1
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Di Modugno F, Di Carlo A, Spada S, Palermo B, D'Ambrosio L, D'Andrea D, Morello G, Belmonte B, Sperduti I, Balzano V, Gallo E, Melchionna R, Panetta M, Campo G, De Nicola F, Goeman F, Antoniani B, Carpano S, Frigè G, Warren S, Gallina F, Lambrechts D, Xiong J, Vincent BG, Wheeler N, Bortone DS, Cappuzzo F, Facciolo F, Tripodo C, Visca P, Nisticò P. Tumoral and stromal hMENA isoforms impact tertiary lymphoid structure localization in lung cancer and predict immune checkpoint blockade response in patients with cancer. EBioMedicine 2024; 101:105003. [PMID: 38340557 PMCID: PMC10869748 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2024.105003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2023] [Revised: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tertiary Lymphoid Structures (TLS) correlate with positive outcomes in patients with NSCLC and the efficacy of immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) in cancer. The actin regulatory protein hMENA undergoes tissue-specific splicing, producing the epithelial hMENA11a linked to favorable prognosis in early NSCLC, and the mesenchymal hMENAΔv6 found in invasive cancer cells and pro-tumoral cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs). This study investigates how hMENA isoforms in tumor cells and CAFs relate to TLS presence, localization and impact on patient outcomes and ICB response. METHODS Methods involved RNA-SEQ on NSCLC cells with depleted hMENA isoforms. A retrospective observational study assessed tissues from surgically treated N0 patients with NSCLC, using immunohistochemistry for tumoral and stromal hMENA isoforms, fibronectin, and TLS presence. ICB-treated patient tumors were analyzed using Nanostring nCounter and GeoMx spatial transcriptomics. Multiparametric flow cytometry characterized B cells and tissue-resident memory T cells (TRM). Survival and ICB response were estimated in the cohort and validated using bioinformatics pipelines in different datasets. FINDINGS Findings indicate that hMENA11a in NSCLC cells upregulates the TLS regulator LTβR, decreases fibronectin, and favors CXCL13 production by TRM. Conversely, hMENAΔv6 in CAFs inhibits LTβR-related NF-kB pathway, reduces CXCL13 secretion, and promotes fibronectin production. These patterns are validated in N0 NSCLC tumors, where hMENA11ahigh expression, CAF hMENAΔv6low, and stromal fibronectinlow are associated with intratumoral TLS, linked to memory B cells and predictive of longer survival. The hMENA isoform pattern, fibronectin, and LTβR expression broadly predict ICB response in tumors where TLS indicates an anti-tumor immune response. INTERPRETATION This study uncovers hMENA alternative splicing as an unexplored contributor to TLS-related Tumor Immune Microenvironment (TIME) and a promising biomarker for clinical outcomes and likely ICB responsiveness in N0 patients with NSCLC. FUNDING This work is supported by AIRC (IG 19822), ACC (RCR-2019-23669120), CAL.HUB.RIA Ministero Salute PNRR-POS T4, "Ricerca Corrente" granted by the Italian Ministry of Health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Di Modugno
- Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy Unit, IRCCS-Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Via E. Chianesi 53, 00144, Rome, Italy.
| | - Anna Di Carlo
- Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy Unit, IRCCS-Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Via E. Chianesi 53, 00144, Rome, Italy
| | - Sheila Spada
- Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy Unit, IRCCS-Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Via E. Chianesi 53, 00144, Rome, Italy
| | - Belinda Palermo
- Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy Unit, IRCCS-Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Via E. Chianesi 53, 00144, Rome, Italy
| | - Lorenzo D'Ambrosio
- Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy Unit, IRCCS-Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Via E. Chianesi 53, 00144, Rome, Italy
| | - Daniel D'Andrea
- Department of Biosciences, School of Science and Technology, Nottingham Trent University, New Hall Block - Room 171, Clifton Campus - NG11 8NS, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Gaia Morello
- Tumor Immunology Unit, Department of Health Sciences, University of Palermo, Corso Tukory 211, 90134, Palermo, Italy
| | - Beatrice Belmonte
- Tumor Immunology Unit, Department of Health Sciences, University of Palermo, Corso Tukory 211, 90134, Palermo, Italy
| | - Isabella Sperduti
- Biostatistics and Scientific Direction, IRCCS-Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Via E. Chianesi 53, 00144, Rome, Italy
| | - Vittoria Balzano
- Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy Unit, IRCCS-Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Via E. Chianesi 53, 00144, Rome, Italy
| | - Enzo Gallo
- Pathology Unit, IRCCS-Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Via E. Chianesi 53, 00144, Rome, Italy
| | - Roberta Melchionna
- Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy Unit, IRCCS-Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Via E. Chianesi 53, 00144, Rome, Italy
| | - Mariangela Panetta
- Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy Unit, IRCCS-Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Via E. Chianesi 53, 00144, Rome, Italy
| | - Giulia Campo
- Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy Unit, IRCCS-Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Via E. Chianesi 53, 00144, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca De Nicola
- SAFU Unit, IRCCS-Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Via E. Chianesi 53, 00144, Rome, Italy
| | - Frauke Goeman
- SAFU Unit, IRCCS-Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Via E. Chianesi 53, 00144, Rome, Italy
| | - Barbara Antoniani
- Pathology Unit, IRCCS-Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Via E. Chianesi 53, 00144, Rome, Italy
| | - Silvia Carpano
- Second Division of Medical Oncology, IRCCS-Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Via E. Chianesi 53, 00144, Rome, Italy
| | - Gianmaria Frigè
- Department of Experimental Oncology, IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Via Ripamonti 435, Milan, Italy
| | - Sarah Warren
- NanoString Technologies Inc., 530 Fairview Ave N, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA
| | - Filippo Gallina
- Thoracic-Surgery Unit, IRCCS-Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Via E. Chianesi 53, 00144 Rome, Italy
| | - Diether Lambrechts
- Center for Cancer Biology, Herestraat 49 box 912, VIB, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jieyi Xiong
- Center for Cancer Biology, Herestraat 49 box 912, VIB, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Benjamin G Vincent
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 5206 Marsico Hall, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Nathan Wheeler
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 5206 Marsico Hall, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Dante S Bortone
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 5206 Marsico Hall, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Federico Cappuzzo
- Second Division of Medical Oncology, IRCCS-Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Via E. Chianesi 53, 00144, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesco Facciolo
- Thoracic-Surgery Unit, IRCCS-Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Via E. Chianesi 53, 00144 Rome, Italy
| | - Claudio Tripodo
- Tumor Immunology Unit, Department of Health Sciences, University of Palermo, Corso Tukory 211, 90134, Palermo, Italy
| | - Paolo Visca
- Pathology Unit, IRCCS-Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Via E. Chianesi 53, 00144, Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Nisticò
- Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy Unit, IRCCS-Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Via E. Chianesi 53, 00144, Rome, Italy.
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Melchionna R, Trono P, Di Carlo A, Di Modugno F, Nisticò P. Transcription factors in fibroblast plasticity and CAF heterogeneity. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2023; 42:347. [PMID: 38124183 PMCID: PMC10731891 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-023-02934-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
In recent years, research focused on the multifaceted landscape and functions of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) aimed to reveal their heterogeneity and identify commonalities across diverse tumors for more effective therapeutic targeting of pro-tumoral stromal microenvironment. However, a unified functional categorization of CAF subsets remains elusive, posing challenges for the development of targeted CAF therapies in clinical settings.The CAF phenotype arises from a complex interplay of signals within the tumor microenvironment, where transcription factors serve as central mediators of various cellular pathways. Recent advances in single-cell RNA sequencing technology have emphasized the role of transcription factors in the conversion of normal fibroblasts to distinct CAF subtypes across various cancer types.This review provides a comprehensive overview of the specific roles of transcription factor networks in shaping CAF heterogeneity, plasticity, and functionality. Beginning with their influence on fibroblast homeostasis and reprogramming during wound healing and fibrosis, it delves into the emerging insights into transcription factor regulatory networks. Understanding these mechanisms not only enables a more precise characterization of CAF subsets but also sheds light on the early regulatory processes governing CAF heterogeneity and functionality. Ultimately, this knowledge may unveil novel therapeutic targets for cancer treatment, addressing the existing challenges of stromal-targeted therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberta Melchionna
- Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy Unit, IRCCS-Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy.
| | - Paola Trono
- Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy Unit, IRCCS-Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
- Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology (IBBC), National Research Council (CNR), Rome, Italy
| | - Anna Di Carlo
- Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy Unit, IRCCS-Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Di Modugno
- Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy Unit, IRCCS-Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Nisticò
- Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy Unit, IRCCS-Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
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Castaldo V, Minopoli M, Di Modugno F, Sacconi A, Liguoro D, Frigerio R, Ortolano A, Di Martile M, Gesualdi L, Madonna G, Capone M, Cirombella R, Catizone A, Del Bufalo D, Vecchione A, Carriero MV, Ascierto PA, Mancini R, Fattore L, Ciliberto G. Upregulated expression of miR-4443 and miR-4488 in drug resistant melanomas promotes migratory and invasive phenotypes through downregulation of intermediate filament nestin. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2023; 42:317. [PMID: 38008717 PMCID: PMC10680267 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-023-02878-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 10/29/2023] [Indexed: 11/28/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND BRAF-mutant melanoma patients benefit from the combinatorial treatments with BRAF and MEK inhibitors. However, acquired drug resistance strongly limits the efficacy of these targeted therapies in time. Recently, many findings have underscored the involvement of microRNAs as main drivers of drug resistance. In this context, we previously identified a subset of oncomiRs strongly up-regulated in drug-resistant melanomas. In this work, we shed light on the molecular role of two as yet poorly characterized oncomiRs, miR-4443 and miR-4488. METHODS Invasion and migration have been determined by wound healing, transwell migration/invasion assays and Real Time Cell Analysis (RTCA) technology. miR-4488 and miR-4443 have been measured by qRT-PCR. Nestin levels have been tested by western blot, confocal immunofluorescence, immunohistochemical and flow cytometry analyses. RESULTS We demonstrate that the two oncomiRs are responsible for the enhanced migratory and invasive phenotypes, that are a hallmark of drug resistant melanoma cells. Moreover, miR-4443 and miR-4488 promote an aberrant cytoskeletal reorganization witnessed by the increased number of stress fibers and cellular protrusions-like cancer cell invadopodia. Mechanistically, we identified the intermediate filament nestin as a molecular target of both oncomiRs. Finally, we have shown that nestin levels are able to predict response to treatments in melanoma patients. CONCLUSIONS Altogether these findings have profound translational implications in the attempt i) to develop miRNA-targeting therapies to mitigate the metastatic phenotypes of BRAF-mutant melanomas and ii) to identify novel biomarkers able to guide clinical decisions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vittorio Castaldo
- Department of Anatomy, Histology, Forensic- Medicine and Orthopedics, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Michele Minopoli
- Preclinical Models of Tumor Progression Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS 'Fondazione G. Pascale', 80131, Naples, Italy
| | - Francesca Di Modugno
- Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, 00144, Rome, Italy
| | - Andrea Sacconi
- Clinical Trial Center, Biostatistics and Bioinformatics Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, 00144, Rome, Italy
| | - Domenico Liguoro
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Rachele Frigerio
- SAFU Laboratory, Department of Research, Advanced Diagnostics and Technological Innovation, Translational Research Area, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, 00144, Rome, Italy
| | - Arianna Ortolano
- SAFU Laboratory, Department of Research, Advanced Diagnostics and Technological Innovation, Translational Research Area, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, 00144, Rome, Italy
| | - Marta Di Martile
- Preclinical Models and New Therapeutic Agents Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, 00144, Rome, Italy
| | - Luisa Gesualdi
- Department of Anatomy, Histology, Forensic- Medicine and Orthopedics, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Gabriele Madonna
- Unit of Melanoma, Cancer Immunotherapy and Development Therapeutics, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS 'Fondazione G. Pascale', 80131, Naples, Italy
| | - Mariaelena Capone
- Unit of Melanoma, Cancer Immunotherapy and Development Therapeutics, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS 'Fondazione G. Pascale', 80131, Naples, Italy
| | - Roberto Cirombella
- Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Department Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Sant'Andrea Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, 00118, Rome, Italy
| | - Angiolina Catizone
- Department of Anatomy, Histology, Forensic- Medicine and Orthopedics, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Donatella Del Bufalo
- Preclinical Models and New Therapeutic Agents Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, 00144, Rome, Italy
| | - Andrea Vecchione
- Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Department Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Sant'Andrea Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, 00118, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Vincenza Carriero
- Preclinical Models of Tumor Progression Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS 'Fondazione G. Pascale', 80131, Naples, Italy
| | - Paolo Antonio Ascierto
- Unit of Melanoma, Cancer Immunotherapy and Development Therapeutics, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS 'Fondazione G. Pascale', 80131, Naples, Italy
| | - Rita Mancini
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161, Rome, Italy
- Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Department Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Sant'Andrea Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, 00118, Rome, Italy
| | - Luigi Fattore
- SAFU Laboratory, Department of Research, Advanced Diagnostics and Technological Innovation, Translational Research Area, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, 00144, Rome, Italy.
| | - Gennaro Ciliberto
- Scientific Directorate, IRCSS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, 00144, Rome, Italy
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Trono P, Tocci A, Palermo B, Di Carlo A, D'Ambrosio L, D'Andrea D, Di Modugno F, De Nicola F, Goeman F, Corleone G, Warren S, Paolini F, Panetta M, Sperduti I, Baldari S, Visca P, Carpano S, Cappuzzo F, Russo V, Tripodo C, Zucali P, Gregorc V, Marchesi F, Nistico P. hMENA isoforms regulate cancer intrinsic type I IFN signaling and extrinsic mechanisms of resistance to immune checkpoint blockade in NSCLC. J Immunother Cancer 2023; 11:e006913. [PMID: 37612043 PMCID: PMC10450042 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2023-006913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 08/25/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Understanding how cancer signaling pathways promote an immunosuppressive program which sustains acquired or primary resistance to immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) is a crucial step in improving immunotherapy efficacy. Among the pathways that can affect ICB response is the interferon (IFN) pathway that may be both detrimental and beneficial. The immune sensor retinoic acid-inducible gene I (RIG-I) induces IFN activation and secretion and is activated by actin cytoskeleton disturbance. The actin cytoskeleton regulatory protein hMENA, along with its isoforms, is a key signaling hub in different solid tumors, and recently its role as a regulator of transcription of genes encoding immunomodulatory secretory proteins has been proposed. When hMENA is expressed in tumor cells with low levels of the epithelial specific hMENA11a isoform, identifies non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with poor prognosis. Aim was to identify cancer intrinsic and extrinsic pathways regulated by hMENA11a downregulation as determinants of ICB response in NSCLC. Here, we present a potential novel mechanism of ICB resistance driven by hMENA11a downregulation. METHODS Effects of hMENA11a downregulation were tested by RNA-Seq, ATAC-Seq, flow cytometry and biochemical assays. ICB-treated patient tumor tissues were profiled by Nanostring IO 360 Panel enriched with hMENA custom probes. OAK and POPLAR datasets were used to validate our discovery cohort. RESULTS Transcriptomic and biochemical analyses demonstrated that the depletion of hMENA11a induces IFN pathway activation, the production of different inflammatory mediators including IFNβ via RIG-I, sustains the increase of tumor PD-L1 levels and activates a paracrine loop between tumor cells and a unique macrophage subset favoring an epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Notably, when we translated our results in a clinical setting of NSCLC ICB-treated patients, transcriptomic analysis revealed that low expression of hMENA11a, high expression of IFN target genes and high macrophage score identify patients resistant to ICB therapy. CONCLUSIONS Collectively, these data establish a new function for the actin cytoskeleton regulator hMENA11a in modulating cancer cell intrinsic type I IFN signaling and extrinsic mechanisms that promote protumoral macrophages and favor EMT. These data highlight the role of actin cytoskeleton disturbance in activating immune suppressive pathways that may be involved in resistance to ICB in NSCLC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Trono
- Tumor of Immunology and Immunotherapy Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
- Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Rome, Italy
| | - Annalisa Tocci
- Tumor of Immunology and Immunotherapy Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Belinda Palermo
- Tumor of Immunology and Immunotherapy Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Anna Di Carlo
- Tumor of Immunology and Immunotherapy Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Lorenzo D'Ambrosio
- Tumor of Immunology and Immunotherapy Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Daniel D'Andrea
- Department of Biosciences, School of Science and Technology, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, UK
| | - Francesca Di Modugno
- Tumor of Immunology and Immunotherapy Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Frauke Goeman
- SAFU Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Giacomo Corleone
- SAFU Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Sarah Warren
- NanoString Technologies Inc, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Francesca Paolini
- Tumor of Immunology and Immunotherapy Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Mariangela Panetta
- Tumor of Immunology and Immunotherapy Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Isabella Sperduti
- Biostatistics Unit, IRCSS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Silvia Baldari
- Tumor of Immunology and Immunotherapy Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Paolo Visca
- Pathology Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Silvia Carpano
- Second Division of Medical Oncology, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Federico Cappuzzo
- Second Division of Medical Oncology, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Russo
- Department of Oncology, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Claudio Tripodo
- Department of Health Sciences, Human Pathology Section, Tumor Immunology Unit, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Paolo Zucali
- Department of Oncology, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Vanesa Gregorc
- Department of Oncology, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Federica Marchesi
- Department of Immunology and Inflammation, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
- Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Paola Nistico
- Tumor of Immunology and Immunotherapy Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
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Baldari S, Di Modugno F, Nisticò P, Toietta G. Strategies for Efficient Targeting of Tumor Collagen for Cancer Therapy. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14194706. [PMID: 36230627 PMCID: PMC9563908 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14194706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2022] [Revised: 09/21/2022] [Accepted: 09/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary The tumor microenvironment encompasses the cellular and extracellular matrix components that support and shape the three-dimensional framework in which solid tumors develop and grow. The extracellular matrix of the tumor is characterized by increased deposition and aberrant architecture of collagen fibers. Therefore, as a key mechanical component of the tumor microenvironment, collagen plays a critical role in cancer progression, metastasis, and therapeutic response. To boost the efficacy of current anticancer therapies, including immunotherapy, innovative approaches should take into account strategies directed against the dysregulated non-cancer cell stromal components. In the current review, we provide an overview of the principal approaches to target tumor collagen to provide therapeutic benefits. Abstract The tumor stroma, which comprises stromal cells and non-cellular elements, is a critical component of the tumor microenvironment (TME). The dynamic interactions between the tumor cells and the stroma may promote tumor progression and metastasis and dictate resistance to established cancer therapies. Therefore, novel antitumor approaches should combine anticancer and anti-stroma strategies targeting dysregulated tumor extracellular matrix (ECM). ECM remodeling is a hallmark of solid tumors, leading to extensive biochemical and biomechanical changes, affecting cell signaling and tumor tissue three-dimensional architecture. Increased deposition of fibrillar collagen is the most distinctive alteration of the tumor ECM. Consequently, several anticancer therapeutic strategies have been developed to reduce excessive tumor collagen deposition. Herein, we provide an overview of the current advances and challenges of the main approaches aiming at tumor collagen normalization, which include targeted anticancer drug delivery, promotion of degradation, modulation of structure and biosynthesis of collagen, and targeting cancer-associated fibroblasts, which are the major extracellular matrix producers.
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Spada S, Tocci A, Di Modugno F, Nisticò P. Fibronectin as a multiregulatory molecule crucial in tumor matrisome: from structural and functional features to clinical practice in oncology. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2021; 40:102. [PMID: 33731188 PMCID: PMC7972229 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-021-01908-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2021] [Accepted: 03/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Deciphering extracellular matrix (ECM) composition and architecture may represent a novel approach to identify diagnostic and therapeutic targets in cancer. Among the ECM components, fibronectin and its fibrillary assembly represent the scaffold to build up the entire ECM structure, deeply affecting its features. Herein we focus on this extraordinary protein starting from its complex structure and defining its role in cancer as prognostic and theranostic marker.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheila Spada
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Annalisa Tocci
- Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy Unit, IRCCS-Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Di Modugno
- Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy Unit, IRCCS-Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy.
| | - Paola Nisticò
- Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy Unit, IRCCS-Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy.
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Melchionna R, Spada S, Di Modugno F, D'Andrea D, Di Carlo A, Panetta M, Mileo AM, Sperduti I, Antoniani B, Gallo E, Lawlor RT, Piemonti L, Visca P, Milella M, Grazi GL, Facciolo F, Chen E, Scarpa A, Nisticò P. The actin modulator hMENA regulates GAS6-AXL axis and pro-tumor cancer/stromal cell cooperation. EMBO Rep 2020; 21:e50078. [PMID: 32909687 PMCID: PMC7645265 DOI: 10.15252/embr.202050078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2020] [Revised: 08/04/2020] [Accepted: 08/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The dynamic interplay between cancer cells and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) is regulated by multiple signaling pathways, which can lead to cancer progression and therapy resistance. We have previously demonstrated that hMENA, a member of the actin regulatory protein of Ena/VASP family, and its tissue-specific isoforms influence a number of intracellular signaling pathways related to cancer progression. Here, we report a novel function of hMENA/hMENAΔv6 isoforms in tumor-promoting CAFs and in the modulation of pro-tumoral cancer cell/CAF crosstalk via GAS6/AXL axis regulation. LC-MS/MS proteomic analysis reveals that CAFs that overexpress hMENAΔv6 secrete the AXL ligand GAS6, favoring the invasiveness of AXL-expressing pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells. Reciprocally, hMENA/hMENAΔv6 regulates AXL expression in tumor cells, thus sustaining GAS6-AXL axis, reported as crucial in EMT, immune evasion, and drug resistance. Clinically, we found that a high hMENA/GAS6/AXL gene expression signature is associated with a poor prognosis in PDAC and NSCLC. We propose that hMENA contributes to cancer progression through paracrine tumor-stroma crosstalk, with far-reaching prognostic and therapeutic implications for NSCLC and PDAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberta Melchionna
- Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Sheila Spada
- Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Di Modugno
- Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Daniel D'Andrea
- Department of Medicine, Centre for Cell Signaling and Inflammation, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Anna Di Carlo
- Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Mariangela Panetta
- Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Anna Maria Mileo
- Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Isabella Sperduti
- Biostatistics and Scientific Direction, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Barbara Antoniani
- Pathology Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Enzo Gallo
- Pathology Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Rita T Lawlor
- ARC-NET Research Centre, Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, Section of Pathology, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Piemonti
- Diabetes Research Institute, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Paolo Visca
- Pathology Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Michele Milella
- Department of Medical Oncology 1, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Gian Luca Grazi
- Hepato-pancreato-biliary Surgery Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesco Facciolo
- Thoracic-Surgery Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Emily Chen
- Thermo Fisher Precision Medicine Science Center, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Aldo Scarpa
- ARC-NET Research Centre, Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, Section of Pathology, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Paola Nisticò
- Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
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Modugno FD, Spada S, Carlo AD, Trono P, Sperduti I, Antoniani B, Gallo E, Campo G, Facciolo F, Visca P, Nisticò P. Abstract 1482: Tissue specific splicing program of hMENA: impact on tumor immune microenvironment in node-negative NSCLC. Cancer Res 2019. [DOI: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2019-1482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Deciphering the complexity of the tumor microenvironment (TME)is essential to unveil mechanisms of therapy resistance and develop novel microenvironment-related anti-tumor treatment. Actin cytoskeleton dynamics act as platforms for gene regulation and key signaling transduction pathways involved in the cross-talk among tumor cells and cellular and non-cellular components of TME.The actin regulatory protein hMENA undergoes tissue specific splicing, generating two alternatively expressed isoforms hMENA11a and hMENAΔv6 with a crucial role in EMT. We have previously demonstrated that hMENA11a and hMENAΔv6, respectively inhibit or increase cell invasiveness, TGFβ and β1 integrin signaling and the secretion of several key extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins. Early node-negative NSCLC patients show a prolonged disease-free survival (DFS) when expressing high tumor hMENA11a/low stromal FN1. Tertiary Lymphoid Structures (TLS), sites of transient lymphoid neo-genesis and determinants of antitumor immunity, have been associated with a favorable clinical outcome in NSCLC patientsandfound in responding lesions of ICB-treated melanoma patients.
The aim of the present study was to analyzethe pattern ofhMENA isoforms as biomarker of EMT signature in the context of ECM composition and TLS presence and localization.
We evaluated by gain and loss of function experiments the role of hMENA isoforms in TLS neogenesis. hMENA isoforms expression, TLS presence and stromal fibronectin were evaluated in 110primary tumors of node negative NSCLC patients by immunohistochemical analysis using pan-hMENA, hMENA11a, CD3, CD20 and fibronectin (FN) antibodies. The Chi-Square or Fisher Exact tests were used to estimate associations among categorical variables.
We found, by RNA-SEQ analysisand subsequent validation by QRT-PCR, in NSCLC cell lines depleted for the expression of ‘epithelial’ hMENA11a isoform,that hMENA11asustains the expression of lymphotoxin beta receptor (LTBR), a regulator of TLS formation.
The evaluation of TLS presence and spatial distribution in the primary tumors indicatedthat the presence of TLS within the tumor core is significantly correlatedwith hMENA11a expression in tumor cells, whereas the presence of TLS at the margin oftumor nests correlates with the absence of hMENA11a. When we evaluated also the fibronectin we found a trend of association between low stromal fibronectin and intratumoral TLS, however a low level of stromal FN in concomitance with the expression of hMENA11ain tumor cells,strongly associated with intra-tumoralTLS presence.
Our findings indicate that the alternative splicing of hMENA is crucial in the reciprocal signaling between tumor cells and their immune microenvironment, by participating in tertiary lymphoid structure neo genesis and spatial distribution.
Funded by Airc
Citation Format: Francesca Di Modugno, Sheila Spada, Anna Di Carlo, Paola Trono, Isabella Sperduti, Barbara Antoniani, Enzo Gallo, Giulia Campo, Francesco Facciolo, Paolo Visca, Paola Nisticò. Tissue specific splicing program of hMENA: impact on tumor immune microenvironment in node-negative NSCLC [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2019; 2019 Mar 29-Apr 3; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 1482.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sheila Spada
- IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Anna Di Carlo
- IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Trono
- IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | | | | | - Enzo Gallo
- IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Giulia Campo
- IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Paolo Visca
- IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Nisticò
- IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
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Di Modugno F, Colosi C, Trono P, Antonacci G, Ruocco G, Nisticò P. 3D models in the new era of immune oncology: focus on T cells, CAF and ECM. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2019; 38:117. [PMID: 30898166 PMCID: PMC6429763 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-019-1086-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2019] [Accepted: 02/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy has changed clinical practice for patients with different cancers, since these agents have demonstrated a significant improvement of overall survival and are effective in many patients. However, an intrinsic or acquired resistance frequently occur and biomarkers predictive of responsiveness should help in patient selection and in defining the adequate treatment options. A deep analysis of the complexity of the tumor microenvironment is likely to further advance the field and hopefully identify more effective combined immunotherapeutic strategies. Here we review the current knowledge on tumor microenvironment, focusing on T cells, cancer associated fibroblasts and extracellular matrix. The use of 3D cell culture models to resemble tumor microenvironment landscape and to screen immunomodulatory drugs is also reviewed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Di Modugno
- Unit of Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy, Department of Research, Advanced Diagnostics, and Technological Innovation, Translational Research Area, IRCCS-Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, via Elio Chianesi 53, 00144, Rome, Italy.
| | - Cristina Colosi
- Center for Life Nano Science@Sapienza, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Viale Regina Elena 291, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Trono
- Unit of Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy, Department of Research, Advanced Diagnostics, and Technological Innovation, Translational Research Area, IRCCS-Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, via Elio Chianesi 53, 00144, Rome, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Antonacci
- Center for Life Nano Science@Sapienza, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Viale Regina Elena 291, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Giancarlo Ruocco
- Center for Life Nano Science@Sapienza, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Viale Regina Elena 291, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Nisticò
- Unit of Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy, Department of Research, Advanced Diagnostics, and Technological Innovation, Translational Research Area, IRCCS-Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, via Elio Chianesi 53, 00144, Rome, Italy
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Caprara V, Modugno FD, Chellini L, Tocci P, Spadaro F, Sacconi A, Blandino G, Nisticò P, Bagnato A, Rosanò L. Abstract 3162: Endothelin-1 receptor/beta-arrestin-1 pathway promotes invadopodia and metastatic process by integration with hMENA in human serous ovarian cancer. Cancer Res 2018. [DOI: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2018-3162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Aberrant activation of the endothelin-1 receptor (ET-1R) elicits pleiotropic effects relevant for serous ovarian cancer (SOC) cell invasion. The network activated by this receptor might be finely, spatially and temporary orchestrated by β-arrestin1 (β-arr1)-driven interactome. Recently, we uncovered a novel role for ET-1R/β-arr1 as regulator of cytoskeletal remodelling and invasive protrusions, invadopodia. Emerging evidence demonstrated that hMENA protein, an Ena/Vasp family member, is a key invadopodia component. In this study, we set out to molecularly dissect whether hMENA might represent a novel interacting partner of β-arr1 necessary for invadopodial function downstream of ET-1R in SOC cells. ENAH mRNA is significantly upregulated in OC tissues, and in particular in high-grade (HG)-SOC tumors, compared with normal tissues. In a panel of SOC cells, the expression hMENA, along with the spliced isoform hMENAΔv6, is upregulated by ET-1, at mRNA and protein levels, through β-arr1, restricted to mesenchymal phenotype. This effect is inhibited by treatment with the dual ETAR/ETBR antagonist macitentan. As shown by biochemical and imaging assays, ET-1 promotes a physical association between hMENA and β-arr1 as well PDZ-RhoGEF, which in turn activate RhoC. Most importantly, ET-1 induces localization of hMENA in F-actin-containing puncta, which co-localize with cortactin, and extracellular matrix degradation sites, thus promoting invadopodia maturation. Silencing of hMENA, as well as of β-arr1, or treatment with macitentan, impairs ET-1-dependent invadopodia activity, MMP secretion and activation, invasion, transendothelial migration and cell plasticity. In vivo, macitentan is able to inhibit SOC metastatic dissemination and hMENA expression along with other invadopodia markers. Finally, high ETAR/ARRB1/ENAH gene expression is associated with a poor prognosis in SOC patients. Collectively, these data define a pivotal function of hMENA/ hMENAΔv6, which is required for ET-1/β-arr1-induced invadopodial function and metastatic spreading of SOC.
Citation Format: Valentina Caprara, Francesca Di Modugno, Lidia Chellini, Piera Tocci, Francesca Spadaro, Andrea Sacconi, Giovanni Blandino, Paola Nisticò, Anna Bagnato, Laura Rosanò. Endothelin-1 receptor/beta-arrestin-1 pathway promotes invadopodia and metastatic process by integration with hMENA in human serous ovarian cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 3162.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Piera Tocci
- 1Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Paola Nisticò
- 1Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Anna Bagnato
- 1Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Laura Rosanò
- 1Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
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11
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Modugno FD, Spada S, Palermo B, Visca P, Iapicca P, Carlo AD, Antoniani B, Sperduti I, Benedetto AD, Terrenato I, Mottolese M, Gandolfi F, Facciolo F, Chen E, Schwartz MA, Santoni A, Bissell MJ, Nisticò P. Abstract 5224: hMENA isoforms impact NSCLC patient outcome through fibronectin/β1 integrin axis. Cancer Res 2018. [DOI: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2018-5224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
The splicing of the actin regulator hMENA generates different isoforms and we have demonstrated that the two alternatively expressed isoforms, hMENA11a and hMENAΔv6, have opposite functions in cell invasiveness. This general mechanism is of great clinical relevance in early NSCLC patients, where the pattern of hMENA isoform expression is a powerful prognostic factor. However the mechanism of action of the two isoforms have remained unclear. Herein, we evaluated whether hMENA and its isoforms influence β1 integrin expression and signaling considering the role of this integrin in cancer cell invasiveness and tumor progression. We performed hMENA silencing by siRNA and shRNA, to evaluate by QRT-PCR and biochemical approaches the expression of β1 integrin; by immunofluorescence the MRTF1 localization, by in vivo assay G-Actin/F-Actin ratio and by luciferase reporter assay the SRF activity. β1 integrin activation and signaling was evaluated by flow cytometry using an antibody specific for the β1 active conformation and by biochemical analysis of the phosphorylation of FAK, SRC and Paxillin. The secretoma of hMENA11a transfected cancer cell lines was analyzed by LC-MS/MS. Immunohistochemical analysis was performed using pan-hMENA, hMENA11a, and fibronectin antibodies in primary cancer tissues from node negative NSCLC patients. The Chi-Square or Fisher Exact tests were used to estimate associations among categorical variables and disease-free survival was calculated by the Kaplan-Meier product limit method. We show that the depletion of all hMENA isoforms inhibits the Serum Response Factor (SRF) activity, and the expression of its target gene β1 Integrin, by affecting G-Actin/F-Actin ratio, critical for the nuclear localization of the SRF co-factor myocardin related transcription factor 1 (MRTF1). Furthermore, we provide new insights into the mechanisms involved in the opposite functions of hMENA11a and hMENAΔv6 in cell invasiveness and we identify a new role of these isoforms in the β1 integrin-ECM signalling axis. Indeed, hMENAΔv6-drives cancer cell invasion by increasing β1 integrin activation and signalling, which is reduced by the anti-invasive hMENA11a isoform. Moreover, exogenous expression of hMENA11a in hMENAΔv6 positive cancer cells dramatically reduces secretion of extracellular matrix (ECM) components, including β1 integrin ligands and metalloproteinases. On the other hand overexpression of the pro-invasive hMENAΔv6 increases fibronectin production. In primary tumors high hMENA11a correlates with low stromal fibronectin and favorable clinical outcome of early node-negative non-small cell lung cancer patients. This newly discovered signature, which pays attention to the alternative splicing of hMENA and ECM components such as fibronectin in the stroma, might help fill in the gap in the still controversial clinical management of early node-negative NSCLC patients.
Citation Format: Francesca Di Modugno, Sheila Spada, Belinda Palermo, Paolo Visca, Pierluigi Iapicca, Anna Di Carlo, Barbara Antoniani, Isabella Sperduti, Anna Di Benedetto, Irene Terrenato, Marcella Mottolese, Francesco Gandolfi, Francesco Facciolo, Emily Chen, Martin A. Schwartz, Angela Santoni, Mina J. Bissell, Paola Nisticò. hMENA isoforms impact NSCLC patient outcome through fibronectin/β1 integrin axis [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 5224.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sheila Spada
- 1Regina Elena National Cancer Inst., Rome, Italy
| | | | - Paolo Visca
- 1Regina Elena National Cancer Inst., Rome, Italy
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12
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Sistigu A, Di Modugno F, Manic G, Nisticò P. Deciphering the loop of epithelial-mesenchymal transition, inflammatory cytokines and cancer immunoediting. Cytokine Growth Factor Rev 2017; 36:67-77. [PMID: 28595838 DOI: 10.1016/j.cytogfr.2017.05.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2017] [Accepted: 05/15/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Tumorigenesis and tumor progression relies on the dialectics between tumor cells, the extracellular matrix and its remodelling enzymes, neighbouring cells and soluble cues. The host immune response is crucial in eliminating or promoting tumor growth and the reciprocal coevolution of tumor and immune cells, during disease progression and in response to therapy, shapes tumor fate by activating innate and adaptive mechanisms. The phenotypic plasticity is a common feature of epithelial and immune cells and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a dynamic process, governed by microenvironmental stimuli, critical in tumor cell shaping, increased tumor cell heterogeneity and stemness. In this review we will outline how the dysregulation of microenvironmental signaling is crucial in determining tumor plasticity and EMT, arguing how therapy resistance hinges on these dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonella Sistigu
- Unit of Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy, Department of Research, Advanced Diagnostics and Technological Innovation, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, via Elio Chianesi 53, 00144, Rome, Italy; Department of General Pathology and Physiopathology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, largo Francesco Vito 1, 00168, Rome, Italy.
| | - Francesca Di Modugno
- Unit of Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy, Department of Research, Advanced Diagnostics and Technological Innovation, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, via Elio Chianesi 53, 00144, Rome, Italy
| | - Gwenola Manic
- Department of Biology, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", via della Ricerca Scientifica 1, 00173, Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Nisticò
- Unit of Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy, Department of Research, Advanced Diagnostics and Technological Innovation, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, via Elio Chianesi 53, 00144, Rome, Italy.
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13
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Melchionna R, Iapicca P, Modugno FD, Trono P, Sperduti I, Fassan M, Cataldo I, Rusev BC, Lawlor RT, Diodoro MG, Milella M, Grazi GL, Bissell MJ, Scarpa A, Nisticò P. Abstract A113: The pattern of hMENA isoforms is regulated by TGF-β1 in pancreatic cancer and may predict patient outcome. Cancer Immunol Res 2016. [DOI: 10.1158/2326-6066.imm2016-a113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Background: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is an aggressive disease with the worst survival rate among solid cancers. The pressing needs for extending life expectancy of patients are the identification of early prognostic markers and novel druggable pathways. PDAC arises generally from pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PanIN) and a dynamic interactions between tumor, stromal cells and autocrine and paracrine signaling lead to epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT), an early process in the natural history of pancreatic cancer. Cytoskeletal reorganization, extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling, and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) contribute to PDAC aggressiveness in cooperation with soluble growth factors or cytokines, with TGF-β1 as crucial player. hMENA is an actin regulatory protein whose splicing program, mediated by the epithelial splicing regulatory proteins (ESRPs), has been associated with the EMT process. Our previous studies indicated that alternative splicing of hMENA, generates hMENA11a and hMENAΔv6 isoforms with opposite roles in cell proliferation and invasion in breast and lung cancers. Alternative splicing is known to play a prominent role in tumor progression and tumorigenesis and the derived isoforms may represent powerful diagnostic and prognostic factors as we have recently shown for hMENA alternative splicing in early stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The aim of this study is to investigate the role of TGF-β1 on the expression and function of hMENA isoforms in PDAC, and verify whether the expression pattern of hMENA isoforms may impact patient outcome.
Methods: We analyzed the expression pattern of hMENA isoforms by immunohistochemistry, using anti-pan hMENA and specific anti-hMENA11a antibodies, in 285 PDACs, 15 PanINs, 10 pancreatitis, and normal pancreas, evaluating the patient outcome. The functional role of hMENA isoforms were analyzed by loss and gain of function experiments in untreated and TGF-β1-treated PDAC cell lines.
Results: In a panel of pancreatic cancer cell lines, hMENA11a expression correlates with an epithelial phenotype, while hMENAΔv6 expression with a mesechymal phenotype, with low E-cadherin and high vimentin expression. hMENA11a knock-down in PDAC cell lines affected cell-cell adhesion but not cell invasion. TGF-β1 cooperated with β-catenin signalling to up-regulate hMENA and hMENAΔv6 expression but not hMENA11a. The hMENA/hMENAΔv6 up-regulation play a crucial role in cell invasiveness and in TGF-β1-induced EMT. After TGF-β1 treatment, hMENA/hMENAΔv6 were mobilized from focal adhesion to actin stress fibers, and the silencing of these isoforms significantly inhibited the TGF-β1-induced EMT in PANC-1. Functionally, in the absence of hMENA11a, the hMENA/hMENAΔv6 up-regulationis crucial for SMAD2-mediated TGF-β1 signalling, migration, invasion and MMPs activities. Pan hMENA immunostaining, absent in normal pancreas and low-grade PanINs, was weak in PanIN-3 and had higher levels in virtually all PDACs with 64% of cases showing strong staining. Conversely, the anti-invasive hMENA11a isoform only showed strong staining in 26% of PDAC. The absence of hMENA11a in a subset (34%) of pan-hMENA-positive tumors significantly correlated with poor outcome, in agreement with experimental results.
Conclusions: hMENA isoforms are regulated differently by TGF-β1, and the pattern of expression of hMENA isoforms is crucial in TGF-β1-dependent EMT and cell invasion. The pattern of expression of hMENA isoforms correlates with PDAC patient outcome and it could be used in specific clinical settings for the choice of the most effective treatment of PDAC patients. Our data provide new insights into molecular pathways involved in PDAC biology and suggest that hMENA-related pathways are promising targets for the development of new prognostic and therapeutic tools in PDAC.
Citation Format: Roberta Melchionna, Pierluigi Iapicca, Francesca Di Modugno, Paola Trono, Isabella Sperduti, Matteo Fassan, Ivana Cataldo, Borislav C. Rusev, Rita T. Lawlor, Maria Grazia Diodoro, Michele Milella, Gian Luca Grazi, Mina J. Bissell, Aldo Scarpa, Paola Nisticò. The pattern of hMENA isoforms is regulated by TGF-β1 in pancreatic cancer and may predict patient outcome [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Second CRI-CIMT-EATI-AACR International Cancer Immunotherapy Conference: Translating Science into Survival; 2016 Sept 25-28; New York, NY. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Immunol Res 2016;4(11 Suppl):Abstract nr A113.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberta Melchionna
- 1Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy Unit, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Pierluigi Iapicca
- 1Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy Unit, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Di Modugno
- 1Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy Unit, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Trono
- 1Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy Unit, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Isabella Sperduti
- 2Biostatistics and Scientific Direction, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Matteo Fassan
- 3ARC-NET Research Centre, Dept of Pathology and Diagnostics, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Ivana Cataldo
- 3ARC-NET Research Centre, Dept of Pathology and Diagnostics, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Borislav C. Rusev
- 3ARC-NET Research Centre, Dept of Pathology and Diagnostics, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Rita T. Lawlor
- 3ARC-NET Research Centre, Dept of Pathology and Diagnostics, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | | | - Michele Milella
- 5Medical Oncology 1, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Gian Luca Grazi
- 6Hepato-pancreato-biliary Surgery Unit, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Mina J. Bissell
- 7Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, CA
| | - Aldo Scarpa
- 3ARC-NET Research Centre, Dept of Pathology and Diagnostics, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Paola Nisticò
- 1Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy Unit, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
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14
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Melchionna R, Iapicca P, Di Modugno F, Trono P, Sperduti I, Fassan M, Cataldo I, Rusev BC, Lawlor RT, Diodoro MG, Milella M, Grazi GL, Bissell MJ, Scarpa A, Nisticò P. The pattern of hMENA isoforms is regulated by TGF-β1 in pancreatic cancer and may predict patient outcome. Oncoimmunology 2016; 5:e1221556. [PMID: 28123868 PMCID: PMC5213039 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2016.1221556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2016] [Revised: 07/29/2016] [Accepted: 08/02/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is an aggressive disease in need of prognostic markers to address therapeutic choices. We have previously shown that alternative splicing of the actin regulator, hMENA, generates hMENA11a, and hMENAΔv6 isoforms with opposite roles in cell invasion. We examined the expression pattern of hMENA isoforms by immunohistochemistry, using anti-pan hMENA and specific anti-hMENA11a antibodies, in 285 PDACs, 15 PanINs, 10 pancreatitis, and normal pancreas. Pan hMENA immunostaining, absent in normal pancreas and low-grade PanINs, was weak in PanIN-3 and had higher levels in virtually all PDACs with 64% of cases showing strong staining. Conversely, the anti-invasive hMENA11a isoform only showed strong staining in 26% of PDAC. The absence of hMENA11a in a subset (34%) of pan-hMENA-positive tumors significantly correlated with poor outcome. The functional effects of hMENA isoforms were analyzed by loss and gain of function experiments in TGF-β1-treated PDAC cell lines. hMENA11a knock-down in PDAC cell lines affected cell-cell adhesion but not invasion. TGF-β1 cooperated with β-catenin signaling to upregulate hMENA and hMENAΔv6 expression but not hMENA11a In the absence of hMENA11a, the hMENA/hMENAΔv6 up-regulation is crucial for SMAD2-mediated TGF-β1 signaling and TGF-β1-induced EMT. Since the hMENA isoform expression pattern correlates with patient outcome, the data suggest that hMENA splicing and related pathways are novel key players in pancreatic tumor microenvironment and may represent promising targets for the development of new prognostic and therapeutic tools in PDAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberta Melchionna
- Tumour Immunology and Immunotherapy Unit, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute , Rome, Italy
| | - Pierluigi Iapicca
- Tumour Immunology and Immunotherapy Unit, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute , Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Di Modugno
- Tumour Immunology and Immunotherapy Unit, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute , Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Trono
- Tumour Immunology and Immunotherapy Unit, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute , Rome, Italy
| | - Isabella Sperduti
- Biostatistics and Scientific Direction, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute , Rome, Italy
| | - Matteo Fassan
- ARC-NET Research Center, Department of Pathology and Diagnostics, University of Verona , Verona, Italy
| | - Ivana Cataldo
- ARC-NET Research Center, Department of Pathology and Diagnostics, University of Verona , Verona, Italy
| | - Borislav C Rusev
- ARC-NET Research Center, Department of Pathology and Diagnostics, University of Verona , Verona, Italy
| | - Rita T Lawlor
- ARC-NET Research Center, Department of Pathology and Diagnostics, University of Verona , Verona, Italy
| | | | - Michele Milella
- Medical Oncology, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute , Rome, Italy
| | - Gian Luca Grazi
- Hepato-pancreato-biliary Surgery Unit, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute , Rome, Italy
| | - Mina J Bissell
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, University of California , CA, USA
| | - Aldo Scarpa
- ARC-NET Research Center, Department of Pathology and Diagnostics, University of Verona , Verona, Italy
| | - Paola Nisticò
- Tumour Immunology and Immunotherapy Unit, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute , Rome, Italy
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15
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Trono P, Di Modugno F, Nisticò P. hMENA(11a), a hMENA isoform sending survival signals. Mol Cell Oncol 2015; 3:e1083648. [PMID: 27308605 PMCID: PMC4905527 DOI: 10.1080/23723556.2015.1083648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2015] [Revised: 08/11/2015] [Accepted: 08/12/2015] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Human MENA11a (hMENA11a), an epithelial-associated isoform of the actin binding protein enabled homolog (ENAH, also known as mammalian ENA [MENA]), is upregulated and phosphorylated following the activation of human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER) 1, HER2, and HER3. Here, we reveal a novel role of this isoform in sustaining cell survival and propose hMENA11a as a marker of HER3 activation and resistance to phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase inhibition therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Trono
- Department of Research, Advanced Diagnostics and Technological Innovation, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute , Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Di Modugno
- Department of Research, Advanced Diagnostics and Technological Innovation, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute , Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Nisticò
- Department of Research, Advanced Diagnostics and Technological Innovation, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute , Rome, Italy
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Bria E, Di Modugno F, Sperduti I, Iapicca P, Visca P, Alessandrini G, Antoniani B, Pilotto S, Ludovini V, Vannucci J, Bellezza G, Sidoni A, Tortora G, Radisky DC, Crinò L, Cognetti F, Facciolo F, Mottolese M, Milella M, Nisticò P. Prognostic impact of alternative splicing-derived hMENA isoforms in resected, node-negative, non-small-cell lung cancer. Oncotarget 2015; 5:11054-63. [PMID: 25373410 PMCID: PMC4294370 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.2609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2014] [Accepted: 10/21/2014] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Risk assessment and treatment choice remain a challenge in early non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Alternative splicing is an emerging source for diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic tools. Here, we investigated the prognostic value of the actin cytoskeleton regulator hMENA and its isoforms, hMENA11a and hMENAΔv6, in early NSCLC. The epithelial hMENA11a isoform was expressed in NSCLC lines expressing E-CADHERIN and was alternatively expressed with hMENAΔv6. Enforced expression of hMENAΔv6 or hMENA11a increased or decreased the invasive ability of A549 cells, respectively. hMENA isoform expression was evaluated in 248 node-negative NSCLC. High pan-hMENA and low hMENA11a were the only independent predictors of shorter disease-free and cancer-specific survival, and low hMENA11a was an independent predictor of shorter overall survival, at multivariate analysis. Patients with low pan-hMENA/high hMENA11a expression fared significantly better (P≤0.0015) than any other subgroup. Such hybrid variable was incorporated with T-size and number of resected lymph nodes into a 3-class-risk stratification model, which strikingly discriminated between different risks of relapse, cancer-related death, and death. The model was externally validated in an independent dataset of 133 patients. Relative expression of hMENA splice isoforms is a powerful prognostic factor in early NSCLC, complementing clinical parameters to accurately predict individual patient risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emilio Bria
- Department of Medical Oncology, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy. Department of Medical Oncology, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | | | - Isabella Sperduti
- Biostatistics and Scientific Direction, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Pierluigi Iapicca
- Laboratory of Immunology, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Paolo Visca
- Department of Pathology, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Barbara Antoniani
- Department of Pathology, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Sara Pilotto
- Department of Medical Oncology, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Vienna Ludovini
- Department of Medical Oncology, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Jacopo Vannucci
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Guido Bellezza
- Institute of Pathological Anatomy and Histology, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Angelo Sidoni
- Institute of Pathological Anatomy and Histology, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Giampaolo Tortora
- Department of Medical Oncology, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | | | - Lucio Crinò
- Department of Medical Oncology, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Francesco Cognetti
- Department of Medical Oncology, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesco Facciolo
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Marcella Mottolese
- Department of Pathology, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Michele Milella
- Department of Medical Oncology, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Nisticò
- Laboratory of Immunology, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
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Trono P, Di Modugno F, Circo R, Spada S, Melchionna R, Palermo B, Panetta M, Matteoni S, Soddu S, De Maria R, Nisticò P. Abstract 4316: hMENA11a contributes to HER3-mediated resistance to PI3K inhibitors in HER2 overexpressing breast cancer cells. Cancer Res 2015. [DOI: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2015-4316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Human Mena (hMENA), an actin regulatory protein of the ENA/VASP family, cooperates with ErbB receptor family signaling in breast cancer. It is overexpressed in high-risk preneoplastic lesions and in primary breast tumors where it correlates with HER2 overexpression and an activated status of AKT and MAPK. The concomitant overexpression of hMENA and HER2 identifies breast cancer patients with a worse prognosis. hMENA is expressed along with alternatively expressed isoforms, hMENA11a and hMENAΔv6 with opposite functions.
By Reverse Phase Protein Assay, we identified a novel role for the epithelial associated hMENA11a isoform in sustaining HER3 activation and pro-survival pathways in HER2 overexpressing breast luminal cancer cells. Since HER3 activation is crucial in mechanisms of cell resistance to PI3K inhibitors, we explored whether hMENA11a is involved in these resistance mechanisms. The specific hMENA11a depletion switched off the HER3-related pathway activated by PI3K inhibitors and impaired the nuclear accumulation of HER3 transcription factor FOXO3a induced by PI3K inhibitors. On the other hand, PI3K inhibitors activated hMENA11a phosphorylation and affected its localization. At the functional level, we found that hMENA11a sustains cell proliferation and survival in response to PI3K inhibitor treatment whereas hMENA11a silencing increases molecules involved in cancer cell apoptosis. As shown in three-dimensional cultured breast cancer cells hMENA11a contributes to cancer cells resistance to PI3K inhibition since the depletion of hMENA11a drastically reduced cell viability upon treatment with PI3K inhibitor BEZ235.
Altogether, these results indicate that hMENA11a in HER2 overexpressing breast cancer cells sustains HER3/AKT axis activation and contributes to HER3-mediated resistance mechanisms to PI3K inhibitors. Thus, hMENA11a expression can be proposed as a marker of HER3 activation and of resistance to PI3K inhibition therapies, to select patients who can benefit from these combined targeted treatments. hMENA11a activity may represent a new target for anti-proliferative therapies in breast cancer.
Citation Format: Paola Trono, Francesca Di Modugno, Rita Circo, Sheila Spada, Roberta Melchionna, Belinda Palermo, Mariangela Panetta, Silvia Matteoni, Silvia Soddu, Ruggero De Maria, Paola Nisticò. hMENA11a contributes to HER3-mediated resistance to PI3K inhibitors in HER2 overexpressing breast cancer cells. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 4316. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-4316
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Trono
- 1Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Rita Circo
- 2Department of Hematology, Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Sheila Spada
- 3Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza, University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Belinda Palermo
- 3Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza, University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | | | | | - Silvia Soddu
- 1Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Paola Nisticò
- 1Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
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Abstract
Following a highly dynamic and complex dialogue between the epithelium and the surrounding microenvironment, the mammary gland develops into a branching structure during puberty, buds during pregnancy, forms intricate polar acini during lactation and, once the babies are weaned, remodels and involutes. At every stage of menstrual and pregnancy cycles, interactions between the cells and the extracellular matrix (ECM) and homotypic and heterotypic cell–cell interactions give rise to the architecture and function of the gland at that junction. These orchestrated programs would not be possible without the important role of the ECM receptors, integrins being the prime examples. The ECM–integrin axis regulates many crucial cellular functions including survival, migration and quiescence; the imbalance in any of these processes could contribute to oncogenesis. In this review we spotlight the involvement of two prominent integrin subunits, β1 and β4 integrins, in cross-talk with tyrosine kinase receptors, and we discuss the roles of these integrin subunits in the biology of normal breast differentiation and as potential prognostic and therapeutic targets in breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Nisticò
- Laboratory of Immunology, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Via Elio Chianesi 53, Rome, 00144, Italy.
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Melchionna R, Iapicca P, Modugno FD, Trono P, Gualtieri N, Diodoro MG, Mottolese M, Grazi GL, Fassan M, Scarpa A, Bissell MJ, Nisticò P. Abstract A60: The hMENA Splicing Program: An important regulator of TGFβ1-driven EMT and invasiveness in pancreatic cancer. Cancer Res 2015. [DOI: 10.1158/1538-7445.panca2014-a60] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Background: The pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma tumor microenvironment plays an important role in promoting the epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT), an early event in pancreatic cancer, involved in cancer invasiveness and in tumor progression. Among the stromal components the cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are responsible for the peculiar pancreatic tumor microenvironment and are known to be linked to the induction of EMT.
The EMT process requires a dynamic remodeling of the actin cytoskeleton and we have suggested that the splicing program of hMENA, an actin regulator, play a role in EMT. Two alternatively expressed isoforms, hMENA11a and hMENAΔv6, with opposite functions in invasiveness have been described in breast cancer (Di Modugno et al PNAS 2012).
hMENA expression has not been detected in normal pancreatic ducts, whereas expressed in the human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) samples, but no data are available on hMENA alternative isoform expression in this neoplasia.
The aim of this study is to investigate whether TGFβ1-mediated EMT in pancreatic cancer cells is affected by hMENA overexpression and splicing and how CAFs affect this process in cancer cell lines and in human tissues.
Methods: hMENA isoform expression was evaluated in PDAC tissues by immunohistochemistry using isoform specific antibodies. hMENA isoforms and EMT markers expression were characterized in human PDAC cell lines, TGFβ1-treated or untreated, by qRT-PCR and WB analysis. The effects of either hMENA isoform specific knockdown or overexpression in the TGFβ1-induced EMT were also evaluated.
Pancreatic CAFs were isolated from human tissues of resected PDAC patients. The effect of the conditioned medium of cultured CAFs was evaluated on hMENA expression. In parallel, the role of CAF-cancer cell interaction on the expression of the different hMENA isoforms was analysed using a co-culture system.
Results: Freshly explanted CAFs expressed the “mesenchymal” hMENAΔv6, and not hMENA11a and secreted paracrine factors involved in the induction of hMENA isoforms in tumor cells.
In a panel of pancreatic cancer cell lines, hMENA11a expression correlated with an epithelial phenotype, while hMENAΔv6 expression was correlated with a mesenchymal phenotype. Interestingly, the expression of the invasive hMENAΔv6 isoform is specifically up-regulated by TGFβ1 treatment.
hMENA isoform expression levels influenced molecular changes induced by TGFβ1. Thus, the hMENA11a specific silencing led to E-cadherin down-regulation that is more evident in TGFβ1 treated cells. On the contrary, hMENA11a overexpression led to a reduction of vimentin expression and to E-cadherin up-regulation. Knockdown of the endogenous hMENA/hMENAΔv6 isoform expression prevented the activation of TGFβ1 signaling and up-regulation of mesenchymal markers. In addition, hMENA/hMENAΔv6 isoform depletion impaired the TGFβ1-induced invasiveness, migration and production of MMPs.
IHC analysis of PDAC tissues revealed that the epithelial hMENA11a is rarely expressed in primary pancreatic tumour, while high levels of hMENA and hMENAΔv6 isoforms were found in 75% of primary tumours analysed.
Conclusions: This data suggests that the lack of the epithelial hMENA11a isoform is an early event in pancreatic cancer, provides new insights into the role of hMENA splicing in TGFβ1-mediated EMT and highlights hMENA splicing program as an attractive pathway for the development of new therapies in PDAC.
Citation Format: Roberta Melchionna, Pierluigi Iapicca, Francesca Di Modugno, Paola Trono, Novella Gualtieri, Maria Grazia Diodoro, Marcella Mottolese, Gian Luca Grazi, Matteo Fassan, Aldo Scarpa, Mina J. Bissell, Paola Nisticò. The hMENA Splicing Program: An important regulator of TGFβ1-driven EMT and invasiveness in pancreatic cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Pancreatic Cancer: Innovations in Research and Treatment; May 18-21, 2014; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(13 Suppl):Abstract nr A60.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Paola Trono
- 1Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy,
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Paola Nisticò
- 1Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy,
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20
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Visca P, Spada S, Di Modugno F, Bria E, Sperduti I, Antoniani B, Alessandrini G, Palermo B, Ludovini V, Crinò L, Facciolo F, Milella M, Mottolese M, Nisticò P. hMENA splicing program impacts the clinical outcome of early stage lung cancer patients. How and why? Lab Invest 2014. [PMCID: PMC4108875 DOI: 10.1186/1479-5876-12-s1-p12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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21
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Vaccaro V, Gelibter A, Bria E, Iapicca P, Cappello P, Di Modugno F, Pino MS, Nuzzo C, Cognetti F, Novelli F, Nistico P, Milella M. Molecular and genetic bases of pancreatic cancer. Curr Drug Targets 2012; 13:731-43. [PMID: 22458519 DOI: 10.2174/138945012800564077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2010] [Revised: 03/02/2012] [Accepted: 03/27/2012] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer remains a formidable challenge for oncologists and patients alike. Despite intensive efforts, attempts at improving survival in the past 15 years, particularly in advanced disease, have failed. This is true even with the introduction of molecularly targeted agents, chosen on the basis of their action on pathways that were supposedly important in pancreatic cancer development and progression: indeed, with the notable exception of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitor erlotinib, that has provided a minimal survival improvement when added to gemcitabine, other agents targeting EGFR, matrix metallo-proteases, farnesyl transferase, or vascular endothelial growth factor have not succeeded in improving outcomes over standard gemcitabine monotherapy for a variety of different reasons. However, recent developments in the molecular epidemiology of pancreatic cancer and an ever evolving understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying pancreatic cancer initiation and progression raise renewed hope to find novel, relevant therapeutic targets that could be pursued in the clinical setting. In this review we focus on molecular epidemiology of pancreatic cancer, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and its influence on sensitivity to EGFR-targeted approaches, apoptotic pathways, hypoxia-related pathways, developmental pathways (such as the hedgehog and Notch pathways), and proteomic analysis as keys to a better understanding of pancreatic cancer biology and, most importantly, as a source of novel molecular targets to be exploited therapeutically.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanja Vaccaro
- Medical Oncology A, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
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22
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Di Modugno F, Mottolese M, DeMonte L, Trono P, Balsamo M, Conidi A, Melucci E, Terrenato I, Belleudi F, Torrisi MR, Alessio M, Santoni A, Nisticò P. The cooperation between hMena overexpression and HER2 signalling in breast cancer. PLoS One 2010; 5:e15852. [PMID: 21209853 PMCID: PMC3012725 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0015852] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2010] [Accepted: 11/26/2010] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
hMena and the epithelial specific isoform hMena11a are actin cytoskeleton regulatory proteins belonging to the Ena/VASP family. EGF treatment of breast cancer cell lines upregulates hMena/hMena11a expression and phosphorylates hMena11a, suggesting cross-talk between the ErbB receptor family and hMena/hMena11a in breast cancer. The aim of this study was to determine whether the hMena/hMena11a overexpression cooperates with HER-2 signalling, thereby affecting the HER2 mitogenic activity in breast cancer. In a cohort of breast cancer tissue samples a significant correlation among hMena, HER2 overexpression, the proliferation index (high Ki67), and phosphorylated MAPK and AKT was found and among the molecular subtypes the highest frequency of hMena overexpressing tumors was found in the HER2 subtype. From a clinical viewpoint, concomitant overexpression of HER2 and hMena identifies a subgroup of breast cancer patients showing the worst prognosis, indicating that hMena overexpression adds prognostic information to HER2 overexpressing tumors. To identify a functional link between HER2 and hMena, we show here that HER2 transfection in MCF7 cells increased hMena/hMena11a expression and hMena11a phosphorylation. On the other hand, hMena/hMena11a knock-down reduced HER3, AKT and p44/42 MAPK phosphorylation and inhibited the EGF and NRG1-dependent HER2 phosphorylation and cell proliferation. Of functional significance, hMena/hMena11a knock-down reduced the mitogenic activity of EGF and NRG1. Collectively these data provide new insights into the relevance of hMena and hMena11a as downstream effectors of the ErbB receptor family which may represent a novel prognostic indicator in breast cancer progression, helping to stratify patients.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Marcella Mottolese
- Department of Pathology, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Lucia DeMonte
- Tumor Immunology, Dibit, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
- Proteome Biochemistry, Dibit, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Paola Trono
- Laboratory of Immunology, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Michele Balsamo
- Laboratory of Immunology, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Andrea Conidi
- Laboratory of Immunology, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
- Department of Molecular and Developmental Genetics, VIB11, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Elisa Melucci
- Department of Pathology, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Irene Terrenato
- Department of Epidemiology, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | | | | | - Massimo Alessio
- Proteome Biochemistry, Dibit, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Angela Santoni
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, University ‘Sapienza’, Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Nisticò
- Laboratory of Immunology, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
- * E-mail:
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Goswami S, Philippar U, Sun D, Patsialou A, Avraham J, Wang W, Di Modugno F, Nistico P, Gertler FB, Condeelis JS. Identification of invasion specific splice variants of the cytoskeletal protein Mena present in mammary tumor cells during invasion in vivo. Clin Exp Metastasis 2008; 26:153-9. [PMID: 18985426 DOI: 10.1007/s10585-008-9225-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2008] [Accepted: 10/17/2008] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
We have studied the gene expression pattern of invasive primary mammary tumor cells using a unique in vivo invasion assay that isolates the invasive tumor cells by chemotaxis. One of the genes upregulated in the invasive tumor cells is Mena, an actin binding protein involved in the regulation of cell motility. There are multiple known splice variants of Mena accounted for by four alternatively included exons, +, ++, +++ and 11a. Using the in vivo invasion assay in rats and mice with mammary tumors we observed that two isoforms of Mena, ++ and +++, are upregulated in the invasive tumor cells and one isoform, 11a, is downregulated. The Mena isoform switching pattern described here may provide a new biomarker for the presence of metastatic cancer cells and for prognosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sumanta Goswami
- Department of Anatomy and Structural Biology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University, 1300 Morris Park Avenue, Bronx, NY 10461, USA.
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Pino MS, Balsamo M, Di Modugno F, Mottolese M, Alessio M, Melucci E, Milella M, McConkey DJ, Philippar U, Gertler FB, Natali PG, Nisticò P. Human Mena+11a isoform serves as a marker of epithelial phenotype and sensitivity to epidermal growth factor receptor inhibition in human pancreatic cancer cell lines. Clin Cancer Res 2008; 14:4943-50. [PMID: 18676769 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-08-0436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE hMena, member of the enabled/vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein family, is a cytoskeletal protein that is involved in the regulation of cell motility and adhesion. The aim of this study was to determine whether or not the expression of hMena isoforms correlated with sensitivity to EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors and could serve as markers with potential clinical use. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN Human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cell lines were characterized for in vitro sensitivity to erlotinib, expression of HER family receptors, markers of epithelial to mesenchymal transition, and expression of hMena and its isoform hMena(+11a). The effects of epidermal growth factor (EGF) and erlotinib on hMena expression as well as the effect of hMena knockdown on cell proliferation were also evaluated. RESULTS hMena was detected in all of the pancreatic tumor cell lines tested as well as in the majority of the human tumor samples [primary (92%) and metastatic (86%)]. Intriguingly, in vitro hMena(+11a) isoform was specifically associated with an epithelial phenotype, EGFR dependency, and sensitivity to erlotinib. In epithelial BxPC3 cells, epidermal growth factor up-regulated hMena/hMena(+11a) and erlotinib down-regulated expression. hMena knockdown reduced cell proliferation and mitogen-activated protein kinase and AKT activation in BxPC3 cells, and promoted the growth inhibitory effects of erlotinib. CONCLUSIONS Collectively, our data indicate that the hMena(+11a) isoform is associated with an epithelial phenotype and identifies EGFR-dependent cell lines that are sensitive to the EGFR inhibitor erlotinib. The availability of anti-hMena(+11a)-specific probes may offer a new tool in pancreatic cancer management if these results can be verified prospectively in cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria S Pino
- Division of Medical Oncology, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
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Di Modugno F, DeMonte L, Balsamo M, Bronzi G, Nicotra MR, Alessio M, Jager E, Condeelis JS, Santoni A, Natali PG, Nisticò P. Molecular cloning of hMena (ENAH) and its splice variant hMena+11a: epidermal growth factor increases their expression and stimulates hMena+11a phosphorylation in breast cancer cell lines. Cancer Res 2007; 67:2657-65. [PMID: 17363586 PMCID: PMC3156572 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-06-1997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
hMena (ENAH), an actin regulatory protein involved in the control of cell motility and adhesion, is modulated during human breast carcinogenesis. In fact, whereas undetectable in normal mammary epithelium, hMena becomes overexpressed in high-risk benign lesions and primary and metastatic tumors. In vivo, hMena overexpression correlates with the HER-2(+)/ER(-)/Ki67(+) unfavorable prognostic phenotype. In vitro, neuregulin-1 up-regulates whereas Herceptin treatment down-modulates hMena expression, suggesting that it may couple tyrosine kinase receptor signaling to the actin cytoskeleton. Herein, we report the cloning of hMena and of a splice variant, hMena(+11a), which contains an additional exon corresponding to 21 amino acids located in the EVH2 domain, from a breast carcinoma cell line of epithelial phenotype. Whereas hMena overexpression consistently characterizes the transformed phenotype of tumor cells of different lineages, hMena(+11a) isoform is concomitantly present only in epithelial tumor cell lines. In breast cancer cell lines, epidermal growth factor (EGF) treatment promotes concomitant up-regulation of hMena and hMena(+11a), resulting in an increase of the fraction of phosphorylated hMena(+11a) isoform only. hMena(+11a) overexpression and phosphorylation leads to increased p42/44 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activation and cell proliferation as evidenced in hMena(+11a)-transfected breast cancer cell lines. On the contrary, hMena knockdown induces reduction of p42/44 MAPK phosphorylation and of the proliferative response to EGF. The present data provide new insight into the relevance of actin cytoskeleton regulatory proteins and, in particular, of hMena isoforms in coupling multiple signaling pathways involved in breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lucia DeMonte
- Tumor Immunology, Dibit, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
- Proteome Biochemistry, Dibit, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Michele Balsamo
- Laboratory of Immunology, Regina Elena Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Giovanna Bronzi
- Laboratory of Immunology, Regina Elena Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Rita Nicotra
- Molecular Biology and Pathology Institute, National Research Council, Rome, Italy
| | - Massimo Alessio
- Proteome Biochemistry, Dibit, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Elke Jager
- Medizinische Klinik II, Hamatologie-Onkologie, Krankenhaus Nordwest, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - John S. Condeelis
- Department of Anatomy, Structural Biology and Analytical Imaging Facility, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York
| | - Angela Santoni
- Experimental Medicine and Pathology, University “La Sapienza,” Rome, Italy
| | | | - Paola Nisticò
- Laboratory of Immunology, Regina Elena Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
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26
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Di Modugno F, Mottolese M, Di Benedetto A, Conidi A, Novelli F, Perracchio L, Venturo I, Botti C, Jager E, Santoni A, Natali PG, Nisticò P. The cytoskeleton regulatory protein hMena (ENAH) is overexpressed in human benign breast lesions with high risk of transformation and human epidermal growth factor receptor-2-positive/hormonal receptor-negative tumors. Clin Cancer Res 2006; 12:1470-8. [PMID: 16533770 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-05-2027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE hMena (ENAH), a cytoskeleton regulatory protein involved in the regulation of cell motility and adhesion, is overexpressed in breast cancer. The aim of this study was to define at what stage of breast carcinogenesis hMena is overexpressed and to correlate hMena overexpression with established prognostic factors in breast cancer, focusing on human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER-2). EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN hMena expression was assessed immunohistochemically in a prospective cohort of cases (n = 360) encompassing a highly representative spectrum of benign breast diseases associated with different risk of transformation, in situ, invasive, and metastatic tumors. Correlations with conventional pathologic and prognostic variables, such as proliferation index, hormonal receptor status, and HER-2 overexpression, were also evaluated. In vitro experiments were done to study the effect of neuregulin-1 and Herceptin treatments on hMena expression. RESULTS hMena protein is undetectable in normal breast and is weakly expressed in a small percentage of low-risk benign diseases (9%), but displays a progressive and significant increase of positivity in benign lesions at higher risk of transformation (slightly increased risk 43%; moderate increased risk 67%), in in situ (72%), invasive (93%), and metastatic breast cancer (91%). A significant direct correlation with tumor size (P = 0.04), proliferation index (P < 0.0001), and HER-2 overexpression (P < 0.0001) and an inverse relationship with estrogen (P = 0.036) and progesterone receptors (P = 0.001) are found in invasive carcinomas. In vitro experiments show that neuregulin-1 up-regulates, whereas Herceptin down-regulates, hMena expression. CONCLUSIONS Our data provide new insights into the relevance of actin-binding proteins in human breast carcinogenesis and indicate hMena overexpression as a surrogate indicator in breast disease management.
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MESH Headings
- Adolescent
- Adult
- Aged
- Aged, 80 and over
- Antibodies, Monoclonal/pharmacology
- Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
- Biomarkers, Tumor
- Breast
- Breast Neoplasms/metabolism
- Breast Neoplasms/pathology
- Carcinoma in Situ/metabolism
- Carcinoma in Situ/pathology
- Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast/metabolism
- Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast/secondary
- Carcinoma, Papillary/metabolism
- Carcinoma, Papillary/secondary
- Cell Proliferation
- Cell Transformation, Neoplastic
- Cohort Studies
- Cytoskeletal Proteins/metabolism
- Female
- Humans
- Middle Aged
- Neoplasm Invasiveness/pathology
- Neoplasms, Ductal, Lobular, and Medullary/metabolism
- Neoplasms, Ductal, Lobular, and Medullary/secondary
- Neuregulin-1/pharmacology
- Prognosis
- Prospective Studies
- Receptor, ErbB-2/metabolism
- Receptors, Estrogen/metabolism
- Receptors, Progesterone/metabolism
- Risk Factors
- Trastuzumab
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Di Modugno
- Laboratory of Experimental Chemotherapy, Department of Pathology, Regina Elena Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
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27
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Di Modugno F, Bronzi G, Scanlan MJ, Del Bello D, Cascioli S, Venturo I, Botti C, Nicotra MR, Mottolese M, Natali PG, Santoni A, Jager E, Nisticò P. Human Mena protein, a serex-defined antigen overexpressed in breast cancer eliciting both humoral and CD8+ T-cell immune response. Int J Cancer 2004; 109:909-18. [PMID: 15027125 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.20094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Screening of a cDNA expression library from a primary breast tumor with the autologous patient serum led to the isolation of 6 cDNA clones corresponding to 3 different genes, including a novel gene that maps to chromosome 1 and encodes the human homologue of mouse Mena (hMena, cDNA clone RMNY-BR-55), a protein of the Ena/VASP family involved in the regulation of cell motility and adhesion. A cancer-restricted antibody response against hMena was demonstrated, since 18/93 cancer patient sera, the majority (10/52) from breast cancer, showed anti-hMena-specific IgG, while no antibodies were present in healthy donors. When hMena protein expression was analyzed by Western blot and immunohistochemistry, the antigen was overexpressed in the majority of breast cancer cell lines and in 75% of primary breast tumor lesions evaluated. Furthermore, when HLA-A2-restricted peptides from the hMena sequence were used to stimulate CD8+ T cells, an hMena-specific response was found in 9 out of 12 HLA-A2+ breast cancer patients. In 4 patients, this cell-mediated immune response was concomitant with antibody response to hMena. Furthermore, an hMena-specific T-cell line was established from an HLA-A2+ breast cancer patient whose primary tumor lesion overexpressed the hMena protein. The present findings highlight the emerging role that overexpression of cytoskeleton regulatory components may have in the induction of a specific antitumor immune response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Di Modugno
- Laboratory of Experimental Chemotherapy, Regina Elena Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
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28
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Di Modugno F, Buglioni S, Mottolese M, Del Bello D, Cascioli S, Chersi A, Santoni A, Nisticò P. Polyclonal Antibodies Against gp185HER2 Peptides: Their Putative Role in the Identification of a Particular HER2 Status in Patients With Breast Cancer. J Immunother (1991) 2001; 24:221-231. [PMID: 11395637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/20/2023]
Abstract
SUMMARY: The HER2 oncogene and its relative oncoprotein, gp185HER2, a transmembrane glycoprotein belonging to the epidermal growth factor receptor family, are overexpressed in a wide range of solid tumors including breast and ovarian cancer. In patients with breast cancer, both humoral and cell-mediated HER2 immune responses have been found as well as in some patients with gp185HER2 nonoverexpressing tumors. To establish whether peptide sequences identified as HLA-A2-restricted T-cell epitopes are expressed in breast tumor cell lines and tissues, we produced and characterized by different methodologic approaches polyclonal antibodies raised against four gp185HER2 peptides. Two of the antibodies recognized peptides eluted from the HLA-A2 groove of the mDAmB231 breast cancer cell line expressing a basal level of gp185HER2. Paraffin-embedded primary and metastatic breast tumors were specifically immunostained by all four reagents, thereby showing an overlapping reactivity. When this immunoreactivity was compared with that obtained using two different monoclonal antibodies, in 105 breast primary tumors and 36 corresponding lymph node metastases, we identified a subset of tumors that were negative with anti-gp185HER2 monoclonal antibodies and positive with the four antipeptide antibodies. Our novel observations provide in vivo evidence of the complexity involved in evaluating HER2 expression, and open a new path for understanding the biologic significance of HER2 status in breast tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Di Modugno
- Laboratory of Pathophysiology, CRS Regina Elena Cancer Institute; Laboratory of Pathology, Regina Elena Cancer Institute; Laboratory of Biochemistry, CRS Regina Elena Cancer Institute; and Department of Experimental Medicine and Pathology, University of Rome "La Sapienza", Rome, Italy
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