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Bharadwaj AG, McLean ME, Dahn ML, Cahill HF, Wasson MD, Arun RP, Walker OL, Cruickshank BM, Fernando W, Venkatesh J, Barnes PJ, Bethune G, Knapp G, Helyer LK, Giacomantonio CA, Waisman DM, Marcato P. ALDH1A3 promotes invasion and metastasis in triple-negative breast cancer by regulating the plasminogen activation pathway. Mol Oncol 2024; 18:91-112. [PMID: 37753740 PMCID: PMC10766202 DOI: 10.1002/1878-0261.13528] [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: 04/20/2023] [Revised: 08/28/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Aldehyde dehydrogenase 1A3 (ALDH1A3) is a cancer stem cell marker that promotes metastasis. Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) progression has been linked to ALDH1A3-induced gene expression changes. To investigate the mechanism of ALDH1A3-mediated breast cancer metastasis, we assessed the effect of ALDH1A3 on the expression of proteases and the regulators of proteases that degrade the extracellular matrix, a process that is essential for invasion and metastasis. This revealed that ALDH1A3 regulates the plasminogen activation pathway; it increased the levels and activity of tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) and urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA). This resulted in a corresponding increase in the activity of serine protease plasmin, the enzymatic product of tPA and uPA. The ALDH1A3 product all-trans-retinoic acid similarly increased tPA and plasmin activity. The increased invasion of TNBC cells by ALDH1A3 was plasminogen-dependent. In patient tumours, ALDH1A3 and tPA are co-expressed and their combined expression correlated with the TNBC subtype, high tumour grade and recurrent metastatic disease. Knockdown of tPA in TNBC cells inhibited plasmin generation and lymph node metastasis. These results identify the ALDH1A3-tPA-plasmin axis as a key contributor to breast cancer progression.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Gregory Knapp
- Department of SurgeryDalhousie UniversityHalifaxCanada
| | | | - Carman A. Giacomantonio
- Department of PathologyDalhousie UniversityHalifaxCanada
- Department of SurgeryDalhousie UniversityHalifaxCanada
| | - David M. Waisman
- Department of PathologyDalhousie UniversityHalifaxCanada
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyDalhousie UniversityHalifaxCanada
| | - Paola Marcato
- Department of PathologyDalhousie UniversityHalifaxCanada
- Department of Microbiology and ImmunologyDalhousie UniversityHalifaxCanada
- Nova Scotia Health AuthorityHalifaxCanada
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Walker OL, Dahn ML, Power Coombs MR, Marcato P. The Prostaglandin E2 Pathway and Breast Cancer Stem Cells: Evidence of Increased Signaling and Potential Targeting. Front Oncol 2022; 11:791696. [PMID: 35127497 PMCID: PMC8807694 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.791696] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2021] [Accepted: 12/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Culprits of cancer development, metastasis, and drug resistance, cancer stem cells (CSCs) are characterized by specific markers, active developmental signaling pathways, metabolic plasticity, increased motility, invasiveness, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition. In breast cancer, these cells are often more prominent in aggressive disease, are amplified in drug-resistant tumors, and contribute to recurrence. For breast cancer, two distinct CSC populations exist and are typically defined by CD44+/CD24- cell surface marker expression or increased aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) activity. These CSC populations share many of the same properties but also exhibit signaling pathways that are more active in CD44+/CD24- or ALDH+ populations. Understanding these CSC populations and their shared or specific signaling pathways may lead to the development of novel therapeutic strategies that will improve breast cancer patient outcomes. Herein, we review the current evidence and assess published patient tumor datasets of sorted breast CSC populations for evidence of heightened prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) signaling and activity in these breast CSC populations. PGE2 is a biologically active lipid mediator and in cancer PGE2 promotes tumor progression and poor patient prognosis. Overall, the data suggests that PGE2 signaling is important in propagating breast CSCs by enhancing inherent tumor-initiating capacities. Development of anti-PGE2 signaling therapeutics may be beneficial in inhibiting tumor growth and limiting breast CSC populations.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Melanie R. Power Coombs
- Pathology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
- Biology, Acadia University, Wolfville, NS, Canada
| | - Paola Marcato
- Pathology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
- Microbiology and Immunology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
- *Correspondence: Paola Marcato,
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3
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Dahn ML, Walsh HR, Dean CA, Giacomantonio MA, Fernando W, Murphy JP, Walker OL, Wasson MCD, Gujar S, Pinto DM, Marcato P. Metabolite profiling reveals a connection between aldehyde dehydrogenase 1A3 and GABA metabolism in breast cancer metastasis. Metabolomics 2022; 18:9. [PMID: 34989902 PMCID: PMC8739322 DOI: 10.1007/s11306-021-01864-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2021] [Accepted: 12/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Aldehyde dehydrogenase 1A3 (ALDH1A3) is a cancer stem cell (CSC) marker and in breast cancer it is associated with triple-negative/basal-like subtypes and aggressive disease. Studies on the mechanisms of ALDH1A3 in cancer have primarily focused on gene expression changes induced by the enzyme; however, its effects on metabolism have thus far been unstudied and may reveal novel mechanisms of pathogenesis. OBJECTIVE Determine how ALDH1A3 alters the metabolite profile in breast cancer cells and assess potential impacts. METHOD Triple-negative MDA-MB-231 tumors and cells with manipulated ALDH1A3 levels were assessed by HPLC-MS metabolomics and metabolite data was integrated with transcriptome data. Mice harboring MDA-MB-231 tumors with or without altered ALDH1A3 expression were treated with γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) or placebo. Effects on tumor growth, and lungs and brain metastasis were quantified by staining of fixed thin sections and quantitative PCR. Breast cancer patient datasets from TCGA, METABRIC and GEO were used to assess the co-expression of GABA pathway genes with ALDH1A3. RESULTS Integrated metabolomic and transcriptome data identified GABA metabolism as a primary dysregulated pathway in ALDH1A3 expressing breast tumors. Both ALDH1A3 and GABA treatment enhanced metastasis. Patient dataset analyses revealed expression association between ALDH1A3 and GABA pathway genes and corresponding increased risk of metastasis. CONCLUSION This study revealed a novel pathway affected by ALDH1A3, GABA metabolism. Like ALDH1A3 expression, GABA treatment promotes metastasis. Given the clinical use of GABA mimics to relieve chemotherapy-induced peripheral nerve pain, further study of the effects of GABA in breast cancer progression is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margaret L Dahn
- Department of Pathology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Hayley R Walsh
- Department of Pathology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Cheryl A Dean
- Department of Pathology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | | | | | - J Patrick Murphy
- Department of Pathology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
- Department of Biology, University of Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown, PEI, Canada
| | - Olivia L Walker
- Department of Pathology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | | | - Shashi Gujar
- Department of Pathology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Devanand M Pinto
- Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre, National Research Council of Canada, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Paola Marcato
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada.
- Department of Pathology, Dalhousie University, Rm 11C1, 5850 College Street, Halifax, NS, B3H 4R2, Canada.
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Cruickshank BM, Wasson MCD, Brown JM, Fernando W, Venkatesh J, Walker OL, Morales-Quintanilla F, Dahn ML, Vidovic D, Dean CA, VanIderstine C, Dellaire G, Marcato P. LncRNA PART1 Promotes Proliferation and Migration, Is Associated with Cancer Stem Cells, and Alters the miRNA Landscape in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13112644. [PMID: 34072264 PMCID: PMC8198907 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13112644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2021] [Revised: 05/22/2021] [Accepted: 05/25/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Triple-negative breast cancers (TNBCs) are aggressive, lack targeted therapies and are enriched in cancer stem cells (CSCs). Novel therapies which target CSCs within these tumors would likely lead to improved outcomes for TNBC patients. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are potential therapeutic targets for TNBC and CSCs. We demonstrate that lncRNA prostate androgen regulated transcript 1 (PART1) is enriched in TNBCs and in Aldefluorhigh CSCs, and is associated with worse outcomes among basal-like breast cancer patients. Although PART1 is androgen inducible in breast cancer cells, analysis of patient tumors indicates its androgen regulation has minimal clinical impact. Knockdown of PART1 in TNBC cell lines and a patient-derived xenograft decreased cell proliferation, migration, tumor growth, and mammosphere formation potential. Transcriptome analyses revealed that the lncRNA affects expression of hundreds of genes (e.g., myosin-Va, MYO5A; zinc fingers and homeoboxes protein 2, ZHX2). MiRNA 4.0 GeneChip and TaqMan assays identified multiple miRNAs that are regulated by cytoplasmic PART1, including miR-190a-3p, miR-937-5p, miR-22-5p, miR-30b-3p, and miR-6870-5p. We confirmed the novel interaction between PART1 and miR-937-5p. In general, miRNAs altered by PART1 were less abundant than PART1, potentially leading to cell line-specific effects in terms miRNA-PART1 interactions and gene regulation. Together, the altered miRNA landscape induced by PART1 explains most of the protein-coding gene regulation changes (e.g., MYO5A) induced by PART1 in TNBC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brianne M. Cruickshank
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada; (B.M.C.); (M.-C.D.W.); (J.M.B.); (W.F.); (J.V.); (O.L.W.); (M.L.D.); (D.V.); (C.A.D.); (C.V.); (G.D.)
| | - Marie-Claire D. Wasson
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada; (B.M.C.); (M.-C.D.W.); (J.M.B.); (W.F.); (J.V.); (O.L.W.); (M.L.D.); (D.V.); (C.A.D.); (C.V.); (G.D.)
| | - Justin M. Brown
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada; (B.M.C.); (M.-C.D.W.); (J.M.B.); (W.F.); (J.V.); (O.L.W.); (M.L.D.); (D.V.); (C.A.D.); (C.V.); (G.D.)
| | - Wasundara Fernando
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada; (B.M.C.); (M.-C.D.W.); (J.M.B.); (W.F.); (J.V.); (O.L.W.); (M.L.D.); (D.V.); (C.A.D.); (C.V.); (G.D.)
| | - Jaganathan Venkatesh
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada; (B.M.C.); (M.-C.D.W.); (J.M.B.); (W.F.); (J.V.); (O.L.W.); (M.L.D.); (D.V.); (C.A.D.); (C.V.); (G.D.)
| | - Olivia L. Walker
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada; (B.M.C.); (M.-C.D.W.); (J.M.B.); (W.F.); (J.V.); (O.L.W.); (M.L.D.); (D.V.); (C.A.D.); (C.V.); (G.D.)
| | | | - Margaret L. Dahn
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada; (B.M.C.); (M.-C.D.W.); (J.M.B.); (W.F.); (J.V.); (O.L.W.); (M.L.D.); (D.V.); (C.A.D.); (C.V.); (G.D.)
| | - Dejan Vidovic
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada; (B.M.C.); (M.-C.D.W.); (J.M.B.); (W.F.); (J.V.); (O.L.W.); (M.L.D.); (D.V.); (C.A.D.); (C.V.); (G.D.)
| | - Cheryl A. Dean
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada; (B.M.C.); (M.-C.D.W.); (J.M.B.); (W.F.); (J.V.); (O.L.W.); (M.L.D.); (D.V.); (C.A.D.); (C.V.); (G.D.)
| | - Carter VanIderstine
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada; (B.M.C.); (M.-C.D.W.); (J.M.B.); (W.F.); (J.V.); (O.L.W.); (M.L.D.); (D.V.); (C.A.D.); (C.V.); (G.D.)
| | - Graham Dellaire
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada; (B.M.C.); (M.-C.D.W.); (J.M.B.); (W.F.); (J.V.); (O.L.W.); (M.L.D.); (D.V.); (C.A.D.); (C.V.); (G.D.)
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada
| | - Paola Marcato
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada; (B.M.C.); (M.-C.D.W.); (J.M.B.); (W.F.); (J.V.); (O.L.W.); (M.L.D.); (D.V.); (C.A.D.); (C.V.); (G.D.)
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-(902)-494-4239
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Sultan M, Nearing JT, Brown JM, Huynh TT, Cruickshank BM, Lamoureaux E, Vidovic D, Dahn ML, Fernando W, Coyle KM, Giacomantonio CA, Langille MGI, Marcato P. An in vivo genome-wide shRNA screen identifies BCL6 as a targetable biomarker of paclitaxel resistance in breast cancer. Mol Oncol 2021; 15:2046-2064. [PMID: 33932086 PMCID: PMC8333778 DOI: 10.1002/1878-0261.12964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [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: 11/04/2020] [Revised: 02/22/2021] [Accepted: 04/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Paclitaxel is a common breast cancer drug; however, some tumors are resistant. The identification of biomarkers for paclitaxel resistance or sensitivity would enable the development of strategies to improve treatment efficacy. A genome-wide in vivo shRNA screen was performed on paclitaxel-treated mice with MDA-MB-231 tumors to identify genes associated with paclitaxel sensitivity or resistance. Gene expression of the top screen hits was associated with tumor response (resistance or sensitivity) among patients who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy containing paclitaxel. We focused our validation on screen hit B-cell lymphoma 6 (BCL6), which is a therapeutic target in cancer but for which no effects on drug response have been reported. Knockdown of BCL6 resulted in increased tumor regression in mice treated with paclitaxel. Similarly, inhibiting BCL6 using a small molecule inhibitor enhanced paclitaxel treatment efficacy both in vitro and in vivo in breast cancer models. Mechanism studies revealed that reduced BCL6 enhances the efficacy of paclitaxel by inducing sustained G1/S arrest, concurrent with increased apoptosis and expression of target gene cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1A. In summary, the genome-wide shRNA knockdown screen has identified BCL6 as a potential targetable resistance biomarker of paclitaxel response in breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Sultan
- Department of Pathology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Jacob T Nearing
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Justin M Brown
- Department of Pathology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Thomas T Huynh
- Department of Pathology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | | | - Emily Lamoureaux
- Department of Pharmacology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Dejan Vidovic
- Department of Pathology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Margaret L Dahn
- Department of Pathology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | | | - Krysta M Coyle
- Department of Pathology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Carman A Giacomantonio
- Department of Pathology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada.,Department of Surgery, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | | | - Paola Marcato
- Department of Pathology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
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6
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Dahn ML, Marcato P. In Vivo Genome-Wide Pooled RNAi Screens in Cancer Cells to Identify Determinants of Chemotherapy/Drug Response. Methods Mol Biol 2021; 2381:189-200. [PMID: 34590277 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-1740-3_10] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Large-scale RNAi screens (i.e., genome-wide arrays and pools) can reveal the essential biological functions of previously uncharacterized genes. Due to the nature of the selection process involved in screens, RNAi screens are also very useful for identifying genes involved in drug responses. The information gained from these screens could be used to predict a cancer patient's response to a specific drug (i.e., precision medicine) or identify anti-cancer drug resistance genes, which could be targeted to improve treatment outcomes. In this capacity, screens have been most often performed in vitro. However, there is limitation to performing these screens in vitro: genes which are required in only an in vivo setting (e.g., rely on the tumor microenvironment for function) will not be identified. As such, it can be desirable to perform RNAi screens in vivo. Here we outline the additional technical details that should be considered for performing genome-wide RNAi drug screens of cancer cells under in vivo conditions (i.e., tumor xenografts).
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Affiliation(s)
- Margaret L Dahn
- Department of Pathology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Paola Marcato
- Department of Pathology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada. .,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada.
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7
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Dahn ML, Marcato P. Targeting the Roots of Recurrence: New Strategies for Eliminating Therapy-Resistant Breast Cancer Stem Cells. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 13:cancers13010054. [PMID: 33379132 PMCID: PMC7795348 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13010054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2020] [Accepted: 12/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Margaret L. Dahn
- Department of Pathology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada;
| | - Paola Marcato
- Department of Pathology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada;
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-(902)-494-4239
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8
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Dahn ML, Dean CA, Jo DB, Coyle KM, Marcato P. Human-specific GAPDH qRT-PCR is an accurate and sensitive method of xenograft metastasis quantification. Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev 2020; 20:398-408. [PMID: 33575432 PMCID: PMC7848707 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2020.12.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2020] [Accepted: 12/22/2020] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
Metastasis is the primary cause of cancer-related mortality. Experimental models that accurately reflect changes in metastatic burden are essential tools for developing treatments and to gain a better understanding of disease. Murine xenograft tumor models mimic the human scenario and provide a platform for metastasis analyses. An ex vivo quantitative method, gaining favor for its ease and accuracy, is quantitative reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR); however, it is currently unclear how well this method correlates with gold-standard histological analysis, and its use has required detection of overexpressed exogenous genes. We have introduced a variation of the qRT-PCR method: human-specific glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) qRT-PCR, which allows quantification of metastasis in xenograft models without the requirement of overexpressed exogenous genes. This makes the method easily amenable to many xenograft models without alteration of the cancer cells. We determined that the method is able to detect a few human cells within abundant mouse lung tissue. Further, the human-specific GAPDH qRT-PCR is more sensitive and correlates with histological analysis in terms of determining relative metastatic burden, suggesting that human-specific GAPDH qRT-PCR could be used as a primary method for quantification of disseminated human cells in murine xenograft models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margaret L Dahn
- Department of Pathology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada
| | - Cheryl A Dean
- Department of Pathology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada
| | - Diana B Jo
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada
| | - Krysta M Coyle
- Department of Pathology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada
| | - Paola Marcato
- Department of Pathology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada
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Bharadwaj AG, Dahn ML, Liu RZ, Colp P, Thomas LN, Holloway RW, Marignani PA, Too CKL, Barnes PJ, Godbout R, Marcato P, Waisman DM. S100A10 Has a Critical Regulatory Function in Mammary Tumor Growth and Metastasis: Insights Using MMTV-PyMT Oncomice and Clinical Patient Sample Analysis. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12123673. [PMID: 33297495 PMCID: PMC7762402 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12123673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2020] [Revised: 12/03/2020] [Accepted: 12/04/2020] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary The key challenges that face patients during breast cancer therapy is the metastatic spread and aggressiveness of the disease. Thus, the goal of current breast cancer research is to discover new therapeutic and diagnostic targets that limit the aggressive spread of the cancer. In this study, we investigated the role of protein S100A10 (p11) in breast tumor growth, progression, and metastasis using mouse cancer models and patient tumor sample analysis. We have demonstrated in our previous studies that p11 is critical for the function of a proteolytic enzyme–plasmin, which aids in the digestion of the tissues surrounding the tumor and allows the escape of the cancer cells from the breast tissue to organs such as the lungs and bone. Here, we present evidence that genetic deletion of p11 results in smaller and less aggressive mammary tumors in mice. We also observed that the cancer spread to the lungs is dramatically reduced in the absence of p11 gene in mice. Subsequent analysis of breast cancer patient tissues showed a correlation between higher p11 expression and both poor survival and aggressive cancer. Abstract S100A10 (p11) is a plasminogen receptor that regulates cellular plasmin generation by cancer cells. In the current study, we used the MMTV-PyMT mouse breast cancer model, patient tumor microarray, and immunohistochemical (IHC) analysis to investigate the role of p11 in oncogenesis. The genetic deletion of p11 resulted in significantly decreased tumor onset, growth rate, and spontaneous pulmonary metastatic burden in the PyMT/p11-KO (knock-out) mice. This phenotype was accompanied by substantial reduction in Ki67 positivity, macrophage infiltration, decreased vascular density in the primary tumors, and decrease in invasive carcinoma and pulmonary metastasis. Surprisingly, IHC analysis of wild-type MMTV-PyMT mice failed to detect p11 expression in the tumors or metastatic tumor cells and loss of p11 did not decrease plasmin generation in the PyMT tumors and cells. Furthermore, tumor cells expressing p11 displayed dramatically reduced lung metastasis when injected into p11-depleted mice, further strengthening the stromal role of p11 in tumor growth and metastasis. Transcriptome analysis of the PyMT tumors from p11-KO mice showed marked reduction in genes such as Areg, Muc1, and S100a8 involved in breast cancer development, progression, and inflammation. The PyMT/p11-KO tumors displayed a remarkable increase in inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin (Il)-6, Il-10, and interferon (Ifn)-γ. Gene expression profiling and IHC of primary breast cancer samples showed that p11 mRNA and protein levels were significantly higher in tumor tissues compared to normal mammary tissue. P11 mRNA expression was significantly associated with poor patient prognosis and significantly elevated in high grade, triple negative (TN) tumors, and tumors with high proliferative index. This is the first study examining the crucial role of p11 in breast tumor development and metastasis, thus emphasizing its potential as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker in breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alamelu G. Bharadwaj
- Department of Pathology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada; (A.G.B.); (M.L.D.); (P.C.); (P.J.B.); (P.M.)
| | - Margaret L. Dahn
- Department of Pathology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada; (A.G.B.); (M.L.D.); (P.C.); (P.J.B.); (P.M.)
| | - Rong-Zong Liu
- Department of Oncology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2Z1, Canada; (R.-Z.L.); (R.G.)
| | - Patricia Colp
- Department of Pathology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada; (A.G.B.); (M.L.D.); (P.C.); (P.J.B.); (P.M.)
| | - Lynn N. Thomas
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada; (L.N.T.); (R.W.H.); (P.A.M.); (C.K.L.T.)
| | - Ryan W. Holloway
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada; (L.N.T.); (R.W.H.); (P.A.M.); (C.K.L.T.)
| | - Paola A. Marignani
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada; (L.N.T.); (R.W.H.); (P.A.M.); (C.K.L.T.)
| | - Catherine K. L. Too
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada; (L.N.T.); (R.W.H.); (P.A.M.); (C.K.L.T.)
| | - Penelope J. Barnes
- Department of Pathology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada; (A.G.B.); (M.L.D.); (P.C.); (P.J.B.); (P.M.)
| | - Roseline Godbout
- Department of Oncology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2Z1, Canada; (R.-Z.L.); (R.G.)
| | - Paola Marcato
- Department of Pathology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada; (A.G.B.); (M.L.D.); (P.C.); (P.J.B.); (P.M.)
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Dalhousie University, NS B3H 4R2, Canada
| | - David M. Waisman
- Department of Pathology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada; (A.G.B.); (M.L.D.); (P.C.); (P.J.B.); (P.M.)
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada; (L.N.T.); (R.W.H.); (P.A.M.); (C.K.L.T.)
- Correspondence:
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Dahn ML, Cruickshank BM, Jackson AJ, Dean C, Holloway RW, Hall SR, Coyle KM, Maillet H, Waisman DM, Goralski KB, Giacomantonio CA, Weaver ICG, Marcato P. Decitabine Response in Breast Cancer Requires Efficient Drug Processing and Is Not Limited by Multidrug Resistance. Mol Cancer Ther 2020; 19:1110-1122. [PMID: 32156786 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-19-0745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2019] [Revised: 01/30/2020] [Accepted: 03/05/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Dysregulation of DNA methylation is an established feature of breast cancers. DNA demethylating therapies like decitabine are proposed for the treatment of triple-negative breast cancers (TNBC) and indicators of response need to be identified. For this purpose, we characterized the effects of decitabine in a panel of 10 breast cancer cell lines and observed a range of sensitivity to decitabine that was not subtype specific. Knockdown of potential key effectors demonstrated the requirement of deoxycytidine kinase (DCK) for decitabine response in breast cancer cells. In treatment-naïve breast tumors, DCK was higher in TNBCs, and DCK levels were sustained or increased post chemotherapy treatment. This suggests that limited DCK levels will not be a barrier to response in patients with TNBC treated with decitabine as a second-line treatment or in a clinical trial. Methylome analysis revealed that genome-wide, region-specific, tumor suppressor gene-specific methylation, and decitabine-induced demethylation did not predict response to decitabine. Gene set enrichment analysis of transcriptome data demonstrated that decitabine induced genes within apoptosis, cell cycle, stress, and immune pathways. Induced genes included those characterized by the viral mimicry response; however, knockdown of key effectors of the pathway did not affect decitabine sensitivity suggesting that breast cancer growth suppression by decitabine is independent of viral mimicry. Finally, taxol-resistant breast cancer cells expressing high levels of multidrug resistance transporter ABCB1 remained sensitive to decitabine, suggesting that the drug could be used as second-line treatment for chemoresistant patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margaret L Dahn
- Department of Pathology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | | | - Ainsleigh J Jackson
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Cheryl Dean
- Department of Pathology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Ryan W Holloway
- Department of Pathology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Steven R Hall
- Department of Pharmacology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Krysta M Coyle
- Department of Pathology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Hillary Maillet
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - David M Waisman
- Department of Pathology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Kerry B Goralski
- Department of Pharmacology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.,College of Pharmacy, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Carman A Giacomantonio
- Department of Pathology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.,Department of Surgery, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Ian C G Weaver
- Department of Pathology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.,Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.,Department of Psychiatry, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.,Brain Repair Centre, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Paola Marcato
- Department of Pathology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. .,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
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