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De Francesco EM, Cirillo F, Vella V, Belfiore A, Maggiolini M, Lappano R. Triple-negative breast cancer drug resistance, durable efficacy, and cure: How advanced biological insights and emerging drug modalities could transform progress. Expert Opin Ther Targets 2022; 26:513-535. [PMID: 35761781 DOI: 10.1080/14728222.2022.2094762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a heterogeneous disease characterized by the lack of estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR) and epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) and often associated with poor survival outcomes. The backbone of current treatments for TNBC relies on chemotherapy; however, resistance to cytotoxic agents is a commonly encountered hurdle to overcome. AREAS COVERED : Current understanding on the mechanisms involved in TNBC chemoresistance is evaluated and novel potential actionable targets and recently explored modalities for carrying and delivering chemotherapeutics are highlighted. EXPERT OPINION : A comprehensive identification of both genomic and functional TNBC signatures is required for a more definite categorization of the patients in order to prevent insensitivity to chemotherapy and therefore realize the full potential of precision-medicine approaches. In this scenario, cell-line-derived xenografts (CDX), patient-derived xenografts (PDX), patient-derived orthotopic xenografts (PDOX) and patient-derived organoids (PDO) are indispensable experimental models for evaluating the efficacy of drug candidates and predicting the therapeutic response. The combination of increasingly sensitive "omics" technologies, computational algorithms and innovative drug modalities may accelerate the successful translation of novel candidate TNBC targets from basic research to clinical settings, thus contributing to reach optimal clinical output, with lower side effects and reduced resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ernestina Marianna De Francesco
- Endocrinology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, Garibaldi-Nesima Hospital, 95122 Catania, Italy
| | - Francesca Cirillo
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, Italy
| | - Veronica Vella
- Endocrinology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, Garibaldi-Nesima Hospital, 95122 Catania, Italy
| | - Antonino Belfiore
- Endocrinology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, Garibaldi-Nesima Hospital, 95122 Catania, Italy
| | - Marcello Maggiolini
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, Italy
| | - Rosamaria Lappano
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, Italy
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DNA Methylation Biomarkers for Prediction of Response to Platinum-Based Chemotherapy: Where Do We Stand? Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14122918. [PMID: 35740584 PMCID: PMC9221086 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14122918] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2022] [Revised: 06/10/2022] [Accepted: 06/11/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Platinum-based agents are one of the most widely used chemotherapy drugs for various types of cancer. However, one of the main challenges in the application of platinum drugs is resistance, which is currently being widely investigated. Epigenetic DNA methylation-based biomarkers are promising to aid in the selection of patients, helping to foresee their platinum therapy response in advance. These biomarkers enable minimally invasive patient sample collection, short analysis, and good sensitivity. Hence, improved methodologies for the detection and quantification of DNA methylation biomarkers will facilitate their use in the choice of an optimal treatment strategy. Abstract Platinum-based chemotherapy is routinely used for the treatment of several cancers. Despite all the advances made in cancer research regarding this therapy and its mechanisms of action, tumor resistance remains a major concern, limiting its effectiveness. DNA methylation-based biomarkers may assist in the selection of patients that may benefit (or not) from this type of treatment and provide new targets to circumvent platinum chemoresistance, namely, through demethylating agents. We performed a systematic search of studies on biomarkers that might be predictive of platinum-based chemotherapy resistance, including in vitro and in vivo pre-clinical models and clinical studies using patient samples. DNA methylation biomarkers predictive of response to platinum remain mostly unexplored but seem promising in assisting clinicians in the generation of more personalized follow-up and treatment strategies. Improved methodologies for their detection and quantification, including non-invasively in liquid biopsies, are additional attractive features that can bring these biomarkers into clinical practice, fostering precision medicine.
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Gao Y, Wang X, Li S, Zhang Z, Li X, Lin F. Identification of a DNA Methylation-Based Prognostic Signature for Patients with Triple-Negative Breast Cancer. Med Sci Monit 2021; 27:e930025. [PMID: 34003815 PMCID: PMC8140526 DOI: 10.12659/msm.930025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Aberrant DNA methylation is an important biological regulatory mechanism in malignant tumors. However, it remains underutilized for establishing prognostic models for triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). MATERIAL AND METHODS Methylation data and expression data downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) were used to identify differentially methylated sites (DMSs). The prognosis-related DMSs were selected by univariate Cox regression analysis. Functional enrichment was analyzed using DAVID. A protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed using STRING. Finally, a methylation-based prognostic signature was constructed using LASSO method and further validated in 2 validation cohorts. RESULTS Firstly, we identified 743 DMSs corresponding to 332 genes, including 357 hypermethylated sites and 386 hypomethylated sites. Furthermore, we selected 103 prognosis-related DMSs by univariate Cox regression. Using a LASSO algorithm, we established a 5-DMSs prognostic signature in TCGA-TNBC cohort, which could classify TNBC patients with significant survival difference (log-rank p=4.97E-03). Patients in the high-risk group had shorter overall survival than patients in the low-risk group. The excellent performance was validated in GSE78754 (HR=2.42, 95%CI: 1.27-4.59, log-rank P=0.0055). Moreover, for disease-free survival, the prognostic performance was verified in GSE141441 (HR=2.09, 95%CI: 1.28-3.44, log-rank P=0.0027). Multivariate Cox regression analysis indicated that the 5-DMSs signature could serve as an independent risk factor. CONCLUSIONS We constructed a 5-DMSs signature with excellent performance for the prediction of disease-free survival and overall survival, providing a guide for clinicians in directing personalized therapeutic regimen selection of TNBC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yinqi Gao
- Department of Breast Surgery, Capital Medical University Electric Power Teaching Hospital, Beijing, China (mainland)
| | - Xuelong Wang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Capital Medical University Electric Power Teaching Hospital, Beijing, China (mainland)
| | - Shihui Li
- Department of Breast Surgery, Capital Medical University Electric Power Teaching Hospital, Beijing, China (mainland)
| | - Zhiqiang Zhang
- Department of Breast Surgery, Capital Medical University Electric Power Teaching Hospital, Beijing, China (mainland)
| | - Xuefei Li
- Department of Breast Surgery, Capital Medical University Electric Power Teaching Hospital, Beijing, China (mainland)
| | - Fangcai Lin
- Department of Breast Surgery, Capital Medical University Electric Power Teaching Hospital, Beijing, China (mainland)
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Hsu PC, Kadlubar SA, Siegel ER, Rogers LJ, Todorova VK, Su LJ, Makhoul I. Genome-wide DNA methylation signatures to predict pathologic complete response from combined neoadjuvant chemotherapy with bevacizumab in breast cancer. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0230248. [PMID: 32298288 PMCID: PMC7162481 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0230248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2019] [Accepted: 02/25/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00203502.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ping-Ching Hsu
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, College of Public Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas, United States of America
| | - Susan A. Kadlubar
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, College of Public Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas, United States of America
| | - Eric R. Siegel
- Department of Biostatistics, Colleges of Medicine and of Public Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas, United States of America
| | - Lora J. Rogers
- Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas, United States of America
| | - Valentina K. Todorova
- Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas, United States of America
| | - L. Joseph Su
- Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas, United States of America
| | - Issam Makhoul
- Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas, United States of America
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Pang K, Park J, Ahn SG, Lee J, Park Y, Ooshima A, Mizuno S, Yamashita S, Park KS, Lee SY, Jeong J, Ushijima T, Yang KM, Kim SJ. RNF208, an estrogen-inducible E3 ligase, targets soluble Vimentin to suppress metastasis in triple-negative breast cancers. Nat Commun 2019; 10:5805. [PMID: 31862882 PMCID: PMC6925134 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-13852-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2019] [Accepted: 12/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The development of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) negatively impacts both quality of life and survival in a high percentage of patients. Here, we show that RING finger protein 208 (RNF208) decreases the stability of soluble Vimentin protein through a polyubiquitin-mediated proteasomal degradation pathway, thereby suppressing metastasis of TNBC cells. RNF208 was significantly lower in TNBC than the luminal type, and low expression of RNF208 was strongly associated with poor clinical outcomes. Furthermore, RNF208 was induced by 17β-estradiol (E2) treatment in an estrogen receptor alpha (ΕRα)-dependent manner. Overexpression of RNF208 suppresses tumor formation and lung metastasis of TNBC cells. Mechanistically, RNF208 specifically polyubiquitinated the Lys97 residue within the head domain of Vimentin through interaction with the Ser39 residue of phosphorylated Vimentin, which exists as a soluble form, eventually facilitating proteasomal degradation of Vimentin. Collectively, our findings define RNF208 as a negative regulator of soluble Vimentin and a prognostic biomarker for TNBC cells. Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive subtype lacking effective targeted therapies. Here, the authors show that RNF208, an estrogen-induced ubiquitin ligase, promotes the degradation of Vimentin, thereby suppressing lung metastasis of TNBC, and may serve as a biomarker for the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyoungwha Pang
- Precision Medicine Research Center, Advanced Institute of Convergence Technology, Seoul National University, Suwon, Gyeonggi-do, 16229, Republic of Korea.,Department of Biomedical Science, College of Life Science, CHA University, Seongnam City, Gyeonggi-do, 463-400, Republic of Korea
| | - Jinah Park
- Precision Medicine Research Center, Advanced Institute of Convergence Technology, Seoul National University, Suwon, Gyeonggi-do, 16229, Republic of Korea
| | - Sung Gwe Ahn
- Department of Surgery, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University Medical College, 712 Eonjuro, Gangnam-Gu, Seoul, 135-720, Republic of Korea
| | - Jihee Lee
- Precision Medicine Research Center, Advanced Institute of Convergence Technology, Seoul National University, Suwon, Gyeonggi-do, 16229, Republic of Korea.,Department of Biomedical Science, College of Life Science, CHA University, Seongnam City, Gyeonggi-do, 463-400, Republic of Korea
| | - Yuna Park
- Precision Medicine Research Center, Advanced Institute of Convergence Technology, Seoul National University, Suwon, Gyeonggi-do, 16229, Republic of Korea.,Department of Biomedical Science, College of Life Science, CHA University, Seongnam City, Gyeonggi-do, 463-400, Republic of Korea
| | - Akira Ooshima
- Precision Medicine Research Center, Advanced Institute of Convergence Technology, Seoul National University, Suwon, Gyeonggi-do, 16229, Republic of Korea
| | - Seiya Mizuno
- Laboratory Animal Resource Center, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8575, Japan
| | - Satoshi Yamashita
- Division of Epigenomics, National Cancer Center Research Institute, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kyung-Soon Park
- Department of Biomedical Science, College of Life Science, CHA University, Seongnam City, Gyeonggi-do, 463-400, Republic of Korea
| | - So-Young Lee
- Department of Internal Medicine, CHA University, Seongnam City, Gyeonggi-do, 463-400, Republic of Korea
| | - Joon Jeong
- Department of Surgery, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University Medical College, 712 Eonjuro, Gangnam-Gu, Seoul, 135-720, Republic of Korea
| | - Toshikazu Ushijima
- Division of Epigenomics, National Cancer Center Research Institute, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kyung-Min Yang
- Precision Medicine Research Center, Advanced Institute of Convergence Technology, Seoul National University, Suwon, Gyeonggi-do, 16229, Republic of Korea.
| | - Seong-Jin Kim
- Precision Medicine Research Center, Advanced Institute of Convergence Technology, Seoul National University, Suwon, Gyeonggi-do, 16229, Republic of Korea. .,Department of Transdisciplinary Studies, Graduate School of Convergence Science and Technology, Seoul National University, Suwon, Gyeonggi-do, 16229, Republic of Korea. .,TheragenEtex Bio Institute, TheragenEtex Co, Suwon, Gyeonggi-do, 16229, Republic of Korea.
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Xu J, Bao H, Wu X, Wang X, Shao YW, Sun T. Elevated tumor mutation burden and immunogenic activity in patients with hormone receptor-negative or human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive breast cancer. Oncol Lett 2019; 18:449-455. [PMID: 31289516 PMCID: PMC6540262 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2019.10287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2018] [Accepted: 04/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapy has been found to be efficient in a variety of cancers and, therefore, may be a promising strategy for breast cancer (BC), particularly due to the limited therapeutic options currently available for triple-negative BC (TNBC). However, heterogeneity of tumor mutation burden (TMB), immune gene expression and mismatch repair (MMR) gene activity across BC subtypes has not been well characterized. In the present study, a comprehensive analysis of TMB, expression levels of immune cell type marker genes, and expression levels of MMR-associated genes was performed. A total of 5 MMR-associated genes, including MLH1, MLH3, MSH2, MSH6 and PMS2, were analyzed. Patients that harbored at least two MMR genes with expression levels in the lower 10% percentile across the cohort were considered as potentially aberrant (lost expression). Hormone receptor (HR)-negative BC is associated with a higher TMB and immune gene expression compared with HR-positive BC [TMB, estrogen receptor (ER)-negative vs. ER-negative, 55 vs. 32, respectively; P=4.1×10-13; progesterone receptor (PR)-negative vs. PR-positive, 53 vs. 31, respectively; P<2.2×10-16]. By contrast, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative BC tended to have a lower TMB and decreased immune gene expression compared with HER2-positive BC (TMB, HER2-negative vs. HER2-positive, 36 vs. 48, respectively; P=0.02). Furthermore, aberrant expression of MMR genes was found to be more common in HR-negative compared with HR-positive BC (P<0.001). Significantly higher expression levels of each immune marker gene of four major immune cell types were found in patients who were HR-negative compared with patients who were HR-positive (P<0.001). The findings of the present study suggest that HR-negative or HER2-positive BC exhibits elevated TMB and immunogenic activity, and immunotherapeutic options are recommended.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junnan Xu
- Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Hospital of China Medical University, Liaoning Cancer Hospital and Institute, Key Laboratory of Liaoning Breast Cancer Research, Shenyang, Liaoning 110042, P.R. China
| | - Hua Bao
- Translational Medicine Research Institute, Geneseeq Technology Inc., Toronto, ON M5G 1L7, Canada
| | - Xue Wu
- Translational Medicine Research Institute, Geneseeq Technology Inc., Toronto, ON M5G 1L7, Canada
| | - Xiaonan Wang
- Nanjing Geneseeq Technology Inc., Nanjing, Jiangsu 210032, P.R. China
| | - Yang W Shao
- Translational Medicine Research Institute, Geneseeq Technology Inc., Toronto, ON M5G 1L7, Canada.,School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211166, P.R. China
| | - Tao Sun
- Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Hospital of China Medical University, Liaoning Cancer Hospital and Institute, Key Laboratory of Liaoning Breast Cancer Research, Shenyang, Liaoning 110042, P.R. China
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蒋 国, 刘 亚, 赵 婉, 王 道, 董 淑, 童 旭. [Effect of gap junction modulation on antitumor effects of adriamycin in estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer cells]. NAN FANG YI KE DA XUE XUE BAO = JOURNAL OF SOUTHERN MEDICAL UNIVERSITY 2018; 38:780-786. [PMID: 33168517 PMCID: PMC6765543 DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1673-4254.2018.07.02] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To observe the effect of functional modulation of gap junctions (GJ) on the antitumor effect of adriamycin in breast cancer cells positive for estrogen receptor (ER). METHODS The inhibitory effect of 0 to 24.0 μmol/L adriamycin on the surviving fraction of ER-positive human breast cancer MCF-7 cells and ER-negative MDA-MB-231 cells was assessed with MTT assay; Western blotting and immunofluorescence assay were used to detect the expressions of Cx43 total protein and membrane protein in the cells. A parachute assay was used to evaluate the function of the GJ in MCF-7 cells. The cytotoxic effect of adriamycin was observed in the cells treated with retinoic acid (RA) for enhancing GJ function, in cells treated with oleamide and 18-α- glycyrrhizic acid (18-α-ga) for inhibiting GJ function, and also in cells transfected with Cx43siRNA for Cx43 knockdown. RESULTS ER-positive MCF-7 cells expressed a significantly higher level of Cx43 with stronger GJ function than ER-negative MDA- MB-231 cells. Adriamycin significantly inhibited the proliferation of MCF-7 cells (P < 0.01), and RA treatment further increased the cytotoxicity of adriamycin (P < 0.01) while oleamide and 18-α-GA obviously attenuated the cytotoxicity of adriamycin (P < 0.01). In the cells with Cx43 knockdown, the expressions of total Cx43 protein and Cx43 on the membrane were significantly reduced, the function of GJ was attenuated, and the cytotoxicity of adriamycin was significantly decreased (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS ER-positive breast cancer cells have stronger Cx43 expressions and GJ function than the ERnegative cells. The cytotoxicity of adriamycin against the breast cancer cells can be strengthened by enhancing GJ function and attenuated by inhibiting GJ function. Cx43 silencing inhibits the function of GJ to lower the cytotoxicity of adriamycin in human breast cancer MCF-7 cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- 国君 蒋
- />蚌埠医学院药学院药理教研室,安徽 蚌埠 233030Pharmacology department of Bengbu Medical college, Bengbu 233030, China
| | - 亚明 刘
- />蚌埠医学院药学院药理教研室,安徽 蚌埠 233030Pharmacology department of Bengbu Medical college, Bengbu 233030, China
| | - 婉晨 赵
- />蚌埠医学院药学院药理教研室,安徽 蚌埠 233030Pharmacology department of Bengbu Medical college, Bengbu 233030, China
| | - 道鑫 王
- />蚌埠医学院药学院药理教研室,安徽 蚌埠 233030Pharmacology department of Bengbu Medical college, Bengbu 233030, China
| | - 淑英 董
- />蚌埠医学院药学院药理教研室,安徽 蚌埠 233030Pharmacology department of Bengbu Medical college, Bengbu 233030, China
| | - 旭辉 童
- />蚌埠医学院药学院药理教研室,安徽 蚌埠 233030Pharmacology department of Bengbu Medical college, Bengbu 233030, China
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