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Zabransky DJ, Chhabra Y, Fane ME, Kartalia E, Leatherman JM, Hüser L, Zimmerman JW, Delitto D, Han S, Armstrong TD, Charmsaz S, Guinn S, Pramod S, Thompson ED, Hughes SJ, O'Connell J, Egan JM, Jaffee EM, Weeraratna AT. Fibroblasts in the Aged Pancreas Drive Pancreatic Cancer Progression. Cancer Res 2024; 84:1221-1236. [PMID: 38330147 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-24-0086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2024] [Revised: 02/02/2024] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024]
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer is more prevalent in older individuals and often carries a poorer prognosis for them. The relationship between the microenvironment and pancreatic cancer is multifactorial, and age-related changes in nonmalignant cells in the tumor microenvironment may play a key role in promoting cancer aggressiveness. Because fibroblasts have profound impacts on pancreatic cancer progression, we investigated whether age-related changes in pancreatic fibroblasts influence cancer growth and metastasis. Proteomics analysis revealed that aged fibroblasts secrete different factors than young fibroblasts, including increased growth/differentiation factor 15 (GDF-15). Treating young mice with GDF-15 enhanced tumor growth, whereas aged GDF-15 knockout mice showed reduced tumor growth. GDF-15 activated AKT, rendering tumors sensitive to AKT inhibition in an aged but not young microenvironment. These data provide evidence for how aging alters pancreatic fibroblasts and promotes tumor progression, providing potential therapeutic targets and avenues for studying pancreatic cancer while accounting for the effects of aging. SIGNIFICANCE Aged pancreatic fibroblasts secrete GDF-15 and activate AKT signaling to promote pancreatic cancer growth, highlighting the critical role of aging-mediated changes in the pancreatic cancer microenvironment in driving tumor progression. See related commentary by Isaacson et al., p. 1185.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel J Zabransky
- Department of Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland
- Bloomberg-Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Yash Chhabra
- Department of Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Mitchell E Fane
- Department of Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland
- Fox Chase Cancer Center, Cancer Signaling and Microenvironment Program, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Emma Kartalia
- Department of Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
- Bloomberg-Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - James M Leatherman
- Department of Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
- Bloomberg-Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Laura Hüser
- Department of Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland
- Skin Cancer Unit, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, University Medical Center Mannheim, Ruprecht-Karl University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Jacquelyn W Zimmerman
- Department of Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
- Bloomberg-Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Daniel Delitto
- Hagey Laboratory for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California
- Department of Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California
| | - Song Han
- Department of Surgery, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, Florida
| | - Todd D Armstrong
- Department of Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
- Bloomberg-Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Soren Charmsaz
- Department of Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Samantha Guinn
- Department of Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
- Bloomberg-Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Sneha Pramod
- Department of Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Elizabeth D Thompson
- Department of Pathology, Sol Goldman Pancreatic Cancer Research Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Steven J Hughes
- Department of Surgery, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, Florida
| | - Jennifer O'Connell
- Diabetes Section/Laboratory of Clinical Investigation, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Josephine M Egan
- Diabetes Section/Laboratory of Clinical Investigation, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Elizabeth M Jaffee
- Department of Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
- Bloomberg-Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
- The Johns Hopkins Cancer Convergence Institute, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Ashani T Weeraratna
- Department of Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland
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2
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Szymańska-Chabowska A, Świątkowski F, Jankowska-Polańska B, Mazur G, Chabowski M. Nestin Expression as a Diagnostic and Prognostic Marker in Colorectal Cancer and Other Tumors. CLINICAL MEDICINE INSIGHTS-ONCOLOGY 2021; 15:11795549211038256. [PMID: 34421318 PMCID: PMC8377314 DOI: 10.1177/11795549211038256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2021] [Accepted: 07/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Lung cancer, colon cancer, breast cancer, and prostate cancer are the leading causes of death in developed countries. Many cancers display non-specific signs in the early stage of the disease, thus making early diagnosis often difficult. We focused on nestin as a new biomarker of possible clinical importance in the early diagnosis and monitoring of cancer. The expression of nestin takes place at an early stage of neural differentiation, but no expression of the nestin gene can be revealed in normal, mature adult tissues. Nestin plays an important role in the development of the central nervous system and contributes to the organization and maintenance of cell shape. Nestin was found to be a marker of microvessel density, which in turn has proven to be a reliable prognostic factor for neoplastic malignancies in patients. Nestin expression correlates with an increased aggressiveness of tumor cells. The role of nestin in cancers of the colon and rectum, liver, central nervous system, lung cancer, breast cancer, melanoma, and other cancers has been reviewed in the literature. Associations between nestin expression and prognosis or drug-resistance may help in disease management. More research is needed to understand the molecular mechanisms of nestin expression and its role in possible targeted therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Szymańska-Chabowska
- Department of Internal Medicine, Occupational Diseases, Hypertension and Clinical Oncology, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Filip Świątkowski
- Department of Surgery, 4th Military Teaching Hospital, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Beata Jankowska-Polańska
- Division of Nervous System Diseases, Department of Clinical Nursing, Faculty of Health Science, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Grzegorz Mazur
- Department of Internal Medicine, Occupational Diseases, Hypertension and Clinical Oncology, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Mariusz Chabowski
- Department of Surgery, 4th Military Teaching Hospital, Wroclaw, Poland.,Division of Oncology and Palliative Care, Department of Clinical Nursing, Faculty of Health Science, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland
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3
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Yoshimura H, Moriya M, Yoshida A, Yamamoto M, Machida Y, Ochiai K, Michishita M, Nakagawa T, Matsuda Y, Takahashi K, Kamiya S, Ishiwata T. Involvement of Nestin in the Progression of Canine Mammary Carcinoma. Vet Pathol 2021; 58:994-1003. [PMID: 34056976 DOI: 10.1177/03009858211018656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Nestin, a class VI intermediate filament protein, is known to be expressed in various types of human neoplasms, including breast cancer, and is associated with their progression. However, its expression and role in canine mammary tumors remain unknown. We analyzed nestin expression in canine mammary tumors using in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry. We also investigated its role in a canine mammary carcinoma cell line using RNA interference. Nestin expression was not observed in luminal epithelial cells of any of the 62 cases of benign mammary lesions examined, although myoepithelial cells showed its expression in most cases. In 16/50 (32%) primary mammary carcinomas and 6/15 (40%) metastases of mammary carcinomas, cytoplasmic nestin expression was detected in luminal epithelial cells. In luminal cells of primary mammary carcinomas, its expression was positively related to several pathological parameters that indicate high-grade malignancy, including histological grading (P < .01), vascular/lymphatic invasion (P < .01), Ki-67 index (P < .01), and metastasis (P < .05). Immunohistochemistry revealed that nestin expression was related to vimentin expression in mammary carcinomas (P < .01). This relationship was confirmed using reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction using 9 cell lines derived from canine mammary carcinoma (P < .01). Finally, nestin knockdown in canine mammary carcinoma cells using small interfering RNA inhibited cell proliferation and migration based on WST-8, Boyden chamber, and cell-tracking assays. These findings suggest that nestin may at least partially mediate these behaviors of canine mammary carcinoma cells.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Maiko Moriya
- 12989Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Ayaka Yoshida
- 12989Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masami Yamamoto
- 12989Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yukino Machida
- 12989Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kazuhiko Ochiai
- 12989Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University, Tokyo, Japan
| | | | | | | | | | - Shinji Kamiya
- 12989Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University, Tokyo, Japan
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Datta A, Deng S, Gopal V, Yap KCH, Halim CE, Lye ML, Ong MS, Tan TZ, Sethi G, Hooi SC, Kumar AP, Yap CT. Cytoskeletal Dynamics in Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition: Insights into Therapeutic Targets for Cancer Metastasis. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:1882. [PMID: 33919917 PMCID: PMC8070945 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13081882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2021] [Revised: 04/08/2021] [Accepted: 04/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
In cancer cells, a vital cellular process during metastasis is the transformation of epithelial cells towards motile mesenchymal cells called the epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT). The cytoskeleton is an active network of three intracellular filaments: actin cytoskeleton, microtubules, and intermediate filaments. These filaments play a central role in the structural design and cell behavior and are necessary for EMT. During EMT, epithelial cells undergo a cellular transformation as manifested by cell elongation, migration, and invasion, coordinated by actin cytoskeleton reorganization. The actin cytoskeleton is an extremely dynamic structure, controlled by a balance of assembly and disassembly of actin filaments. Actin-binding proteins regulate the process of actin polymerization and depolymerization. Microtubule reorganization also plays an important role in cell migration and polarization. Intermediate filaments are rearranged, switching to a vimentin-rich network, and this protein is used as a marker for a mesenchymal cell. Hence, targeting EMT by regulating the activities of their key components may be a potential solution to metastasis. This review summarizes the research done on the physiological functions of the cytoskeleton, its role in the EMT process, and its effect on multidrug-resistant (MDR) cancer cells-highlight some future perspectives in cancer therapy by targeting cytoskeleton.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arpita Datta
- Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117593, Singapore; (A.D.); (S.D.); (V.G.); (K.C.-H.Y.); (C.E.H.); (M.L.L.); (M.S.O.); (S.C.H.)
| | - Shuo Deng
- Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117593, Singapore; (A.D.); (S.D.); (V.G.); (K.C.-H.Y.); (C.E.H.); (M.L.L.); (M.S.O.); (S.C.H.)
| | - Vennila Gopal
- Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117593, Singapore; (A.D.); (S.D.); (V.G.); (K.C.-H.Y.); (C.E.H.); (M.L.L.); (M.S.O.); (S.C.H.)
| | - Kenneth Chun-Hong Yap
- Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117593, Singapore; (A.D.); (S.D.); (V.G.); (K.C.-H.Y.); (C.E.H.); (M.L.L.); (M.S.O.); (S.C.H.)
- Department of Pharmacology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117593, Singapore;
| | - Clarissa Esmeralda Halim
- Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117593, Singapore; (A.D.); (S.D.); (V.G.); (K.C.-H.Y.); (C.E.H.); (M.L.L.); (M.S.O.); (S.C.H.)
| | - Mun Leng Lye
- Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117593, Singapore; (A.D.); (S.D.); (V.G.); (K.C.-H.Y.); (C.E.H.); (M.L.L.); (M.S.O.); (S.C.H.)
| | - Mei Shan Ong
- Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117593, Singapore; (A.D.); (S.D.); (V.G.); (K.C.-H.Y.); (C.E.H.); (M.L.L.); (M.S.O.); (S.C.H.)
| | - Tuan Zea Tan
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117593, Singapore;
| | - Gautam Sethi
- Department of Pharmacology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117593, Singapore;
- Cancer Translational Research Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117593, Singapore
| | - Shing Chuan Hooi
- Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117593, Singapore; (A.D.); (S.D.); (V.G.); (K.C.-H.Y.); (C.E.H.); (M.L.L.); (M.S.O.); (S.C.H.)
- Cancer Translational Research Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117593, Singapore
| | - Alan Prem Kumar
- Department of Pharmacology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117593, Singapore;
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117593, Singapore;
- Cancer Translational Research Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117593, Singapore
- National University Cancer Institute, National University Health System, Singapore 119074, Singapore
| | - Celestial T. Yap
- Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117593, Singapore; (A.D.); (S.D.); (V.G.); (K.C.-H.Y.); (C.E.H.); (M.L.L.); (M.S.O.); (S.C.H.)
- Cancer Translational Research Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117593, Singapore
- National University Cancer Institute, National University Health System, Singapore 119074, Singapore
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5
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Monkman JH, Thompson EW, Nagaraj SH. Targeting Epithelial Mesenchymal Plasticity in Pancreatic Cancer: A Compendium of Preclinical Discovery in a Heterogeneous Disease. Cancers (Basel) 2019; 11:E1745. [PMID: 31703358 PMCID: PMC6896204 DOI: 10.3390/cancers11111745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2019] [Revised: 10/30/2019] [Accepted: 10/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a particularly insidious and aggressive disease that causes significant mortality worldwide. The direct correlation between PDAC incidence, disease progression, and mortality highlights the critical need to understand the mechanisms by which PDAC cells rapidly progress to drive metastatic disease in order to identify actionable vulnerabilities. One such proposed vulnerability is epithelial mesenchymal plasticity (EMP), a process whereby neoplastic epithelial cells delaminate from their neighbours, either collectively or individually, allowing for their subsequent invasion into host tissue. This disruption of tissue homeostasis, particularly in PDAC, further promotes cellular transformation by inducing inflammatory interactions with the stromal compartment, which in turn contributes to intratumoural heterogeneity. This review describes the role of EMP in PDAC, and the preclinical target discovery that has been conducted to identify the molecular regulators and effectors of this EMP program. While inhibition of individual targets may provide therapeutic insights, a single 'master-key' remains elusive, making their collective interactions of greater importance in controlling the behaviours' of heterogeneous tumour cell populations. Much work has been undertaken to understand key transcriptional programs that drive EMP in certain contexts, however, a collaborative appreciation for the subtle, context-dependent programs governing EMP regulation is needed in order to design therapeutic strategies to curb PDAC mortality.
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Affiliation(s)
- James H. Monkman
- Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4059, Australia;
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4059, Australia
- Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD 4102, Australia
| | - Erik W. Thompson
- Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4059, Australia;
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4059, Australia
- Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD 4102, Australia
| | - Shivashankar H. Nagaraj
- Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4059, Australia;
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4059, Australia
- Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD 4102, Australia
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6
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Knaack H, Lenk L, Philipp LM, Miarka L, Rahn S, Viol F, Hauser C, Egberts JH, Gundlach JP, Will O, Tiwari S, Mikulits W, Schumacher U, Hengstler JG, Sebens S. Liver metastasis of pancreatic cancer: the hepatic microenvironment impacts differentiation and self-renewal capacity of pancreatic ductal epithelial cells. Oncotarget 2018; 9:31771-31786. [PMID: 30167093 PMCID: PMC6114965 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.25884] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2017] [Accepted: 07/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is often diagnosed at advanced stages with the liver as the main site of metastases. The hepatic microenvironment has been shown to determine outgrowth of liver metastases. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are essential for initiation and maintenance of tumors and acquisition of CSC-properties has been linked to Epithelial-Mesenchymal-Transition. Thus, this study aimed at elucidating whether and how the hepatic microenvironment impacts stemness and differentiation of disseminated pancreatic ductal epithelial cells (PDECs). Culture of premalignant H6c7-kras and malignant Panc1 PDECs together with hepatocytes and hepatic stellate cells (HSC) promoted self-renewal capacity of both PDEC lines. This was indicated by higher colony formation compared to cells cocultured with hepatocytes and hepatic myofibroblasts. Different Panc1 colony types derived from an HSC-enriched coculture were expanded and characterized revealing that holoclones exhibited an enhanced colony formation ability, elevated and exclusive expression of the CSC-marker Nestin and a more pronounced mesenchymal phenotype compared to paraclones. Moreover, Panc1 holoclone cells showed an increased tumorigenic potential in vivo leading to formation of undifferentiated tumors in 7/10 animals, while inoculation of paraclone cells only led to formation of tumors in 2/10 animals being smaller in number and size. Holoclone tumors were characterized by elevated expression of mesenchymal markers, complete loss of E-cadherin expression and high expression of Nestin. Finally, Etanercept-mediated TNF-α blocking partly reversed the mesenchymal CSC-phenotype of Panc1 holoclone cells. Overall, these data provide evidence that the hepatic microenvironment determines stemness and differentiation of PDECs, thereby substantially contributing to liver metastases of PDAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hendrike Knaack
- Institute for Experimental Cancer Research, Christian-Albrechts-University Kiel (CAU) and University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein (UKSH) Campus Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Lennart Lenk
- Department of Pediatrics, UKSH Campus Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Lisa-Marie Philipp
- Institute for Experimental Cancer Research, Christian-Albrechts-University Kiel (CAU) and University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein (UKSH) Campus Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Lauritz Miarka
- Institute for Experimental Cancer Research, Christian-Albrechts-University Kiel (CAU) and University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein (UKSH) Campus Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Sascha Rahn
- Institute for Experimental Cancer Research, Christian-Albrechts-University Kiel (CAU) and University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein (UKSH) Campus Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Fabrice Viol
- Department of Medicine I, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Charlotte Hauser
- Department of General, Visceral-, Thoracic-, Transplantation- and Pediatric Surgery, UKSH Campus Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Jan-Hendrik Egberts
- Department of General, Visceral-, Thoracic-, Transplantation- and Pediatric Surgery, UKSH Campus Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Jan-Paul Gundlach
- Department of General, Visceral-, Thoracic-, Transplantation- and Pediatric Surgery, UKSH Campus Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Olga Will
- Molecular Imaging North Competence Center, Clinic of Radiology and Neuroradiology, CAU and UKSH Campus Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Sanjay Tiwari
- Molecular Imaging North Competence Center, Clinic of Radiology and Neuroradiology, CAU and UKSH Campus Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Mikulits
- Department of Medicine I, Division: Institute of Cancer Research, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Udo Schumacher
- Centre of Experimental Medicine, Department of Anatomy and Experimental Morphology, University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Jan G Hengstler
- Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors (IfADo), Technical University Dortmund, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Susanne Sebens
- Institute for Experimental Cancer Research, Christian-Albrechts-University Kiel (CAU) and University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein (UKSH) Campus Kiel, Kiel, Germany
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7
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Bokhari AA, Baker TM, Dorjbal B, Waheed S, Zahn CM, Hamilton CA, Maxwell GL, Syed V. Nestin suppression attenuates invasive potential of endometrial cancer cells by downregulating TGF-β signaling pathway. Oncotarget 2018; 7:69733-69748. [PMID: 27626172 PMCID: PMC5342511 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.11947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2016] [Accepted: 09/02/2016] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Nestin, an intermediate filament protein and a stem cell marker is expressed in several tumors. Until recently, little was known about the expression levels and the role of Nestin in endometrial cancer. Compared to the immortalized endometrial epithelial cell line EM-E6/E7-TERT, endometrial cancer cell lines express high to moderate levels of Nestin. Furthermore, endometrial tumors and tumor cell lines have a cancer stem-like cell subpopulation expressing CD133. Among the cancer lines, AN3CA and KLE cells exhibited both a significantly higher number of CD133+ cells and expressed Nestin at higher levels than Ishikawa cells. Knockdown of Nestin in AN3CA and KLE increased cells in G0/G1 phase of the cell cycle, whereas overexpression in Ishikawa decreased cells in G0/G1 phase and increased cells in S-phase. Nestin knockdown cells showed increased p21, p27, and PNCA levels and decreased expression of cyclin-D1 and D3. In contrast, Nestin overexpression revealed an inverse expression pattern of cell cycle regulatory proteins. Nestin knockdown inhibited cancer cell growth and invasive potential by downregulating TGF-β signaling components, MMP-2, MMP-9, vimentin, SNAIL, SLUG, Twist, N-cadherin, and upregulating the epithelial cell marker E-cadherin whereas the opposite was observed with Nestin overexpressing Ishikawa cells. Nestin knockdown also inhibited, while overexpression promoted invadopodia formation and pFAK expression. Knockdown of Nestin significantly reduced tumor volume in vivo. Finally, progesterone inhibited Nestin expression in endometrial cancer cells. These results suggest that Nestin can be a therapeutic target for cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amber A Bokhari
- Uniformed Services University, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA
| | - Tabari M Baker
- Uniformed Services University, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA
| | - Batsukh Dorjbal
- Uniformed Services University, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA
| | - Sana Waheed
- Uniformed Services University, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA
| | - Christopher M Zahn
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Washington, DC 20024, USA
| | - Chad A Hamilton
- Uniformed Services University, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA.,Women's Health Integrated Research Center at Inova Health System, Department of Defense Gynecologic Cancer Center of Excellence, Annandale, VA 22003, USA.,John P. Murtha Cancer Center at Water Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, MD 20889, USA
| | - G Larry Maxwell
- Women's Health Integrated Research Center at Inova Health System, Department of Defense Gynecologic Cancer Center of Excellence, Annandale, VA 22003, USA.,John P. Murtha Cancer Center at Water Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, MD 20889, USA.,Inova Fairfax Hospital, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Falls Church, VA 22042, USA
| | - Viqar Syed
- Uniformed Services University, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA.,John P. Murtha Cancer Center at Water Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, MD 20889, USA.,Uniformed Services University, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA
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8
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Matsuda Y, Ishiwata T, Yoshimura H, Yamahatsu K, Minamoto T, Arai T. Nestin phosphorylation at threonines 315 and 1299 correlates with proliferation and metastasis of human pancreatic cancer. Cancer Sci 2017; 108:354-361. [PMID: 28002641 PMCID: PMC5378226 DOI: 10.1111/cas.13139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2016] [Revised: 12/06/2016] [Accepted: 12/17/2016] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The neuroepithelial stem cell marker nestin is a cytoskeletal protein that regulates cell proliferation, invasion, and stemness in various tumors, including pancreatic tumors. In the present study, we examined the expression and roles of phosphorylated nestin in pancreatic cancer cells. Nestin phosphorylation at threonines 315 (Thr315) and 1299 (Thr1299) was observed during mitosis in human pancreatic cancer cells. Nestin phosphorylation was positively correlated with a cell proliferation marker, MIB-1 expression in human pancreatic cancer samples. Transfection of MIA PaCa-2 cells with nestin mutated at Thr315 and/or Thr1299 (to suppress phosphorylation) resulted in lower proliferation rates than those in control groups. Transfecting MIA PaCa-2 cells with wild-type nestin or with nestin mutated at Thr315 increased migration and invasion. In contrast, transfection with nestin mutated at both phosphorylation sites (Thr315 and Thr1299) did not enhance cell migration or invasion. In an intra-splenic xenograft experiment using MIA PaCa-2 cells, tumors expressing the nestin double mutant formed fewer liver metastases than tumors expressing wild-type nestin. Nestin phosphorylation at these two sites was decreased upon treatment with inhibitors for cyclin dependent kinases, AKT, and Aurora in PANC-1 cells, which express a high baseline level of phosphorylated nestin. These findings suggest that phosphorylation of nestin at Thr315 and/or Thr1299 affects cell proliferation, and inhibition of both phosphorylation sites suppresses invasion and metastasis of human pancreatic cancer. Inhibiting nestin phosphorylation at these two sites may represent a novel therapeutic strategy for pancreatic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoko Matsuda
- Department of Pathology, Tokyo Metropolitan Geriatric Hospital and Institute of Gerontology, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Toshiyuki Ishiwata
- Department of Aging and Carcinogenesis, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hisashi Yoshimura
- Division of Physiological Pathology, Department of Applied Science, School of Veterinary Nursing and Technology, Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kazuya Yamahatsu
- Department of Gastrointestinal and Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Toshinari Minamoto
- Divisions of Translational and Clinical Oncology and Surgical Oncology, Cancer Research Institute, Kanazawa University and Hospital, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Tomio Arai
- Department of Pathology, Tokyo Metropolitan Geriatric Hospital and Institute of Gerontology, Tokyo, Japan
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Ishiwata T. Cancer stem cells and epithelial-mesenchymal transition: Novel therapeutic targets for cancer. Pathol Int 2016; 66:601-608. [PMID: 27510923 DOI: 10.1111/pin.12447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2016] [Revised: 07/11/2016] [Accepted: 07/19/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Despite the development of various therapeutic approaches, recurrence and metastasis remain major problems for patients with advanced cancer. Recent studies have shown that cancer stem cells (CSCs) play an important role in cancer aggressiveness. In cancer tissues, a small number of CSCs are able to self-renew and differentiate into heterogeneous cancer cells. CSCs usually remain in the resting phase of the cell cycle and possess efficient drug efflux pathways. Thus, they are resistant to chemoradiotherapy and surviving CSCs contribute to recurrence. During cancer metastasis, CSCs undergo epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), thereby acquiring mesenchymal features, migrating to adjacent stromal tissues, and invading blood or lymph vessels. Recent studies showed that EMT-inducible factors also enhance or induce CSC-like features in cancer cells. These findings suggest that EMT is closely correlated with cancer recurrence and metastasis. Inhibition of nestin, a CSC marker, reduces the aggressiveness of several types of cancer. Suppression of the mesenchymal variant of fibroblast growth factor (FGFR)-2, FGFR-2 IIIc, and regulation of the EMT using epithelial splicing regulatory protein 1 (ESRP1) are effective in the treatment of immunodeficient mice with pancreatic cancer. The roles of CSCs and EMT in cancer and possible therapies are discussed in this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Toshiyuki Ishiwata
- Division of Aging and Carcinogenesis, Research Team for Geriatric Pathology, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology, Tokyo, Japan.
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Nestin overexpression in hepatocellular carcinoma associates with epithelial-mesenchymal transition and chemoresistance. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL & CLINICAL CANCER RESEARCH : CR 2016; 35:111. [PMID: 27412382 PMCID: PMC4944516 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-016-0387-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2016] [Accepted: 06/30/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Background Nestin expression has been reported to be associated with the prognosis of many solid tumors including human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The present study aimed to identify the role, if any, of Nestin in the chemotherapeutic treatment of HCC. Methods We determined Nestin expression in nine HCC cell lines and 220 tissue samples of advanced HCC patients (retrospectively registered) treated with FOLFOX regimens. We examined the correlations between Nestin expression and clinicopatholgical variables and HCC prognosis. Also, we used in vitro and in vivo methods to determine the effects of Nestin expression on HCC cell invasion, migration and chemosensitivity. Results Nestin expression was significantly increased in HCC tissues and drug-resistant cell lines, and the presence of high levels of Nestin was associated with poor survival. We also showed that drug-resistance occurred in HCC cells with epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), which in turn enhanced invasion ability. Nestin depletion reversed drug-resistance in the Bel-7402/5-FU and Bel-7402/ADM cell lines. Nestin knockdown enhanced chemotherapeutic efficacy in nude mice. Moreover, Nestin up-regulation in Bel-7402 was associated with the activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Conclusion Our findings suggest that Nestin inhibitors may be useful for the chemotherapy of HCC. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13046-016-0387-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Liu JK, Chen WC, Ji XZ, Zheng WH, Han W, An J. Correlation of overexpression of nestin with expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition-related proteins in gastric adenocarcinoma. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev 2016; 16:2777-83. [PMID: 25854362 DOI: 10.7314/apjcp.2015.16.7.2777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Nestin is associated with neoplastic transformation. However, the mechanisms by which nestin contributes regarding invasion and malignancy of gastric adenocarcinoma (GAC) remain unknown. Recent studies have shown that the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is important in invasion and migration of cancer cells. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the expression of nestin and its correlation with EMT-related proteins in GAC. MATERIALS AND METHODS The expression of nestin and EMT-related proteins was examined in GAC specimens and cell lines by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. Clinicopathological features and survival outcomes were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS Positive nestin immunostaining was most obviously detected in the cytoplasm, nucleus or both cytoplasm and nucleus of tumor cells in 19.2% (24/125) of GAC tissues, which was significantly higher than that in normal gastric mucosa tissues (1.7%, 1/60) (p=0.001). Nestin expression was closely related to several clinicopathological factors and EMT-related proteins (E-cadherin, vimentin and Snail) and displayed a poor prognosis. Interestingly, simultaneous cytoplasmic and nuclear nestin expression correlated with EMT-related proteins (E-cadherin, vimentin and Snail) (p<0.05) and lymph node metastasis (p=0.041) and a shorter survival time (p<0.05), but this was not the case with cytoplasmic or nuclear nestin expression. CONCLUSIONS Nestin, particularly expression in both cytoplasm and nucleus, might be involved in regulating EMT and malignant progression in GAC, with potential as an unfavorable indicator in tumor diagnosis and a target for clinical therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin-Kai Liu
- Cancer Research Institute, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China E-mail :
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Chabot A, Hertig V, Boscher E, Nguyen QT, Boivin B, Chebli J, Bissonnette E, Villeneuve L, Brochiero E, Dupuis J, Calderone A. Endothelial and Epithelial Cell Transition to a Mesenchymal Phenotype Was Delineated by Nestin Expression. J Cell Physiol 2015; 231:1601-10. [DOI: 10.1002/jcp.25257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2015] [Accepted: 11/16/2015] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Andréanne Chabot
- Montreal Heart Institute; Université de Montréal; Montréal Québec Canada
- Département de Physiologie Moléculaire et Intégrative; Université de Montréal; Montréal Quebéc Canada
| | - Vanessa Hertig
- Montreal Heart Institute; Université de Montréal; Montréal Québec Canada
- Département de Physiologie Moléculaire et Intégrative; Université de Montréal; Montréal Quebéc Canada
| | - Elena Boscher
- Montreal Heart Institute; Université de Montréal; Montréal Québec Canada
| | - Quang Trinh Nguyen
- Montreal Heart Institute; Université de Montréal; Montréal Québec Canada
| | - Benoît Boivin
- Montreal Heart Institute; Université de Montréal; Montréal Québec Canada
- Département de Biochimie et; Montréal Québec Canada
- Médecine; Université de Montréal; Montréal Québec Canada
| | | | - Elyse Bissonnette
- Centre de Recherche de l'Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec; Département de Médicine; Université Laval; Québec Canada
| | - Louis Villeneuve
- Montreal Heart Institute; Université de Montréal; Montréal Québec Canada
| | | | - Jocelyn Dupuis
- Montreal Heart Institute; Université de Montréal; Montréal Québec Canada
- Médecine; Université de Montréal; Montréal Québec Canada
| | - Angelino Calderone
- Montreal Heart Institute; Université de Montréal; Montréal Québec Canada
- Département de Physiologie Moléculaire et Intégrative; Université de Montréal; Montréal Quebéc Canada
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