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Abdolahi M, Ghaedi Talkhounche P, Derakhshan Nazari MH, Hosseininia HS, Khoshdel-Rad N, Ebrahimi Sadrabadi A. Functional Enrichment Analysis of Tumor Microenvironment-Driven Molecular Alterations That Facilitate Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition and Distant Metastasis. Bioinform Biol Insights 2024; 18:11779322241227722. [PMID: 38318286 PMCID: PMC10840405 DOI: 10.1177/11779322241227722] [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: 01/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 02/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Nowadays, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the second leading cause of cancer deaths, and identifying the effective factors in causing this disease can play an important role in its prevention and treatment. Tumors provide effective agents for invasion and metastasis to other organs by establishing appropriate communication between cancer cells and the microenvironment. Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) can be mentioned as one of the effective phenomena in tumor invasion and metastasis. Several factors are involved in inducing this phenomenon in the tumor microenvironment, which helps the tumor survive and migrate to other places. It can be effective to identify these factors in the use of appropriate treatment strategies and greater patient survival. This study investigated the molecular differences between tumor border cells and tumor core cells or internal tumor cells in HCC for specific EMT genes. Expression of NOTCH1, ID1, and LST1 genes showed a significant increase at the HCC tumor border. Targeting these genes can be considered as a useful therapeutic strategy to prevent distant metastasis in HCC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahnaz Abdolahi
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Parnian Ghaedi Talkhounche
- Department of Microbiology and Microbial Biotechnology, Faculty of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Hossein Derakhshan Nazari
- Department of Microbiology and Microbial Biotechnology, Faculty of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Haniyeh Sadat Hosseininia
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Advanced Medical Science, Islamic Azad University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Cytotech & Bioinformatics Research Group, Bioinformatics Department, Tehran, Iran
| | - Niloofar Khoshdel-Rad
- Department of Regenerative Medicine, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
| | - Amin Ebrahimi Sadrabadi
- Cytotech & Bioinformatics Research Group, Bioinformatics Department, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Stem Cells and Developmental Biology, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACER, Tehran, Iran
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Reisenauer KN, Aroujo J, Tao Y, Ranganathan S, Romo D, Taube JH. Therapeutic vulnerabilities of cancer stem cells and effects of natural products. Nat Prod Rep 2023; 40:1432-1456. [PMID: 37103550 PMCID: PMC10524555 DOI: 10.1039/d3np00002h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/28/2023]
Abstract
Covering: 1995 to 2022Tumors possess both genetic and phenotypic heterogeneity leading to the survival of subpopulations post-treatment. The term cancer stem cells (CSCs) describes a subpopulation that is resistant to many types of chemotherapy and which also possess enhanced migratory and anchorage-independent growth capabilities. These cells are enriched in residual tumor material post-treatment and can serve as the seed for future tumor re-growth, at both primary and metastatic sites. Elimination of CSCs is a key goal in enhancing cancer treatment and may be aided by application of natural products in conjunction with conventional treatments. In this review, we highlight molecular features of CSCs and discuss synthesis, structure-activity relationships, derivatization, and effects of six natural products with anti-CSC activity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jaquelin Aroujo
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Baylor Univesrity, Waco, TX, USA
| | - Yongfeng Tao
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Baylor Univesrity, Waco, TX, USA
| | | | - Daniel Romo
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Baylor Univesrity, Waco, TX, USA
| | - Joseph H Taube
- Department of Biology, Baylor University, Waco, TX, USA.
- Dan L. Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
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Vipparthi K, Patel AK, Ghosh S, Das S, Das C, Das K, Sarkar A, Thatikonda V, Pal B, Remani ASKN, Arora N, Parihar M, Vijayakumar MV, Bhat MK, Boppana R, Bhattacharjee S, Biswas NK, Arun P, Sharan R, Singh S. Two novel cell culture models of buccal mucosal oral cancer from patients with no risk-habits of tobacco smoking or chewing. Oral Oncol 2020; 113:105131. [PMID: 33387705 DOI: 10.1016/j.oraloncology.2020.105131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2020] [Revised: 11/12/2020] [Accepted: 12/01/2020] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Tobacco consumption is one of the major etiological factors for oral cancer, but it also develops in non-tobacco users, with unknown etiologies. Cellular models for tobacco associated oral cancer are available, however; reports of cellular models for studying non-tobacco associated oral cancer are limiting. We report here the establishment and characterization of two novel buccal mucosal cancer cell lines 'GBC02' and 'GBC035' derived from non-tobacco users. MATERIALS AND METHODS Short tandem repeats (STR) profiling, Next-generation sequencing for whole-genome, exome and copy number alterations, immunofluorescence, flow-cytometry, proliferation, live-cell chemotaxis, 3D-spheroid formation, chemotherapy response, gene-expression microarray, gene-set enrichment analysis and xenograft development were performed. RESULTS Sources of the established cultures were matched to their donors through STR profiling. Genome sequence analysis revealed somatic mutations in TP53, CASP8, CDKN2A for GBC02 with deletions and amplifications encompassing CDKN2A, FAT1 and CCND1, PIK3CA, SOX2, EGFR, MYC genes, respectively. GBC035 harbored mutations in FAT1, NOTCH1, HRAS, CDKN2A, HLA-B, HLA-A genes. While GBC035 cells showed higher E-Cadherin positive cell-cell junctions and collective cell migration in chemotaxis; GBC02 cells were vimentin-positive and demonstrated individual cell migration. Further, exhibiting their relevance to preclinical research, GBC02 3D-spheroids demonstrated enrichment of development-related gene-signatures in microarray transcriptome analysis and were resistant to Cisplatin, but showed sensitivity to cancer stem cells-targeting drug, Salinomycin. Additionally, tumorigenic ability of GBC02 was demonstrated. CONCLUSIONS Altogether, we present here comprehensively characterized unique cell lines established from non-tobacco associated tumors, which may serve as models for preclinical investigations of oral cancers caused independent of tobacco usage.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Subrata Das
- National Institute of Biomedical Genomics, Kalyani, India
| | | | - Koyeli Das
- National Institute of Biomedical Genomics, Kalyani, India
| | - Anwesha Sarkar
- National Institute of Biomedical Genomics, Kalyani, India
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Sandeep Singh
- National Institute of Biomedical Genomics, Kalyani, India.
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4
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Antoszczak M, Huczyński A. Salinomycin and its derivatives - A new class of multiple-targeted "magic bullets". Eur J Med Chem 2019; 176:208-227. [PMID: 31103901 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2019.05.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2018] [Revised: 05/06/2019] [Accepted: 05/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The history of drug development clearly shows the scale of painstaking effort leading to a finished product - a highly biologically active agent that would be at the same time no or little toxic to human organism. Moreover, the aim of modern drug discovery can move from "one-molecule one-target" concept to more promising "one-molecule multiple-targets" one, particularly in the context of effective fight against cancer and other complex diseases. Gratifyingly, natural compounds are excellent source of potential drug leads. One of such promising naturally-occurring drug candidates is a polyether ionophore - salinomycin (SAL). This compound should be identified as multi-target agent for two reasons. Firstly, SAL combines a broad spectrum of bioactivity, including antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antiparasitic and anticancer activity, with high selectivity of action, proving its significant therapeutic potential. Secondly, the multimodal mechanism of action of SAL has been shown to be related to its interactions with multiple molecular targets and signalling pathways that are synergistic for achieving a therapeutic anticancer effect. On the other hand, according to the Paul Ehrlich's "magic bullet" concept, invariably inspiring the scientists working on design of novel target-selective molecules, a very interesting direction of research is rational chemical modification of SAL. Importantly, many of SAL derivatives have been found to be more promising as chemotherapeutics than the native structure. This concise review article is focused both on the possible role of SAL and its selected analogues in future antimicrobial and/or cancer therapy, and on the potential use of SAL as a new class of multiple-targeted "magic bullet" because of its multimodal mechanism of action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michał Antoszczak
- Department of Bioorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Adam Mickiewicz University, Umultowska 89b, 61‒614, Poznań, Poland
| | - Adam Huczyński
- Department of Bioorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Adam Mickiewicz University, Umultowska 89b, 61‒614, Poznań, Poland.
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5
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Antoszczak M. A medicinal chemistry perspective on salinomycin as a potent anticancer and anti-CSCs agent. Eur J Med Chem 2019; 164:366-377. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2018.12.057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2018] [Revised: 12/20/2018] [Accepted: 12/24/2018] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
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Versini A, Saier L, Sindikubwabo F, Müller S, Cañeque T, Rodriguez R. Chemical biology of salinomycin. Tetrahedron 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tet.2018.07.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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Setúbal Destro Rodrigues MF, Gammon L, Rahman MM, Biddle A, Nunes FD, Mackenzie IC. Effects of Cetuximab and Erlotinib on the behaviour of cancer stem cells in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Oncotarget 2018; 9:13488-13500. [PMID: 29568372 PMCID: PMC5862593 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.24416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2017] [Accepted: 01/20/2018] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The therapeutic responses of many solid tumours to chemo- and radio-therapies are far from fully effective but therapies targeting malignancy-related cellular changes show promise for further control. In head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is commonly overexpressed and investigation of agents that block this receptor indicate a limited response when used alone but an ability to enhance the actions of other drugs. The hierarchical stem cell patterns present in tumours generate cellular heterogeneity and this is further complicated by cancer stem cells (CSC) shifting between epithelial (Epi-CSC) and mesenchymal (EMT-CSC) states. To clarify how such heterogeneity influences responses to EGFR blocking, we examined the effects of Cetuximab and Erlotinib on the cell sub-populations in HNSCC cell lines. These agents reduced cell proliferation for all subpopulations but induced little cell death. They did however induce large shifts of cells between the EMT-CSC, Epi-CSC and differentiating cell compartments. Loss of EMT-CSCs reduced cell motility and is expected to reduce invasion and metastasis. EGFR blocking also induced shifts of Epi-CSCs into the differentiating cell compartment which typically has greater sensitivity to chemo/radiation, an effect expected to enhance the overall response of tumour cell populations to adjunctive therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Luke Gammon
- Blizard Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Muhammad M Rahman
- Blizard Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Adrian Biddle
- Blizard Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Fabio Daumas Nunes
- Oral Pathology Department, School of Dentistry, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Ian C Mackenzie
- Blizard Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
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Dewangan J, Srivastava S, Rath SK. Salinomycin: A new paradigm in cancer therapy. Tumour Biol 2017; 39:1010428317695035. [PMID: 28349817 DOI: 10.1177/1010428317695035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The primary hurdle in the treatment of cancer is acquisition of resistance by the tumor cells toward multiple drugs and selectively targeting the cancer stem cells. This problem was overcome by the chemotherapeutic property of recently discovered drug salinomycin. Exact mechanism of action of salinomycin is not yet known, but there are multiple pathways by which salinomycin inhibits tumor growth. Salinomycin decreases the expression of adenosine triphosphate-binding cassette transporter in multidrug resistance cells and interferes with Akt signaling pathway, Wnt/β-catenin, Hedgehog, and Notch pathways of cancer progression. Salinomycin selectively targets cancer stem cells. The potential of salinomycin to eliminate both cancer stem cells and therapy-resistant cancer cells may characterize the compound as a novel and an efficient chemotherapeutic drug.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jayant Dewangan
- Genotoxicity Laboratory, Division of Toxicology, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow, India
| | - Sonal Srivastava
- Genotoxicity Laboratory, Division of Toxicology, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow, India
| | - Srikanta Kumar Rath
- Genotoxicity Laboratory, Division of Toxicology, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow, India
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9
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Koren E, Fuchs Y. The bad seed: Cancer stem cells in tumor development and resistance. Drug Resist Updat 2016; 28:1-12. [DOI: 10.1016/j.drup.2016.06.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2016] [Revised: 06/11/2016] [Accepted: 06/19/2016] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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10
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Veracini L, Grall D, Schaub S, Beghelli-de la Forest Divonne S, Etienne-Grimaldi MC, Milano G, Bozec A, Babin E, Sudaka A, Thariat J, Van Obberghen-Schilling E. Elevated Src family kinase activity stabilizes E-cadherin-based junctions and collective movement of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas. Oncotarget 2016; 6:7570-83. [PMID: 25779657 PMCID: PMC4480700 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.3071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2014] [Accepted: 12/23/2014] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
EGF receptor (EGFR) overexpression is thought to drive head and neck carcinogenesis however clinical responses to EGFR-targeting agents have been modest and alternate targets are actively sought to improve results. Src family kinases (SFKs), reported to act downstream of EGFR are among the alternative targets for which increased expression or activity in epithelial tumors is commonly associated to the dissolution of E-cadherin-based junctions and acquisition of a mesenchymal-like phenotype. Robust expression of total and activated Src was observed in advanced stage head and neck tumors (N=60) and in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma lines. In cultured cancer cells Src co-localized with E-cadherin in cell-cell junctions and its phosphorylation on Y419 was both constitutive and independent of EGFR activation. Selective inhibition of SFKs with SU6656 delocalized E-cadherin and disrupted cellular junctions without affecting E-cadherin expression and this effect was phenocopied by knockdown of Src or Yes. These findings reveal an EGFR-independent role for SFKs in the maintenance of intercellular junctions, which likely contributes to the cohesive invasion E-cadherin-positive cells in advanced tumors. Further, they highlight the need for a deeper comprehension of molecular pathways that drive collective cell invasion, in absence of mesenchymal transition, in order to combat tumor spread.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laurence Veracini
- University of Nice Sophia Antipolis, UFR Sciences, Nice, France.,CNRS, UMR7277, Nice, France.,Inserm, U1091, Nice, France
| | - Dominique Grall
- University of Nice Sophia Antipolis, UFR Sciences, Nice, France.,CNRS, UMR7277, Nice, France.,Inserm, U1091, Nice, France
| | - Sébastien Schaub
- University of Nice Sophia Antipolis, UFR Sciences, Nice, France.,CNRS, UMR7277, Nice, France.,Inserm, U1091, Nice, France
| | - Stéphanie Beghelli-de la Forest Divonne
- University of Nice Sophia Antipolis, UFR Sciences, Nice, France.,CNRS, UMR7277, Nice, France.,Inserm, U1091, Nice, France.,Department of Pathology, Centre Antoine Lacassagne, Nice, France
| | | | - Gérard Milano
- Laboratory of Oncopharmacology, Centre Antoine Lacassagne, Nice, France
| | - Alexandre Bozec
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Centre Antoine Lacassagne, Nice, France
| | - Emmanuel Babin
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Cervicofacial Surgery, CHU, Caen, France
| | - Anne Sudaka
- Department of Pathology, Centre Antoine Lacassagne, Nice, France
| | - Juliette Thariat
- University of Nice Sophia Antipolis, UFR Sciences, Nice, France.,CNRS, UMR7277, Nice, France.,Inserm, U1091, Nice, France.,Laboratory of Oncopharmacology, Centre Antoine Lacassagne, Nice, France
| | - Ellen Van Obberghen-Schilling
- University of Nice Sophia Antipolis, UFR Sciences, Nice, France.,CNRS, UMR7277, Nice, France.,Inserm, U1091, Nice, France.,Department of Pathology, Centre Antoine Lacassagne, Nice, France
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Resham K, Patel PN, Thummuri D, Guntuku L, Shah V, Bambal RB, Naidu V. Preclinical drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics of salinomycin, a potential candidate for targeting human cancer stem cells. Chem Biol Interact 2015; 240:146-52. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cbi.2015.08.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2015] [Revised: 07/09/2015] [Accepted: 08/10/2015] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
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12
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Zhang C, Tian Y, Song F, Fu C, Han B, Wang Y. Salinomycin inhibits the growth of colorectal carcinoma by targeting tumor stem cells. Oncol Rep 2015; 34:2469-76. [PMID: 26352531 DOI: 10.3892/or.2015.4253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2015] [Accepted: 07/23/2015] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Salinomycin is a monocarboxylic polyether antibiotic that has been reported to induce apoptosis in various types of cancer cells with specificity for cancer stem cells. However, its anticancer effect in colorectal cancer stem cells has never been reported. In the present study, we examined the ability of salinomycin to induce cell death in the colorectal cancer stem cell line CD44+EpCAM+ HCT-116, and we measured its in vivo tumor inhibition capacity. Salinomycin dose-dependently induced cytotoxicity in the CD44+EpCAM+ HCT-116 cells and inhibited colony formation. Salinomycin treatment was shown to induce apoptosis, as evidenced by nuclear fragmentation, an increase in the proportion of acridine orange/ethidium bromide-positive cells and an increase in the percentage of Annexin V-positive cells. Apoptosis was induced in colorectal cancer stem cells in a caspase-dependent manner, as shown by an increase in the levels of cleaved caspase-3, -8 and -9. JC-1 staining further revealed that salinomycin induced colorectal cancer cell apoptosis via the mitochondrial pathway. In addition, salinomycin treatment of xenograft mice inhibited the growth of tumors derived from the CD44+EpCAM+ HCT-116 cells. The present study demonstrated that the antibiotic salinomycin exerts an anti-colorectal cancer effect in vitro and in vivo, suggesting salinomycin as a potential drug for colorectal cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Zhang
- Department of Regenerative Medicine, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130021, P.R. China
| | - Yaping Tian
- Department of Dermatology, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130021, P.R. China
| | - Feiyu Song
- Jilin Connell Pharmaceutical Company, Changchun, Jilin 130000, P.R. China
| | - Changhao Fu
- Department of Regenerative Medicine, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130021, P.R. China
| | - Bo Han
- Department of Regenerative Medicine, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130021, P.R. China
| | - Yi Wang
- Department of Regenerative Medicine, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130021, P.R. China
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Deregulation of the EGFR/PI3K/PTEN/Akt/mTORC1 pathway in breast cancer: possibilities for therapeutic intervention. Oncotarget 2015; 5:4603-50. [PMID: 25051360 PMCID: PMC4148087 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.2209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 179] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The EGFR/PI3K/PTEN/Akt/mTORC1/GSK-3 pathway plays prominent roles in malignant transformation, prevention of apoptosis, drug resistance and metastasis. The expression of this pathway is frequently altered in breast cancer due to mutations at or aberrant expression of: HER2, ERalpha, BRCA1, BRCA2, EGFR1, PIK3CA, PTEN, TP53, RB as well as other oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes. In some breast cancer cases, mutations at certain components of this pathway (e.g., PIK3CA) are associated with a better prognosis than breast cancers lacking these mutations. The expression of this pathway and upstream HER2 has been associated with breast cancer initiating cells (CICs) and in some cases resistance to treatment. The anti-diabetes drug metformin can suppress the growth of breast CICs and herceptin-resistant HER2+ cells. This review will discuss the importance of the EGFR/PI3K/PTEN/Akt/mTORC1/GSK-3 pathway primarily in breast cancer but will also include relevant examples from other cancer types. The targeting of this pathway will be discussed as well as clinical trials with novel small molecule inhibitors. The targeting of the hormone receptor, HER2 and EGFR1 in breast cancer will be reviewed in association with suppression of the EGFR/PI3K/PTEN/Akt/mTORC1/GSK-3 pathway.
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Markwell SM, Weed SA. Tumor and stromal-based contributions to head and neck squamous cell carcinoma invasion. Cancers (Basel) 2015; 7:382-406. [PMID: 25734659 PMCID: PMC4381264 DOI: 10.3390/cancers7010382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2015] [Revised: 02/10/2015] [Accepted: 02/15/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is typically diagnosed at advanced stages with evident loco-regional and/or distal metastases. The prevalence of metastatic lesions directly correlates with poor patient outcome, resulting in high patient mortality rates following metastatic development. The progression to metastatic disease requires changes not only in the carcinoma cells, but also in the surrounding stromal cells and tumor microenvironment. Within the microenvironment, acellular contributions from the surrounding extracellular matrix, along with contributions from various infiltrating immune cells, tumor associated fibroblasts, and endothelial cells facilitate the spread of tumor cells from the primary site to the rest of the body. Thus far, most attempts to limit metastatic spread through therapeutic intervention have failed to show patient benefit in clinic trails. The goal of this review is highlight the complexity of invasion-promoting interactions in the HNSCC tumor microenvironment, focusing on contributions from tumor and stromal cells in order to assist future therapeutic development and patient treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven M Markwell
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Program in Cancer Cell Biology, Mary Babb Randolph Cancer Center, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA.
| | - Scott A Weed
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Program in Cancer Cell Biology, Mary Babb Randolph Cancer Center, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA.
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15
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Gramicidin A: A New Mission for an Old Antibiotic. J Kidney Cancer VHL 2015; 2:15-24. [PMID: 28326255 PMCID: PMC5345515 DOI: 10.15586/jkcvhl.2015.21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2015] [Accepted: 01/15/2015] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Gramicidin A (GA) is a channel-forming ionophore that renders biological membranes permeable to specific cations which disrupts cellular ionic homeostasis. It is a well-known antibiotic, however it’s potential as a therapeutic agent for cancer has not been widely evaluated. In two recently published studies, we showed that GA treatment is toxic to cell lines and tumor xenografts derived from renal cell carcinoma (RCC), a devastating disease that is highly resistant to conventional therapy. GA was found to possess the qualities of both a cytotoxic drug and a targeted angiogenesis inhibitor, and this combination significantly compromised RCC growth in vitro and in vivo. In this review, we summarize our recent research on GA, discuss the possible mechanisms whereby it exerts its anti-tumor effects, and share our perspectives on the future opportunities and challenges to the use of GA as a new anticancer agent.
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Bansal N, Mims J, Kuremsky JG, Olex AL, Zhao W, Yin L, Wani R, Qian J, Center B, Marrs GS, Porosnicu M, Fetrow JS, Tsang AW, Furdui CM. Broad phenotypic changes associated with gain of radiation resistance in head and neck squamous cell cancer. Antioxid Redox Signal 2014; 21:221-36. [PMID: 24597745 PMCID: PMC4060837 DOI: 10.1089/ars.2013.5690] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
AIMS The central issue of resistance to radiation remains a significant challenge in the treatment of cancer despite improvements in treatment modality and emergence of new therapies. To facilitate the identification of molecular factors that elicit protection against ionizing radiation, we developed a matched model of radiation resistance for head and neck squamous cell cancer (HNSCC) and characterized its properties using quantitative mass spectrometry and complementary assays. RESULTS Functional network analysis of proteomics data identified DNA replication and base excision repair, extracellular matrix-receptor interaction, cell cycle, focal adhesion, and regulation of actin cytoskeleton as significantly up- or downregulated networks in resistant (rSCC-61) HNSCC cells. Upregulated proteins in rSCC-61 included a number of cytokeratins, fatty acid synthase, and antioxidant proteins. In addition, the rSCC-61 cells displayed two unexpected features compared with parental radiation-sensitive SCC-61 cells: (i) rSCC-61 had increased sensitivity to Erlotinib, a small-molecule inhibitor of epidermal growth factor receptor; and (ii) there was evidence of mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition in rSCC-61, confirmed by the expression of protein markers and functional assays (e.g., Vimentin, migration). INNOVATION The matched model of radiation resistance presented here shows that multiple signaling and metabolic pathways converge to produce the rSCC-61 phenotype, and this points to the function of the antioxidant system as a major regulator of resistance to ionizing radiation in rSCC-61, a phenomenon further confirmed by analysis of HNSCC tumor samples. CONCLUSION The rSCC-61/SCC-61 model provides the opportunity for future investigations of the redox-regulated mechanisms of response to combined radiation and Erlotinib in a preclinical setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nidhi Bansal
- 1 Section on Molecular Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine , Winston-Salem, North Carolina
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Zinzi L, Contino M, Cantore M, Capparelli E, Leopoldo M, Colabufo NA. ABC transporters in CSCs membranes as a novel target for treating tumor relapse. Front Pharmacol 2014; 5:163. [PMID: 25071581 PMCID: PMC4091306 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2014.00163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2014] [Accepted: 06/20/2014] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
CSCs are responsible for the high rate of recurrence and chemoresistance of different types of cancer. The current antineoplastic agents able to inhibit bulk replicating cancer cells and radiation treatment are not efficacious toward CSCs since this subpopulation has several intrinsic mechanisms of resistance. Among these mechanisms, the expression of ATP-Binding Cassette (ABC) transporters family and the activation of different signaling pathways (such as Wnt/β-catenin signaling, Hedgehog, Notch, Akt/PKB) are reported. Therefore, considering ABC transporters expression on CSCs membranes, compounds able to modulate MDR could induce cytotoxicity in these cells disclosing an exciting and alternative strategy for targeting CSCs in tumor therapy. The next challenge in the cure of cancer relapse may be a multimodal strategy, an approach where specific CSCs targeting drugs exert simultaneously the ability to circumvent tumor drug resistance (ABC transporters modulation) and cytotoxic activity toward CSCs and the corresponding differentiated tumor cells. The efficacy of suggested multimodal strategy could be probed by using several scaffolds active toward MDR pumps on CSCs isolated by tumor specimens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Zinzi
- Dipartimento di Farmacia-Scienze del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Bari "A. Moro," Bari, Italy
| | - Marialessandra Contino
- Dipartimento di Farmacia-Scienze del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Bari "A. Moro," Bari, Italy
| | - Mariangela Cantore
- Dipartimento di Farmacia-Scienze del Farmaco, Biofordrug srl, Spin-off of University of Bari Bari, Italy
| | - Elena Capparelli
- Dipartimento di Farmacia-Scienze del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Bari "A. Moro," Bari, Italy
| | - Marcello Leopoldo
- Dipartimento di Farmacia-Scienze del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Bari "A. Moro," Bari, Italy ; Dipartimento di Farmacia-Scienze del Farmaco, Biofordrug srl, Spin-off of University of Bari Bari, Italy
| | - Nicola A Colabufo
- Dipartimento di Farmacia-Scienze del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Bari "A. Moro," Bari, Italy ; Dipartimento di Farmacia-Scienze del Farmaco, Biofordrug srl, Spin-off of University of Bari Bari, Italy
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Psyrri A, Lee JW, Pectasides E, Vassilakopoulou M, Kosmidis EK, Burtness BA, Rimm DL, Wanebo HJ, Forastiere AA. Prognostic biomarkers in phase II trial of cetuximab-containing induction and chemoradiation in resectable HNSCC: Eastern cooperative oncology group E2303. Clin Cancer Res 2014; 20:3023-32. [PMID: 24700741 PMCID: PMC4049169 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-14-0113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE We sought to evaluate the correlation between tissue biomarker expression (using standardized, quantitative immunofluorescence) and clinical outcome in the E2303 trial. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN Sixty-three eligible patients with operable stage III/IV head and neck squamous cell cancer (HNSCC) participated in the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) 2303 phase II trial of induction chemotherapy with weekly cetuximab, paclitaxel, and carboplatin followed by chemoradiation with the same regimen. A tissue microarray (TMA) was constructed and EGF receptor (EGFR), ERK1/2, Met, Akt, STAT3, β-catenin, E-cadherin, EGFR Variant III, insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor, NF-κB, p53, PI3Kp85, PI3Kp110a, PTEN, NRAS, and pRb protein expression levels were assessed using automated quantitative protein analysis (AQUA). For each dichotomized biomarker, overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and event-free survival (EFS) were estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method and compared using log-rank tests. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate HRs and test for significance. RESULTS Forty-two of 63 patients with TMA data on at least one biomarker were included in the biomarker analysis. Tumor extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)1/2 levels were significantly associated with PFS [HR (low/high), 3.29; P = 0.026] and OS [HR (low/high), 4.34; P = 0.008]. On multivariable Cox regression analysis, ERK1/2 remained significantly associated with OS (P = 0.024) and PFS (P = 0.022) after controlling for primary site (oropharynx vs. non-oropharynx) and disease stage (III vs. IV), respectively. Clustering analysis revealed that clusters indicative of activated RAS/MAPK/ERK and/or PI3K/Akt pathways were associated with inferior OS and/or PFS and maintained significance in multivariable analysis. CONCLUSIONS These results implicate PI3K/Akt and RAS/MAPK/ERK pathways in resistance to cetuximab-containing chemoradiation in HNSCC. Large prospective studies are required to validate these results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda Psyrri
- Authors' Affiliations: Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut; Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts; Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Landmark Medical Center, Woonsocket, Rhode Island; Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland; and Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Ju-Whei Lee
- Authors' Affiliations: Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut; Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts; Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Landmark Medical Center, Woonsocket, Rhode Island; Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland; and Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Eirini Pectasides
- Authors' Affiliations: Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut; Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts; Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Landmark Medical Center, Woonsocket, Rhode Island; Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland; and Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Maria Vassilakopoulou
- Authors' Affiliations: Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut; Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts; Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Landmark Medical Center, Woonsocket, Rhode Island; Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland; and Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Efstratios K Kosmidis
- Authors' Affiliations: Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut; Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts; Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Landmark Medical Center, Woonsocket, Rhode Island; Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland; and Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Barbara A Burtness
- Authors' Affiliations: Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut; Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts; Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Landmark Medical Center, Woonsocket, Rhode Island; Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland; and Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - David L Rimm
- Authors' Affiliations: Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut; Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts; Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Landmark Medical Center, Woonsocket, Rhode Island; Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland; and Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Harold J Wanebo
- Authors' Affiliations: Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut; Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts; Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Landmark Medical Center, Woonsocket, Rhode Island; Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland; and Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Arlene A Forastiere
- Authors' Affiliations: Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut; Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts; Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Landmark Medical Center, Woonsocket, Rhode Island; Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland; and Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
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19
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Calzolari A, Saulle E, De Angelis ML, Pasquini L, Boe A, Pelacchi F, Ricci-Vitiani L, Baiocchi M, Testa U. Salinomycin potentiates the cytotoxic effects of TRAIL on glioblastoma cell lines. PLoS One 2014; 9:e94438. [PMID: 24740347 PMCID: PMC3989199 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0094438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2013] [Accepted: 03/17/2014] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) has been reported to exhibit therapeutic activity in cancer. However, many tumors remain resistant to treatment with TRAIL. Therefore, small molecules that potentiate the cytotoxic effects of TRAIL could be used for combinatorial therapy. Here we found that the ionophore antibiotic salinomycin acts in synergism with TRAIL, enhancing TRAIL-induced apoptosis in glioma cells. Treatment with low doses of salinomycin in combination with TRAIL augmented the activation of caspase-3 and increased TRAIL-R2 cell surface expression. TRAIL-R2 upmodulation was required for mediating the stimulatory effect of salinomycin on TRAIL-mediated apoptosis, since it was abrogated by siRNA-mediated TRAIL-R2 knockdown. Salinomycin in synergism with TRAIL exerts a marked anti-tumor effect in nude mice xenografted with human glioblastoma cells. Our results suggest that the combination of TRAIL and salinomycin may be a useful tool to overcome TRAIL resistance in glioma cells and may represent a potential drug for treatment of these tumors. Importantly, salinomycin+TRAIL were able to induce cell death of well-defined glioblastoma stem-like lines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessia Calzolari
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Ernestina Saulle
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Laura De Angelis
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Luca Pasquini
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandra Boe
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Federica Pelacchi
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Lucia Ricci-Vitiani
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Marta Baiocchi
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Ugo Testa
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
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20
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Zhou S, Wang F, Wong ET, Fonkem E, Hsieh TC, Wu JM, Wu E. Salinomycin: a novel anti-cancer agent with known anti-coccidial activities. Curr Med Chem 2014; 20:4095-101. [PMID: 23931281 DOI: 10.2174/15672050113109990199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2013] [Revised: 03/31/2013] [Accepted: 04/04/2013] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Salinomycin, traditionally used as an anti-coccidial drug, has recently been shown to possess anti-cancer and anti-cancer stem cell (CSC) effects, as well as activities to overcome multi-drug resistance based on studies using human cancer cell lines, xenograft mice, and in case reports involving cancer patients in pilot clinical trials. Therefore, salinomycin may be considered as a promising novel anti-cancer agent despite its largely unknown mechanism of action. This review summarizes the pharmacologic effects of salinomycin and presents possible mechanisms by which salinomycin exerts its anti-tumorigenic activities. Recent advances and potential complications that might limit the utilization of salinomycin as an anti-cancer and anti-CSC agent are also presented and discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuang Zhou
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, North Dakota State University, 203 Sudro Hall, NDSU Dept 2665, PO Box 6050, Fargo, ND 58108-6050.
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21
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Tobe BTD, Brandel MG, Nye JS, Snyder EY. Implications and limitations of cellular reprogramming for psychiatric drug development. Exp Mol Med 2013; 45:e59. [PMID: 24232258 PMCID: PMC3849573 DOI: 10.1038/emm.2013.124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2013] [Accepted: 08/28/2013] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) derived from somatic cells of patients have opened possibilities for in vitro modeling of the physiology of neural (and other) cells in psychiatric disease states. Issues in early stages of technology development include (1) establishing a library of cells from adequately phenotyped patients, (2) streamlining laborious, costly hiPSC derivation and characterization, (3) assessing whether mutations or other alterations introduced by reprogramming confound interpretation, (4) developing efficient differentiation strategies to relevant cell types, (5) identifying discernible cellular phenotypes meaningful for cyclic, stress induced or relapsing-remitting diseases, (6) converting phenotypes to screening assays suitable for genome-wide mechanistic studies or large collection compound testing and (7) controlling for variability in relation to disease specificity amidst low sample numbers. Coordination of material for reprogramming from patients well-characterized clinically, genetically and with neuroimaging are beginning, and initial studies have begun to identify cellular phenotypes. Finally, several psychiatric drugs have been found to alter reprogramming efficiency in vitro, suggesting further complexity in applying hiPSCs to psychiatric diseases or that some drugs influence neural differentiation moreso than generally recognized. Despite these challenges, studies utilizing hiPSCs may eventually serve to fill essential niches in the translational pipeline for the discovery of new therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian T D Tobe
- 1] Program in Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute, Burnham Institute for Medical Research, La Jolla, CA, USA [2] Department of Psychiatry, Veterans Administration Medical Center, La Jolla, CA, USA
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22
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Buonato JM, Lazzara MJ. ERK1/2 blockade prevents epithelial-mesenchymal transition in lung cancer cells and promotes their sensitivity to EGFR inhibition. Cancer Res 2013; 74:309-19. [PMID: 24108744 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-12-4721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 129] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Overcoming cellular mechanisms of de novo and acquired resistance to drug therapy remains a central challenge in the clinical management of many cancers, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Although much work has linked the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in cancer cells to the emergence of drug resistance, it is less clear where tractable routes may exist to reverse or inhibit EMT as a strategy for drug sensitization. Here, we demonstrate that extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2 (mitogen-activated protein kinase 3/1, MAPK3/1) signaling plays a key role in directing the mesenchymal character of NSCLC cells and that blocking ERK signaling is sufficient to heighten therapeutic responses to EGF receptor (EGFR) inhibitors. MEK1/2 (MAPKK1/2) inhibition promoted an epithelial phenotype in NSCLC cells, preventing induction of EMT by exogenous TGF-β. Moreover, in cells exhibiting de novo or acquired resistance to the EGFR inhibitor gefitinib, MEK inhibition enhanced the sensitivity to gefitinib and slowed cell migration. These effects only occurred, however, if MEK was inhibited for a period sufficient to trigger changes in EMT marker expression. Consistent with these findings, changes in EMT phenotypes and markers were also induced by the expression of mutant KRAS in a MEK-dependent manner. Our results suggest that prolonged exposure to MEK or ERK inhibitors may not only restrain EMT but also overcome naïve or acquired resistance of NSCLC to EGFR-targeted therapy in the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janine M Buonato
- Authors' Affiliations: Departments of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, and Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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23
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Basu D, Bewley AF, Sperry SM, Montone KT, Gimotty PA, Rasanen K, Facompre ND, Weinstein GS, Nakagawa H, Diehl JA, Rustgi AK, Herlyn M. EGFR inhibition promotes an aggressive invasion pattern mediated by mesenchymal-like tumor cells within squamous cell carcinomas. Mol Cancer Ther 2013; 12:2176-86. [PMID: 23939378 PMCID: PMC3796003 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-12-1210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) with an infiltrative invasion pattern carry a higher risk of treatment failure. Such infiltrative invasion may be mediated by a mesenchymal-like subpopulation of malignant cells that we have previously shown to arise from epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and resist epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) targeting. Here, we show that SCCs with infiltrative, high-risk invasion patterns contain abundant mesenchymal-like cells, which are rare in tumors with low-risk patterns. This cellular heterogeneity was modeled accurately in three-dimensional culture using collagen-embedded SCC spheroids, which revealed distinct invasive fronts created by collective migration of E-cadherin-positive cells versus infiltrative migration of individual mesenchymal-like cells. Because EGFR expression by mesenchymal-like cells was diminished in the spheroid model and in human SCCs, we hypothesized that SCCs shift toward infiltrative invasion mediated by this subpopulation during anti-EGFR therapy. Anti-EGFR treatment of spheroids using erlotinib or cetuximab enhanced infiltrative invasion by targeting collective migration by E-cadherin-positive cells while sparing mesenchymal-like cells; by contrast, spheroid invasion in absence of mesenchymal-like cells was abrogated by erlotinib. Similarly, cetuximab treatment of xenografts containing mesenchymal-like cells created an infiltrative invasive front composed of this subpopulation, whereas no such shift was observed upon treating xenografts lacking these cells. These results implicate mesenchymal-like SCC cells as key mediators of the infiltrative invasion seen in tumors with locally aggressive behavior. They further show that EGFR inhibition can promote an infiltrative invasion front composed of mesenchymal-like cells preferentially in tumors where they are abundant before therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Devraj Basu
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
- The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, PA
- VA Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Arnaud F. Bewley
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Steven M. Sperry
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Kathleen T. Montone
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Phyllis A. Gimotty
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Abramson Cancer Center, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
| | | | - Nicole D. Facompre
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
- The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Gregory S. Weinstein
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Hiroshi Nakagawa
- Department of Medicine and Genetics, Division of Gastroenterology, Abramson Cancer Center, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
| | - J. Alan Diehl
- Department of Cancer Biology, Abramson Cancer Center, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Anil K. Rustgi
- Department of Medicine and Genetics, Division of Gastroenterology, Abramson Cancer Center, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
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Rasanen K, Sriswasdi S, Valiga A, Tang HY, Zhang G, Perego M, Somasundaram R, Li L, Speicher K, Klein-Szanto AJ, Basu D, Rustgi AK, Speicher DW, Herlyn M. Comparative secretome analysis of epithelial and mesenchymal subpopulations of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma identifies S100A4 as a potential therapeutic target. Mol Cell Proteomics 2013; 12:3778-92. [PMID: 24037664 DOI: 10.1074/mcp.m113.029587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a key contributor in tumor progression and metastasis. EMT produces cellular heterogeneity within head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) by creating a phenotypically distinct mesenchymal subpopulation that is resistant to conventional therapies. In this study, we systematically characterized differences in the secretomes of E-cadherin high epithelial-like and E-cadherin low mesenchymal-like subpopulations using unbiased and targeted proteomics. A total 1765 proteins showed significant changes with 177 elevated in the epithelial subpopulation and 173 elevated in the mesenchymal cells. Key nodes in affected networks included NFκB, Akt, and ERK, and most implicated cellular components involved various aspects of the extracellular matrix. In particular, large changes were observed in multiple collagens with most affected collagens at much higher abundance levels in the mesenchymal subpopulation. These cells also exhibited a secretome profile resembling that of cancer-associated fibroblastic cells (CAF). S100A4, a commonly used marker for cancer-associated fibroblastic cells, was elevated more than 20-fold in the mesenchymal cells and this increase was further verified at the transcriptome level. S100A4 is a known mediator of EMT, leading to metastasis and EMT has been proposed as a potential source of cancer-associated fibroblastic cells in solid tumors. S100A4 knockdown by small interfering RNA led to decreased expression, secretion and activity of matrix metalloproteinase 2, as verified by quantitative PCR, multiple reaction monitoring and zymography analyses, and reduced invasion in collagen-embedded spheroids. Further confirmation in three-dimensional organotypic reconstructs showed less invasion and advanced differentiation in the S100A4 RNA interference samples. Orthotopic metastasis model, developed to validate the findings in vivo, demonstrated a decrease in spontaneous metastasis and augmented differentiation in the primary tumor in siS100A4 xenografts. These results demonstrate the value of secretome profiling to evaluate phenotypic conversion and identify potential novel therapeutic targets such as S100A4.
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25
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Chen C, Zimmermann M, Tinhofer I, Kaufmann AM, Albers AE. Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and cancer stem(-like) cells in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Cancer Lett 2013; 338:47-56. [DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2012.06.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2012] [Revised: 06/11/2012] [Accepted: 06/27/2012] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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McCubrey JA, Steelman LS, Chappell WH, Abrams SL, Franklin RA, Montalto G, Cervello M, Libra M, Candido S, Malaponte G, Mazzarino MC, Fagone P, Nicoletti F, Bäsecke J, Mijatovic S, Maksimovic-Ivanic D, Milella M, Tafuri A, Chiarini F, Evangelisti C, Cocco L, Martelli AM. Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK and PI3K/PTEN/Akt/mTOR cascade inhibitors: how mutations can result in therapy resistance and how to overcome resistance. Oncotarget 2013; 3:1068-111. [PMID: 23085539 PMCID: PMC3717945 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 245] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK and PI3K/PTEN/Akt/mTOR cascades are often activated by genetic alterations in upstream signaling molecules such as receptor tyrosine kinases (RTK). Targeting these pathways is often complex and can result in pathway activation depending on the presence of upstream mutations (e.g., Raf inhibitors induce Raf activation in cells with wild type (WT) RAF in the presence of mutant, activated RAS) and rapamycin can induce Akt activation. Targeting with inhibitors directed at two constituents of the same pathway or two different signaling pathways may be a more effective approach. This review will first evaluate potential uses of Raf, MEK, PI3K, Akt and mTOR inhibitors that have been investigated in pre-clinical and clinical investigations and then discuss how cancers can become insensitive to various inhibitors and potential strategies to overcome this resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- James A McCubrey
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA
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Allen CT, Law JH, Dunn GP, Uppaluri R. Emerging insights into head and neck cancer metastasis. Head Neck 2012; 35:1669-78. [PMID: 23280716 DOI: 10.1002/hed.23202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/17/2012] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The purpose of this review was to provide biological concepts of head and neck cancer metastasis. To attain this goal, we analyzed peer-reviewed articles related to head and neck cancer metastasis obtained though PubMed and archived articles. Articles related to the biologic principles of head and neck cancer metastasis were reviewed and summarized. As locoregional control has improved for patients with head and neck cancer, rates of distant metastasis have not decreased. As patients live longer, many will die of complications related to the development of disease at sites below the clavicles. Emerging evidence now suggests a more complicated framework of metastatic behavior for head and neck cancer. Here, we review the role of regional lymph nodes in containing advanced head and neck cancer, evidence for active as opposed to passive tumor cell metastasis, and clinical implications these concepts have on both treatment of head and neck cancer and future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clint T Allen
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
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28
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Kuo SZ, Blair KJ, Rahimy E, Kiang A, Abhold E, Fan JB, Wang-Rodriguez J, Altuna X, Ongkeko WM. Salinomycin induces cell death and differentiation in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma stem cells despite activation of epithelial-mesenchymal transition and Akt. BMC Cancer 2012; 12:556. [PMID: 23176396 PMCID: PMC3522015 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2407-12-556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2012] [Accepted: 11/21/2012] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Cancer stem cells (CSC) are believed to play a crucial role in cancer recurrence due to their resistance to conventional chemotherapy and capacity for self-renewal. Recent studies have reported that salinomycin, a livestock antibiotic, selectively targets breast cancer stem cells 100-fold more effectively than paclitaxel. In our study we sought to determine the effects of salinomycin on head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) stem cells. Methods MTS and TUNEL assays were used to study cell proliferation and apoptosis as a function of salinomycin exposure in JLO-1, a putative HNSCC stem cell culture. MTS and trypan blue dye exclusion assays were performed to investigate potential drug interactions between salinomycin and cisplatin or paclitaxel. Stem cell-like phenotype was measured by mRNA expression of stem cell markers, sphere-forming capacity, and matrigel invasion assays. Immunoblotting was also used to determine expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers and Akt phosphorylation. Arrays by Illumina, Inc. were used to profile microRNA expression as a function of salinomycin dose. Results In putative HNSCC stem cells, salinomycin was found to significantly inhibit cell viability, induce a 71.5% increase in levels of apoptosis, elevate the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, and work synergistically with cisplatin and paclitaxel in inducing cell death. It was observed that salinomycin significantly inhibited sphere forming-capability and repressed the expression of CD44 and BMI-1 by 3.2-fold and 6.2-fold, respectively. Furthermore, salinomycin reduced invasion of HNSCC stem cells by 2.1 fold. Contrary to expectations, salinomycin induced the expression of EMT markers Snail, vimentin, and Zeb-1, decreased expression of E-cadherin, and also induced phosphorylation of Akt and its downstream targets GSK3-β and mTOR. Conclusions These results demonstrate that in HNSCC cancer stem cells, salinomycin can cause cell death and decrease stem cell properties despite activation of both EMT and Akt.
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Affiliation(s)
- Selena Z Kuo
- Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
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Salinomycin as a drug for targeting human cancer stem cells. J Biomed Biotechnol 2012; 2012:950658. [PMID: 23251084 PMCID: PMC3516046 DOI: 10.1155/2012/950658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 241] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2012] [Accepted: 10/04/2012] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer stem cells (CSCs) represent a subpopulation of tumor cells that possess self-renewal and tumor initiation capacity and the ability to give rise to the heterogenous lineages of malignant cells that comprise a tumor. CSCs possess multiple intrinsic mechanisms of resistance to chemotherapeutic drugs, novel tumor-targeted drugs, and radiation therapy, allowing them to survive standard cancer therapies and to initiate tumor recurrence and metastasis. Various molecular complexes and pathways that confer resistance and survival of CSCs, including expression of ATP-binding cassette (ABC) drug transporters, activation of the Wnt/β-catenin, Hedgehog, Notch and PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathways, and acquisition of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), have been identified recently. Salinomycin, a polyether ionophore antibiotic isolated from Streptomyces albus, has been shown to kill CSCs in different types of human cancers, most likely by interfering with ABC drug transporters, the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, and other CSC pathways. Promising results from preclinical trials in human xenograft mice and a few clinical pilote studies reveal that salinomycin is able to effectively eliminate CSCs and to induce partial clinical regression of heavily pretreated and therapy-resistant cancers. The ability of salinomycin to kill both CSCs and therapy-resistant cancer cells may define the compound as a novel and an effective anticancer drug.
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Colmont CS, Harding KG, Piguet V, Patel GK. Human skin cancer stem cells: a tale of mice and men. Exp Dermatol 2012; 21:576-80. [PMID: 22775992 DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0625.2012.01533.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Carcinomas, cancers of epithelial tissues, are the commonest malignancies and cause the greatest cancer mortality worldwide. Among these, the incidence of keratinocyte-derived non-melanoma skin cancers (NMSC), by far the greatest, is increasing rapidly. Yet despite access to tumor tissue, acceptance of human NMSC as a model carcinoma has been hindered by the lack of a reliable xenograft model. Instead, we have relied on the murine two-step carcinogenesis protocol as a reproducible squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) model, but this differs from their human counterpart in cause, site, genetic basis and biological behaviour. By xeno-engraftment of primary human SCC, we were recently successful in demonstrating the presence of primary human SCC cancer stem cells or tumor-initiating cells. These findings once more align the study human SCC as the archetypal carcinoma model. In this review, we describe the evidence for the existence of tumor-initiating cells, with emphasis on skin cancer, limiting our discussions to primary human cancer studies where possible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chantal S Colmont
- Department of Dermatology and Wound Healing, School of Medicine Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
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Zhou C, Liu J, Tang Y, Liang X. Inflammation linking EMT and cancer stem cells. Oral Oncol 2012; 48:1068-75. [PMID: 22766510 DOI: 10.1016/j.oraloncology.2012.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2012] [Revised: 06/05/2012] [Accepted: 06/08/2012] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Similar to actors changing costumes during a performance, cancer cells undergo many rapid changes during the process of tumor metastasis, including epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), acquisition of cancer stem cells (CSCs) properties, and mesenchymal-epithelial transition (MET). Such changes allow the tumor to compete with the normal microenvironment to overcome anti-tumorigenic pressures. Then, once tissue homeostasis is lost, the altered microenvironment, like that accompanying inflammation, can itself become a potent tumor promoter. This review will discuss the changes that cancer cells undergo in converting from EMT to CSCs in an inflammation microenvironment, to understand the mechanisms behind invasion and metastasis and provide insights into prevention of metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenchen Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, No 14, Sec 3, Renminnan Road, Chengdu Sichuan 610041, People's Republic of China
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Despite advances in multimodality therapy, the overall 5-year survival rate is 40-50% in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and current multimodality approaches impart significant toxicities. This review highlights promising targets with the potential to improve clinical outcomes in HNSCC. RECENT FINDINGS In addition to mutagenic exposure to tobacco and alcohol as risk factors, recent studies have shown that human papillomavirus is one of the main causes of HNSCC and as such is being investigated as a therapeutic target. Furthermore, recent data generated from whole exome sequencing of HNSCC, new insights into the biology of DNA damage repair, and increased understanding of tumor hypoxia responses are pointing to new therapeutic possibilities for treating HNSCC. SUMMARY HNSCC is a heterogeneous disease. Improved treatment will require a rapid translation of basic science research, and the simultaneous development of novel therapeutics and corresponding biomarkers to guide their application.
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Facompre N, Nakagawa H, Herlyn M, Basu D. Stem-like cells and therapy resistance in squamous cell carcinomas. ADVANCES IN PHARMACOLOGY (SAN DIEGO, CALIF.) 2012; 65:235-65. [PMID: 22959028 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-397927-8.00008-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Cancer stem cells (CSCs) within squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) are hypothesized to contribute to chemotherapy and radiation resistance and represent potentially useful pharmacologic targets. Hallmarks of the stem cell phenotype that may contribute to therapy resistance of CSCs include quiescence, evasion of apoptosis, resistance to DNA damage, and expression of drug transporter pumps. A variety of CSC populations within SCCs of the head and neck and esophagus have been defined tentatively, based on diverse surface markers and functional assays. Stem-like self-renewal and differentiation capacities of these SCC subpopulations are supported by sphere formation and clonogenicity assays in vitro as well as limiting dilution studies in xenograft models. Early evidence supports a role for SCC CSCs in intrinsic therapy resistance, while detailed mechanisms by which these subpopulations evade treatment remain to be defined. Development of novel SCC therapies will be aided by pursuing such mechanisms as well as refining current definitions for CSCs and clarifying their relevance to hierarchical versus dynamic models of stemness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Facompre
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology--Head and Neck Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA; The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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Humtsoe JO, Koya E, Pham E, Aramoto T, Zuo J, Ishikawa T, Kramer RH. Transcriptional profiling identifies upregulated genes following induction of epithelial-mesenchymal transition in squamous carcinoma cells. Exp Cell Res 2011; 318:379-90. [PMID: 22154512 DOI: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2011.11.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2011] [Revised: 10/31/2011] [Accepted: 11/17/2011] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
Abstract
During the progression of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), the induction of an epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) program may play a critical role in the dissemination of cells from the primary tumor to distant metastatic foci. The process of EMT involves the activation of several important genes and pathways to help maintain survival and growth and evolve into highly invasive and metastatic variants. In this study, expression microarray analysis identified a set of 145 upregulated genes in EMT-like HNSCC cells. Some of the strongly upregulated transcripts include genes that are reportedly involved in invasion and metastasis, such as DOCK10, LOX, ROBO1 and SRGN. Importantly, the Tbx3 gene, a member of the T-box transcription factor, was strongly upregulated in SCC cells displaying an EMT-like phenotype compared to cells with an epitheloid, non-EMT behavior. Tbx3 was also found to be strongly upregulated at the protein and gene expression level in an experimental model of snail-induced EMT cells. In addition, siRNA-induced Tbx3 depletion modestly suppressed cell invasion while enhancing Tbx3-mediated resistance to anoikis. Our findings provide evidence that Tbx3 overexpression promotes SCC cell survival displaying an EMT phenotype. This set of newly identified genes that are modulated during EMT-like conversion may be important diagnostic biomarkers during the process of HNSCC progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph O Humtsoe
- Department of Cell and Tissue Biology, School of Dentistry, 521 Parnassus Avenue, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA.
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Judd NP, Winkler AE, Murillo-Sauca O, Brotman JJ, Law JH, Lewis JS, Dunn GP, Bui JD, Sunwoo JB, Uppaluri R. ERK1/2 regulation of CD44 modulates oral cancer aggressiveness. Cancer Res 2011; 72:365-74. [PMID: 22086849 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-11-1831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 156] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Carcinogen-induced oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) incurs significant morbidity and mortality and constitutes a global health challenge. To gain further insight into this disease, we generated cell line models from 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene-induced murine primary OSCC capable of tumor formation upon transplantation into immunocompetent wild-type mice. Whereas several cell lines grew rapidly and were capable of metastasis, some grew slowly and did not metastasize. Aggressively growing cell lines displayed ERK1/2 activation, which stimulated expression of CD44, a marker associated with epithelial to mesenchymal transition and putative cancer stem cells. MEK (MAP/ERK kinase) inhibition upstream of ERK1/2 decreased CD44 expression and promoter activity and reduced cell migration and invasion. Conversely, MEK1 activation enhanced CD44 expression and promoter activity, whereas CD44 attenuation reduced in vitro migration and in vivo tumor formation. Extending these findings to freshly resected human OSCC, we confirmed a strict relationship between ERK1/2 phosphorylation and CD44 expression. In summary, our findings identify CD44 as a critical target of ERK1/2 in promoting tumor aggressiveness and offer a preclinical proof-of-concept to target this pathway as a strategy to treat head and neck cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nancy P Judd
- Department of Otolaryngology and John Cochran VA Medical Center, Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri 63110, USA
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron J Schetter
- National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
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