37, S. P. Mukherjee Road, Kolkata, 700 026, India
| | - Salini Das
- Department of Environmental Carcinogenesis and Toxicology, Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute, 37, S. P. Mukherjee Road, Kolkata, 700 026, India
| | - Ruma Sarkar
- B. D. Patel Institute of Paramedical Sciences, Charotar University of Science and Technology, CHARUSAT Campus, Changa, Gujarat, 388421, India
| | - Sutapa Mukherjee
- Department of Environmental Carcinogenesis and Toxicology, Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute, 37, S. P. Mukherjee Road, Kolkata, 700 026, India.
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Tang Y, Ma J, Zhang H, Ma W, Ma W, O’Keefe TJ, Pratap A, Yamada A, Wang L, Gao Y, Zhang Q, Zhao W. Glucocorticoid receptor regulates the epithelial-mesenchymal transition process through GR/ZEB1/E-cad and is involved in breast cancer endocrine drug resistance-a bioinformatics analysis. Transl Cancer Res 2023; 12:3129-3146. [PMID: 38130302 PMCID: PMC10731348 DOI: 10.21037/tcr-23-1628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
Background Studies have shown that there is a connection between estrogen receptor (ER) and glucocorticoid receptor (GR), which can impact the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process and contribute to endocrine resistance in breast cancer. However, the specific mechanism is unclear. It is crucial to investigate this mechanism further. Methods This study aimed to confirm the role of GR in breast cancer endocrine resistance. Based on our hypothesis, GR is linked to a gene involved in the EMT process, and thus contributes to endocrine resistance in breast cancer. We obtained survival data and GR expression data from Molecular Taxonomy of Breast Cancer International Consortium (METABRIC). Additionally, we gathered GR expression data from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO). Using Cytoscape, we constructed a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network and identified key genes. Data of Vimentin, E-cad, and Wnt/β-catenin expression were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). We used the co-expression method to identify key proteins. UALCAN and cBioPortal were utilized to verify the function of the key protein. Results In ER+ breast cancer, GR (P=3.12780899271121E-08) and zinc finger E-box binding homeobox 1 (ZEB1) (P=1.716157E-01) were lowly expressed and down-regulated genes of GR differentially expressed genes were enriched in cell adhesion molecules. We screened for the key protein ZEB1 and found high levels of it was positively associated with prolonged recurrence-free survival (RFS) in patients receiving endocrine therapy (P=0.0024), while high levels of E-cad were negatively associated (P=0.0038). GR expression was positively associated with ZEB1 (Spearman =0.29, P=8.50e-21), negatively associated with E-cad (Spearman =-0.13, P=5.17e-5), and negatively associated with the SETD1B (Spearman =-0.14, P=1.527e-5), a gene downstream of ZEB1. In contrast, ZEB1 expression was negatively correlated with E-cad (Spearman =-0.081, P=3.132e-3) and negatively correlated with SET domain-containing 1B (SETD1B) (Spearman =-0.177, P=9.07e-11). Conclusions In ER+ breast cancers, GR expression is suppressed, and the EMT process is inhibited by suppressing ZEB1 expression and thus promoting E-cad expression. For the investigation of endocrine medication resistance in breast cancer, it is crucial to identify the mechanisms by how GR participates in the EMT process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuhan Tang
- Department of Medical Oncology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Jianli Ma
- Department of Radiotherapy, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Han Zhang
- Department of Medical Oncology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Weiwei Ma
- Department of Medical Oncology, Xiaogan Central Hospital, Xiaogan, China
| | - Wenjie Ma
- Department of Medical Oncology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Thomas J. O’Keefe
- Division of Breast Surgery and the Comprehensive Breast Health Center, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Akshay Pratap
- Division of Gastrointestinal Tumor and Endocrine Surgery, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Akimitsu Yamada
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Lu Wang
- Department of Medical Oncology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Yuan Gao
- Department of Medical Oncology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Qingyuan Zhang
- Department of Medical Oncology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Wenhui Zhao
- Department of Medical Oncology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
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Anderson G. Melatonin, BAG-1 and cortisol circadian interactions in tumor pathogenesis and patterned immune responses. EXPLORATION OF TARGETED ANTI-TUMOR THERAPY 2023; 4:962-993. [PMID: 37970210 PMCID: PMC10645470 DOI: 10.37349/etat.2023.00176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 11/17/2023] Open
Abstract
A dysregulated circadian rhythm is significantly associated with cancer risk, as is aging. Both aging and circadian dysregulation show suppressed pineal melatonin, which is indicated in many studies to be linked to cancer risk and progression. Another independently investigated aspect of the circadian rhythm is the cortisol awakening response (CAR), which is linked to stress-associated hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activation. CAR and HPA axis activity are primarily mediated via activation of the glucocorticoid receptor (GR), which drives patterned gene expression via binding to the promotors of glucocorticoid response element (GRE)-expressing genes. Recent data shows that the GR can be prevented from nuclear translocation by the B cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2)-associated athanogene 1 (BAG-1), which translocates the GR to mitochondria, where it can have diverse effects. Melatonin also suppresses GR nuclear translocation by maintaining the GR in a complex with heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90). Melatonin, directly and/or epigenetically, can upregulate BAG-1, suggesting that the dramatic 10-fold decrease in pineal melatonin from adolescence to the ninth decade of life will attenuate the capacity of night-time melatonin to modulate the effects of the early morning CAR. The interactions of pineal melatonin/BAG-1/Hsp90 with the CAR are proposed to underpin how aging and circadian dysregulation are associated with cancer risk. This may be mediated via differential effects of melatonin/BAG-1/Hsp90/GR in different cells of microenvironments across the body, from which tumors emerge. This provides a model of cancer pathogenesis that better integrates previously disparate bodies of data, including how immune cells are regulated by cancer cells in the tumor microenvironment, at least partly via the cancer cell regulation of the tryptophan-melatonin pathway. This has a number of future research and treatment implications.
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Zhang J, Miki Y, Iwabuchi E, Xu J, Kanai A, Sagara Y, Ohi Y, Rai Y, Yamaguchi R, Tanaka M, Ishida T, Suzuki T, Sasano H. Induction of SGK1 via glucocorticoid-influenced clinical outcome of triple-negative breast cancer patients. Breast Cancer Res Treat 2023:10.1007/s10549-023-06990-4. [PMID: 37286891 DOI: 10.1007/s10549-023-06990-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a highly heterogeneous and aggressive breast malignancy. Glucocorticoid (GC)-glucocorticoid receptor (GR) pathway plays a pivotal role in the cellular responses to various stresses including chemotherapy. Serum- and glucocorticoid-induced kinase-1 (SGK1) is known as an important downstream effector molecule in the GR signaling pathway, we attempted to explore its clinicopathological and functional significance in TNBC in which GR is expressed. METHODS We first immunolocalized GR and SGK1 and correlated the results with clinicopathological variables and clinical outcome in 131 TNBC patients. We also evaluated the effects of SGK1 on the cell proliferation and migration in TNBC cell lines with administration of dexamethasone (DEX) to further clarify the significance of SGK1. RESULTS The status of SGK1 in carcinoma cells was significantly associated with adverse clinical outcome in TNBC patients examined and was significantly associated with lymph node metastasis, pathological stage, and lymphatic invasion of the patients. In particular, SGK1 immunoreactivity was significantly associated with an increased risk of recurrence in GR-positive TNBC patients. Subsequent in vitro studies also demonstrated that DEX promoted TNBC cell migration and the silencing of gene expression did inhibit the cell proliferation and migration of TNBC cells under DEX treatment. CONCLUSIONS To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to explore an association between SGK1 and clinicopathological variables and clinical outcome of TNBC patients. SGK1 status was significantly positively correlated with adverse clinical outcome of TNBC patients and promoted carcinoma cell proliferation and migration of carcinoma cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junjia Zhang
- Department of Breast and Endocrine Surgical Oncology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
- Department of Anatomic Pathology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Yasuhiro Miki
- Department of Nursing, Faculty of Medical Science and Welfare, Tohoku Bunka Gakuen University, Sendai, Japan.
| | - Erina Iwabuchi
- Department of Pathology and Histotechnology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Junyao Xu
- The Cancer Hospital of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Institute of Basic Medicine and Cancer (IBMC), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Ayako Kanai
- Department of Breast Surgery, Hachinohe City Hospital, Aomori, Japan
| | - Yasuaki Sagara
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgical Oncology, Sagara Hospital, Kagoshima, Japan
| | - Yasuyo Ohi
- Department of Pathology, Sagara Hospital, Kagoshima, Japan
| | - Yoshiaki Rai
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgical Oncology, Sagara Hospital, Kagoshima, Japan
| | - Rin Yamaguchi
- Department of Pathology, Nagasaki University Hospital, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Maki Tanaka
- JCHO Kurume General Hospital, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Takanori Ishida
- Department of Breast and Endocrine Surgical Oncology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Takashi Suzuki
- Department of Anatomic Pathology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
- Department of Pathology and Histotechnology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Hironobu Sasano
- Department of Anatomic Pathology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
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