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Mucciolo G, Araos Henríquez J, Jihad M, Pinto Teles S, Manansala JS, Li W, Ashworth S, Lloyd EG, Cheng PSW, Luo W, Anand A, Sawle A, Piskorz A, Biffi G. EGFR-activated myofibroblasts promote metastasis of pancreatic cancer. Cancer Cell 2024; 42:101-118.e11. [PMID: 38157863 DOI: 10.1016/j.ccell.2023.12.002] [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] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2022] [Revised: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) has a dismal prognosis. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are recognized potential therapeutic targets, but poor understanding of these heterogeneous cell populations has limited the development of effective treatment strategies. We previously identified transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) as a main driver of myofibroblastic CAFs (myCAFs). Here, we show that epidermal growth factor receptor/Erb-B2 receptor (EGFR/ERBB2) signaling is induced by TGF-β in myCAFs through an autocrine process mediated by amphiregulin. Inhibition of this EGFR/ERBB2-signaling network in PDAC organoid-derived cultures and mouse models differentially impacts distinct CAF subtypes, providing insights into mechanisms underpinning their heterogeneity. Remarkably, EGFR-activated myCAFs promote PDAC metastasis in mice, unmasking functional significance in myCAF heterogeneity. Finally, analyses of other cancer datasets suggest that these processes might operate in other malignancies. These data provide functional relevance to myCAF heterogeneity and identify a candidate target for preventing tumor invasion in PDAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gianluca Mucciolo
- University of Cambridge, Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre, Robinson way, Cambridge CB2 0RE, UK
| | - Joaquín Araos Henríquez
- University of Cambridge, Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre, Robinson way, Cambridge CB2 0RE, UK
| | - Muntadher Jihad
- University of Cambridge, Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre, Robinson way, Cambridge CB2 0RE, UK
| | - Sara Pinto Teles
- University of Cambridge, Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre, Robinson way, Cambridge CB2 0RE, UK
| | - Judhell S Manansala
- University of Cambridge, Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre, Robinson way, Cambridge CB2 0RE, UK
| | - Wenlong Li
- University of Cambridge, Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre, Robinson way, Cambridge CB2 0RE, UK
| | - Sally Ashworth
- University of Cambridge, Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre, Robinson way, Cambridge CB2 0RE, UK
| | - Eloise G Lloyd
- University of Cambridge, Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre, Robinson way, Cambridge CB2 0RE, UK
| | - Priscilla S W Cheng
- University of Cambridge, Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre, Robinson way, Cambridge CB2 0RE, UK
| | - Weike Luo
- University of Cambridge, Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre, Robinson way, Cambridge CB2 0RE, UK
| | - Akanksha Anand
- University of Cambridge, Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre, Robinson way, Cambridge CB2 0RE, UK
| | - Ashley Sawle
- University of Cambridge, Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre, Robinson way, Cambridge CB2 0RE, UK
| | - Anna Piskorz
- University of Cambridge, Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre, Robinson way, Cambridge CB2 0RE, UK
| | - Giulia Biffi
- University of Cambridge, Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre, Robinson way, Cambridge CB2 0RE, UK.
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Tong Y, Cheng PSW, Or CS, Yue SSK, Siu HC, Ho SL, Law SYK, Tsui WY, Chan D, Ma S, Lee SP, Chan ASY, Chan AS, Yun SW, Hui HS, Yuen ST, Leung SY, Yan HHN. Escape from cell-cell and cell-matrix adhesion dependence underscores disease progression in gastric cancer organoid models. Gut 2023; 72:242-255. [PMID: 35705367 DOI: 10.1136/gutjnl-2022-327121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [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] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2022] [Accepted: 05/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Cell-cell (CC) and cell-matrix (CM) adhesions are essential for epithelial cell survival, yet dissociation-induced apoptosis is frequently circumvented in malignant cells. DESIGN We explored CC and CM dependence in 58 gastric cancer (GC) organoids by withdrawing either ROCK inhibitor, matrix or both to evaluate their tumorigenic potential in terms of apoptosis resistance, correlation with oncogenic driver mutations and clinical behaviour. We performed mechanistic studies to determine the role of diffuse-type GC drivers: ARHGAP fusions, RHOA and CDH1, in modulating CC (CCi) or CM (CMi) adhesion independence. RESULTS 97% of the tumour organoids were CMi, 66% were CCi and 52% were resistant to double withdrawal (CCi/CMi), while normal organoids were neither CMi nor CCi. Clinically, the CCi/CMi phenotype was associated with an infiltrative tumour edge and advanced tumour stage. Moreover, the CCi/CMi transcriptome signature was associated with poor patient survival when applied to three public GC datasets. CCi/CMi and CCi phenotypes were enriched in diffuse-type GC organoids, especially in those with oncogenic driver perturbation of RHO signalling via RHOA mutation or ARHGAP fusions. Inducible knockout of ARHGAP fusions in CCi/CMi tumour organoids led to resensitisation to CC/CM dissociation-induced apoptosis, upregulation of focal adhesion and tight junction genes, partial reversion to a more normal cystic phenotype and inhibited xenograft formation. Normal gastric organoids engineered with CDH1 or RHOA mutations became CMi or CCi, respectively. CONCLUSIONS The CCi/CMi phenotype has a critical role in malignant transformation and tumour progression, offering new mechanistic information on RHO-ROCK pathway inhibition that contributes to GC pathogenicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yin Tong
- Department of Pathology, School of Clinical Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China.,Centre for Oncology and Immunology, Hong Kong Science Park, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Priscilla S W Cheng
- Department of Pathology, School of Clinical Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Chung Sze Or
- Department of Pathology, School of Clinical Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Sarah S K Yue
- Department of Pathology, School of Clinical Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Hoi Cheong Siu
- Department of Pathology, School of Clinical Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Siu Lun Ho
- Department of Pathology, School of Clinical Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Simon Y K Law
- Department of Surgery, School of Clinical Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Wai Yin Tsui
- Department of Pathology, School of Clinical Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Dessy Chan
- Department of Pathology, School of Clinical Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Stephanie Ma
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Siu Po Lee
- Department of Pathology, School of Clinical Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Annie S Y Chan
- Department of Pathology, School of Clinical Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - April S Chan
- Department of Pathology, School of Clinical Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Shui Wa Yun
- Department of Pathology, School of Clinical Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Ho Sang Hui
- Department of Pathology, School of Clinical Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Siu Tsan Yuen
- Department of Pathology, School of Clinical Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China.,Department of Pathology, St. Paul's Hospital, No. 2, Eastern Hosptial Road, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Suet Yi Leung
- Department of Pathology, School of Clinical Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China .,Centre for Oncology and Immunology, Hong Kong Science Park, Hong Kong SAR, China.,The Jockey Club Centre for Clinical Innovation and Discovery, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Helen H N Yan
- Department of Pathology, School of Clinical Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China .,Centre for Oncology and Immunology, Hong Kong Science Park, Hong Kong SAR, China
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