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Zhang Y, Zhu L, Wang X. NEM-Tar: A Probabilistic Graphical Model for Cancer Regulatory Network Inference and Prioritization of Potential Therapeutic Targets From Multi-Omics Data. Front Genet 2021; 12:608042. [PMID: 33968127 PMCID: PMC8100334 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.608042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2020] [Accepted: 03/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Targeted therapy has been widely adopted as an effective treatment strategy to battle against cancer. However, cancers are not single disease entities, but comprising multiple molecularly distinct subtypes, and the heterogeneity nature prevents precise selection of patients for optimized therapy. Dissecting cancer subtype-specific signaling pathways is crucial to pinpointing dysregulated genes for the prioritization of novel therapeutic targets. Nested effects models (NEMs) are a group of graphical models that encode subset relations between observed downstream effects under perturbations to upstream signaling genes, providing a prototype for mapping the inner workings of the cell. In this study, we developed NEM-Tar, which extends the original NEMs to predict drug targets by incorporating causal information of (epi)genetic aberrations for signaling pathway inference. An information theory-based score, weighted information gain (WIG), was proposed to assess the impact of signaling genes on a specific downstream biological process of interest. Subsequently, we conducted simulation studies to compare three inference methods and found that the greedy hill-climbing algorithm demonstrated the highest accuracy and robustness to noise. Furthermore, two case studies were conducted using multi-omics data for colorectal cancer (CRC) and gastric cancer (GC) in the TCGA database. Using NEM-Tar, we inferred signaling networks driving the poor-prognosis subtypes of CRC and GC, respectively. Our model prioritized not only potential individual drug targets such as HER2, for which FDA-approved inhibitors are available but also the combinations of multiple targets potentially useful for the design of combination therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuchen Zhang
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Lina Zhu
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Xin Wang
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.,Key Laboratory of Biochip Technology, Biotech and Health Centre, Shenzhen Research Institute, City University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, China
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2
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GPNMB augments Wnt-1 mediated breast tumor initiation and growth by enhancing PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway signaling and β-catenin activity. Oncogene 2019; 38:5294-5307. [PMID: 30914799 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-019-0793-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2018] [Revised: 03/10/2019] [Accepted: 03/11/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Glycoprotein Nmb (GPNMB) is overexpressed in triple-negative and basal-like breast cancers and its expression is predictive of poor prognosis within this aggressive breast cancer subtype. GPNMB promotes breast cancer growth, invasion, and metastasis; however, its role in mammary tumor initiation remains unknown. To address this question, we overexpressed GPNMB in the mammary epithelium to generate MMTV/GPNMB transgenic mice and crossed these animals to the MMTV/Wnt-1 mouse model, which is known to recapitulate features of human basal breast cancers. We show that GPNMB alone does not display oncogenic properties; however, its expression dramatically accelerates tumor onset in MMTV/Wnt-1 mice. MMTV/Wnt-1 × MMTV/GPNMB bigenic mice also exhibit a significant increase in the growth rate of established primary tumors, which is attributable to increased proliferation and decreased apoptosis. To elucidate molecular mechanisms underpinning the tumor-promoting effects of GPNMB in this context, we interrogated activated pathways in tumors derived from the MMTV/Wnt-1 and MMTV/Wnt-1 × MMTV/GPNMB mice using RPPA analysis. These data revealed that MMTV/Wnt-1 × MMTV/GPNMB bigenic tumors exhibit a pro-growth signature characterized by elevated PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling and increased β-catenin activity. Furthermore, we extended these observations to an independent Wnt-1 expressing model of aggressive breast cancer, and confirmed that GPNMB enhances canonical Wnt pathway activation, as evidenced by increased β-catenin transcriptional activity, in breast cancer cells and tumors co-expressing Wnt-1 and GPNMB. GPNMB-dependent engagement of β-catenin occurred, in part, through AKT activation. Taken together, these data ascribe a novel, pro-growth role for GPNMB in Wnt-1 expressing basal breast cancers.
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3
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Faden DL, Gomez-Casal R, Alvarado D, Duvvuri U. Genomic Correlates of Exceptional Response to ErbB3 Inhibition in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma. JCO Precis Oncol 2019; 3. [PMID: 31440738 DOI: 10.1200/po.18.00174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel L Faden
- Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Boston, MA.,Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
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Abstract
Head and neck cancer presents primarily as head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), a debilitating malignancy fraught with high morbidity, poor survival rates, and limited treatment options. Mounting evidence indicates that the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway plays important roles in the pathobiology of HNSCC. Wnt/β-catenin signaling affects multiple cellular processes that endow cancer cells with the ability to maintain and expand immature stem-like phenotypes, proliferate, extend survival, and acquire aggressive characteristics by adopting mesenchymal traits. A central component of canonical Wnt signaling is β-catenin, which balances its role as a structural component of E-cadherin junctions with its function as a transcriptional coactivator of numerous target genes. Recent genomic characterization of head and neck cancer revealed that while β-catenin is not frequently mutated in HNSCC, its activity is unchecked by more common mutations in genes encoding upstream regulators of β-catenin, NOTCH1, FAT1, and AJUBA. Wnt/β-catenin signaling affects a wide range epigenetic and transcriptional activities, mediated by the interaction of β-catenin with different transcription factors and transcriptional coactivators and corepressors. Furthermore, Wnt/β-catenin functions in a network with many signaling and metabolic pathways that modulate its activity. In addition to its effects on tumor epithelia, β-catenin activity regulates the tumor microenvironment by regulating extracellular matrix remodeling, fibrotic processes, and immune response. These multifunctional oncogenic effects of β-catenin make it an attractive bona fide target for HNSCC therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- K A Alamoud
- 1 Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Boston University School of Dental Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - M A Kukuruzinska
- 1 Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Boston University School of Dental Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
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Li X, Meng Y, Xie C, Zhu J, Wang X, Li Y, Geng S, Wu J, Zhong C, Li M. Diallyl Trisulfide inhibits breast cancer stem cells via suppression of Wnt/β-catenin pathway. J Cell Biochem 2018; 119:4134-4141. [PMID: 29243835 DOI: 10.1002/jcb.26613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2017] [Accepted: 12/07/2017] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Cancer stem cells (CSCs) play a central role in the development of breast cancer. The canonical Wnt/β-catenin signal pathway is critical for maintaining CSCs characteristics. Diallyl trisulfide (DATS), a natural organosulfur compound from the garlic, exhibits effective antitumor properties. However, the role of DATS in regulating breast CSCs activity and the underlying molecular mechanisms remain obscure. In the present study, we reported that DATS efficiently inhibited the viability of breast CSCs as evidenced by reducing turmorspheres formation, decreasing the expression of breast CSCs markers (CD44, ALDH1A1, Nanog, and Oct4), as well as inhibiting proliferation and inducing apoptosis. Furthermore, we showed that DATS downregulated the activity of Wnt/β-catenin pathway, while LiCl-triggered Wnt/β-catenin activation diminished DATS inhibition on breast CSCs. Taken together, our results illustrated that DATS suppressed breast CSCs through inhibiting Wnt/β-catenin pathway activation. These novel findings could provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms of breast CSCs regulation as well as its target intervention and might provide new strategies for preventing and treating breast cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoting Li
- Department of Nutrition and Food Safety, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yu Meng
- Department of Nutrition and Food Safety, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Chunfeng Xie
- Department of Nutrition and Food Safety, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jianyun Zhu
- Department of Nutrition and Food Safety, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xiaoqian Wang
- Department of Nutrition and Food Safety, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yuan Li
- Department of Nutrition and Food Safety, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Shanshan Geng
- Department of Nutrition and Food Safety, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jieshu Wu
- Department of Nutrition and Food Safety, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Caiyun Zhong
- Department of Nutrition and Food Safety, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.,The Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Min Li
- Department of Anatomy, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
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HER2 in Breast Cancer Stemness: A Negative Feedback Loop towards Trastuzumab Resistance. Cancers (Basel) 2017; 9:cancers9050040. [PMID: 28445439 PMCID: PMC5447950 DOI: 10.3390/cancers9050040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2017] [Revised: 04/10/2017] [Accepted: 04/21/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
HER2 receptor tyrosine kinase that is overexpressed in approximately 20% of all breast cancers (BCs) is a poor prognosis factor and a precious target for BC therapy. Trastuzumab is approved by FDA to specifically target HER2 for treating HER2+ BC. However, about 60% of patients with HER2+ breast tumor develop de novo resistance to trastuzumab, partially due to the loss of expression of HER2 extracellular domain on their tumor cells. This is due to shedding/cleavage of HER2 by metalloproteinases (ADAMs and MMPs). HER2 shedding results in the accumulation of intracellular carboxyl-terminal HER2 (p95HER2), which is a common phenomenon in trastuzumab-resistant tumors and is suggested as a predictive marker for trastuzumab resistance. Up-regulation of the metalloproteinases is a poor prognosis factor and is commonly seen in mesenchymal-like cancer stem cells that are risen during epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) of tumor cells. HER2 cleavage during EMT can explain why secondary metastatic tumors with high percentage of mesenchymal-like cancer stem cells are mostly resistant to trastuzumab but still sensitive to lapatinib. Importantly, many studies report HER2 interaction with oncogenic/stemness signaling pathways including TGF-β/Smad, Wnt/β-catenin, Notch, JAK/STAT and Hedgehog. HER2 overexpression promotes EMT and the emergence of cancer stem cell properties in BC. Increased expression and activation of metalloproteinases during EMT leads to proteolytic cleavage and shedding of HER2 receptor, which downregulates HER2 extracellular domain and eventually increases trastuzumab resistance. Here, we review the hypothesis that a negative feedback loop between HER2 and stemness signaling drives resistance of BC to trastuzumab.
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Stache C, Bils C, Fahlbusch R, Flitsch J, Buchfelder M, Stefanits H, Czech T, Gaipl U, Frey B, Buslei R, Hölsken A. Drug priming enhances radiosensitivity of adamantinomatous craniopharyngioma via downregulation of survivin. Neurosurg Focus 2017; 41:E14. [PMID: 27903123 DOI: 10.3171/2016.9.focus16316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE In this study, the authors investigated the underlying mechanisms responsible for high tumor recurrence rates of adamantinomatous craniopharyngioma (ACP) after radiotherapy and developed new targeted treatment protocols to minimize recurrence. ACPs are characterized by the activation of the receptor tyrosine kinase epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), known to mediate radioresistance in various tumor entities. The impact of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) gefitinib or CUDC-101 on radiation-induced cell death and associated regulation of survivin gene expression was evaluated. METHODS The hypothesis that activated EGFR promotes radioresistance in ACP was investigated in vitro using human primary cell cultures of ACP (n = 10). The effects of radiation (12 Gy) and combined radiochemotherapy on radiosensitivity were assessed via cell death analysis using flow cytometry. Changes in target gene expression were analyzed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Survivin, identified in qRT-PCR to be involved in radioresistance of ACP, was manipulated by small interfering RNA (siRNA), followed by proliferation and vitality assays to further clarify its role in ACP biology. Immunohistochemically, survivin expression was assessed in patient tumors used for primary cell cultures. RESULTS In primary human ACP cultures, activation of EGFR resulted in significantly reduced cell death levels after radiotherapy. Treatment with TKIs alone and in combination with radiotherapy increased cell death response remarkably, assessed by flow cytometry. CUDC-101 was significantly more effective than gefitinib. The authors identified regulation of survivin expression after therapeutic intervention as the underlying molecular mechanism of radioresistance in ACP. EGFR activation promoting ACP cell survival and proliferation in vitro is consistent with enhanced survivin gene expression shown by qRT-PCR. TKI treatment, as well as the combination with radiotherapy, reduced survivin levels in vitro. Accordingly, ACP showed reduced cell viability and proliferation after survivin downregulation by siRNA. CONCLUSIONS These results indicate an impact of EGFR signaling on radioresistance in ACP. Inhibition of EGFR activity by means of TKI treatment acts as a radiosensitizer on ACP tumor cells, leading to increased cell death. Additionally, the results emphasize the antiapoptotic and pro-proliferative role of survivin in ACP biology and its regulation by EGFR signaling. The suppression of survivin by treatment with TKI and combined radiotherapy represents a new promising treatment strategy that will be further assessed in in vivo models of ACP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina Stache
- Department of Neuropathology, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany.,Institute of Child Health, University College London, United Kingdom
| | - Christiane Bils
- Department of Neuropathology, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | | | - Jörg Flitsch
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Michael Buchfelder
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Harald Stefanits
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical University of Vienna, Austria; and
| | - Thomas Czech
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical University of Vienna, Austria; and
| | - Udo Gaipl
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Benjamin Frey
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Rolf Buslei
- Department of Neuropathology, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Annett Hölsken
- Department of Neuropathology, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
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Su T, Washington MK, Ness RM, Rex DK, Smalley WE, Ulbright TM, Cai Q, Zheng W, Shrubsole MJ. Comparison of biomarker expression between proximal and distal colorectal adenomas: The Tennessee-Indiana Adenoma Recurrence Study. Mol Carcinog 2016; 56:761-773. [PMID: 27479195 DOI: 10.1002/mc.22533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2016] [Revised: 07/20/2016] [Accepted: 07/29/2016] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
It is unclear if proximal and distal traditional adenomas present with differences in molecular events which contribute to cancer heterogeneity by tumor anatomical subsite. Participants from a colonoscopy-based study (n = 380) were divided into subgroups based on the location of their most advanced adenoma: proximal, distal, or "equivalent both sides." Eight biomarkers in the most advanced adenomas were evaluated by immunohistochemistry (Ki-67, COX-2, TGFβRII, EGFR, β-catenin, cyclin D1, c-Myc) or TUNEL (apoptosis). After an adjustment for pathological features, there were no significant differences between proximal and distal adenomas for any biomarker. Conversely, expression levels did vary by other features, such as their size, villous component, and synchronousness. Large adenomas had higher expression levels of Ki-67(P < 0.001), TGFβRII (P < 0.0001), c-Myc (P < 0.001), and cyclin D1 (P < 0.001) in comparison to small adenomas, and tubulovillous/villous adenomas also were more likely to have similar higher expression levels in comparison to tubular adenomas. Adenoma location is not a major determinant of the expression of these biomarkers outside of other pathological features. This study suggests similarly important roles of Wnt/β-catenin and TGF-β pathways in carcinogenesis in both the proximal and distal colorectum. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy Su
- Division of Epidemiology, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt Epidemiology Center, Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee.,GRECC, Department of Veterans Affairs, Tennessee Valley Healthcare System, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - M Kay Washington
- Department of Pathology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - Reid M Ness
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - Douglas K Rex
- Division of Gastroenterology/Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - Walter E Smalley
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - Thomas M Ulbright
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, Indiana Pathology Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - Qiuyin Cai
- Division of Epidemiology, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt Epidemiology Center, Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee.,GRECC, Department of Veterans Affairs, Tennessee Valley Healthcare System, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - Wei Zheng
- Division of Epidemiology, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt Epidemiology Center, Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee.,GRECC, Department of Veterans Affairs, Tennessee Valley Healthcare System, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - Martha J Shrubsole
- Division of Epidemiology, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt Epidemiology Center, Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee.,GRECC, Department of Veterans Affairs, Tennessee Valley Healthcare System, Nashville, Tennessee
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Aupperlee MD, Zhao Y, Tan YS, Zhu Y, Langohr IM, Kirk EL, Pirone JR, Troester MA, Schwartz RC, Haslam SZ. Puberty-specific promotion of mammary tumorigenesis by a high animal fat diet. Breast Cancer Res 2015; 17:138. [PMID: 26526858 PMCID: PMC4630903 DOI: 10.1186/s13058-015-0646-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2015] [Accepted: 10/15/2015] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Increased animal fat consumption is associated with increased premenopausal breast cancer risk in normal weight, but not overweight, women. This agrees with our previous findings in obesity-resistant BALB/c mice, in which exposure to a high saturated animal fat diet (HFD) from peripuberty through adulthood promoted mammary tumorigenesis. Epidemiologic and animal studies support the importance of puberty as a life stage when diet and environmental exposures affect adult breast cancer risk. In this study, we identified the effects of peripubertal exposure to HFD and investigated its mechanism of enhancing tumorigenesis. METHODS Three-week-old BALB/c mice fed a low-fat diet (LFD) or HFD were subjected to 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA)-induced carcinogenesis. At 9 weeks of age, half the mice on LFD were switched to HFD (LFD-HFD group) and half the mice on HFD were switched to LFD (HFD-LFD group). Tumor gene expression was evaluated in association with diet and tumor latency. RESULTS The peripubertal HFD reduced the latency of DMBA-induced mammary tumors and was associated with tumor characteristics similar to those in mice fed a continuous HFD. Notably, short-latency tumors in both groups shared gene expression characteristics and were more likely to have adenosquamous histology. Both HFD-LFD and continuous HFD tumors showed similar gene expression patterns and early latency. Adult switch from HFD to LFD did not reverse peripubertal HFD tumor promotion. Increased proliferation, hyperplasia, and macrophages were present in mammary glands before tumor development, implicating these as possible effectors of tumor promotion. Despite a significant interaction between pubertal diet and carcinogens in tumor promotion, peripubertal HFD by itself produced persistent macrophage recruitment to mammary glands. CONCLUSIONS In obesity-resistant mice, peripubertal HFD is sufficient to irreversibly promote carcinogen-induced tumorigenesis. Increased macrophage recruitment is likely a contributing factor. These results underscore the importance of early life exposures to increased adult cancer risk and are consistent with findings that an HFD in normal weight premenopausal women leads to increased breast cancer risk. Notably, short-latency tumors occurring after peripubertal HFD had characteristics similar to human basal-like breast cancers that predominantly develop in younger women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark D Aupperlee
- Breast Cancer and the Environment Research Program, Department of Physiology, Michigan State University, Biomedical and Physical Sciences Building, Room 2201, 567 Wilson Road, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA.
| | - Yong Zhao
- Breast Cancer and the Environment Research Program, Department of Physiology, Michigan State University, Biomedical and Physical Sciences Building, Room 2201, 567 Wilson Road, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA.
- Present address: College of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, 266109, People's Republic of China.
| | - Ying Siow Tan
- Breast Cancer and the Environment Research Program, Department of Physiology, Michigan State University, Biomedical and Physical Sciences Building, Room 2201, 567 Wilson Road, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA.
- Present address: Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, 250 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA.
| | - Yirong Zhu
- Breast Cancer and the Environment Research Program, Department of Physiology, Michigan State University, Biomedical and Physical Sciences Building, Room 2201, 567 Wilson Road, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA.
| | - Ingeborg M Langohr
- Department of Pathobiology and Diagnostic Investigation, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA.
- Present address: Department of Pathobiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, 70803, USA.
| | - Erin L Kirk
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
| | - Jason R Pirone
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
| | - Melissa A Troester
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
- Department of Epidemiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
| | - Richard C Schwartz
- Breast Cancer and the Environment Research Program, Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Michigan State University, Biomedical and Physical Sciences Building, Room 2201, 567 Wilson Road, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA.
| | - Sandra Z Haslam
- Breast Cancer and the Environment Research Program, Department of Physiology, Michigan State University, Biomedical and Physical Sciences Building, Room 2201, 567 Wilson Road, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA.
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Botting GM, Rastogi I, Chhabra G, Nlend M, Puri N. Mechanism of Resistance and Novel Targets Mediating Resistance to EGFR and c-Met Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0136155. [PMID: 26301867 PMCID: PMC4547756 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0136155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2014] [Accepted: 07/31/2015] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) against EGFR and c-Met are initially effective when administered individually or in combination to non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. However, the overall efficacies of TKIs are limited due to the development of drug resistance. Therefore, it is important to elucidate mechanisms of EGFR and c-Met TKI resistance in order to develop more effective therapies. Model NSCLC cell lines H1975 and H2170 were used to study the similarities and differences in mechanisms of EGFR/c-Met TKI resistance. H1975 cells are positive for the T790M EGFR mutation, which confers resistance to current EGFR TKI therapies, while H2170 cells are EGFR wild-type. Previously, H2170 cells were made resistant to the EGFR TKI erlotinib and the c-Met TKI SU11274 by exposure to progressively increasing concentrations of TKIs. In H2170 and H1975 TKI-resistant cells, key Wnt and mTOR proteins were found to be differentially modulated. Wnt signaling transducer, active β-catenin was upregulated in TKI-resistant H2170 cells when compared to parental cells. GATA-6, a transcriptional activator of Wnt, was also found to be upregulated in resistant H2170 cells. In H2170 erlotinib resistant cells, upregulation of inactive GSK3β (p-GSK3β) was observed, indicating activation of Wnt and mTOR pathways which are otherwise inhibited by its active form. However, in H1975 cells, Wnt modulators such as active β-catenin, GATA-6 and p-GSK3β were downregulated. Additional results from MTT cell viability assays demonstrated that H1975 cell proliferation was not significantly decreased after Wnt inhibition by XAV939, but combination treatment with everolimus (mTOR inhibitor) and erlotinib resulted in synergistic cell growth inhibition. Thus, in H2170 cells and H1975 cells, simultaneous inhibition of key Wnt or mTOR pathway proteins in addition to EGFR and c-Met may be a promising strategy for overcoming EGFR and c-Met TKI resistance in NSCLC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregory M. Botting
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Illinois College of Medicine, Rockford, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Ichwaku Rastogi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Illinois College of Medicine, Rockford, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Gagan Chhabra
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Illinois College of Medicine, Rockford, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Marie Nlend
- Thermo Fisher Scientific, Rockford, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Neelu Puri
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Illinois College of Medicine, Rockford, Illinois, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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11
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Cuello-Carrión FD, Shortrede JE, Alvarez-Olmedo D, Cayado-Gutiérrez N, Castro GN, Zoppino FCM, Guerrero M, Martinis E, Wuilloud R, Gómez NN, Biaggio V, Orozco J, Gago FE, Ciocca LA, Fanelli MA, Ciocca DR. HER2 and β-catenin protein location: importance in the prognosis of breast cancer patients and their correlation when breast cancer cells suffer stressful situations. Clin Exp Metastasis 2015; 32:151-68. [DOI: 10.1007/s10585-015-9694-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2014] [Accepted: 01/06/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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12
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Brune K, Frank J, Schwingshackl A, Finigan J, Sidhaye VK. Pulmonary epithelial barrier function: some new players and mechanisms. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 2015; 308:L731-45. [PMID: 25637609 DOI: 10.1152/ajplung.00309.2014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2014] [Accepted: 01/27/2015] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The pulmonary epithelium serves as a barrier to prevent access of the inspired luminal contents to the subepithelium. In addition, the epithelium dictates the initial responses of the lung to both infectious and noninfectious stimuli. One mechanism by which the epithelium does this is by coordinating transport of diffusible molecules across the epithelial barrier, both through the cell and between cells. In this review, we will discuss a few emerging paradigms of permeability changes through altered ion transport and paracellular regulation by which the epithelium gates its response to potentially detrimental luminal stimuli. This review is a summary of talks presented during a symposium in Experimental Biology geared toward novel and less recognized methods of epithelial barrier regulation. First, we will discuss mechanisms of dynamic regulation of cell-cell contacts in the context of repetitive exposure to inhaled infectious and noninfectious insults. In the second section, we will briefly discuss mechanisms of transcellular ion homeostasis specifically focused on the role of claudins and paracellular ion-channel regulation in chronic barrier dysfunction. In the next section, we will address transcellular ion transport and highlight the role of Trek-1 in epithelial responses to lung injury. In the final section, we will outline the role of epithelial growth receptor in barrier regulation in baseline, acute lung injury, and airway disease. We will then end with a summary of mechanisms of epithelial control as well as discuss emerging paradigms of the epithelium role in shifting between a structural element that maintains tight cell-cell adhesion to a cell that initiates and participates in immune responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kieran Brune
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - James Frank
- The Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco VA Medical Center, and NCIRE/Veterans Health Research Institute, San Francisco, California
| | - Andreas Schwingshackl
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee
| | - James Finigan
- Division of Oncology, Cancer Center, National Jewish Health, Denver, Colorado
| | - Venkataramana K Sidhaye
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland;
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13
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Schickling BM, England SK, Aykin-Burns N, Norian LA, Leslie KK, Frieden-Korovkina VP. BKCa channel inhibitor modulates the tumorigenic ability of hormone-independent breast cancer cells via the Wnt pathway. Oncol Rep 2014; 33:533-8. [PMID: 25422049 PMCID: PMC4306270 DOI: 10.3892/or.2014.3617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2014] [Accepted: 09/12/2014] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
In breast cancers, the large conductance Ca2+ and voltage sensitive K+ (BKCa) channels have been hypothesized to function as oncoproteins, yet it remains unclear how inhibition of channel activity impacts oncogenesis. We demonstrated herein that iberiotoxin (IbTX), an inhibitor of BKCa channels, differentially modulated the in vitro tumorigenic activities of hormone-independent breast cancer cells. Specifically, in HER-2/neu-overexpressing UACC893 cells and triple‑negative MDA-MB-231 cells, IbTX selectively attenuated anchorage-independent growth with concomitant downregulation of β-catenin as well as total and phosphorylated Akt and HER-2/neu. By contrast, HER-2/neu-overexpressing SK-BR-3 cells were insensitive to IbTX. Molecular analyses showed an absence of β-catenin and a dose-dependent upregulation of total and phosphorylated Akt and HER-2/neu in these cells. Taken together, these studies identify β-catenin as a putative modulator of the inhibitory actions of IbTX in sensitive breast cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sarah K England
- Division of Basic Science Research, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Nukhet Aykin-Burns
- Division of Radiation Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA
| | - Lyse A Norian
- Department of Urology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Kimberly K Leslie
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
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14
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Finigan JH, Vasu VT, Thaikoottathil JV, Mishra R, Shatat MA, Mason RJ, Kern JA. HER2 activation results in β-catenin-dependent changes in pulmonary epithelial permeability. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 2014; 308:L199-207. [PMID: 25326580 DOI: 10.1152/ajplung.00237.2014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The receptor tyrosine kinase human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2) is known to regulate pulmonary epithelial barrier function; however, the mechanisms behind this effect remain unidentified. We hypothesized that HER2 signaling alters the epithelial barrier through an interaction with the adherens junction (AJ) protein β-catenin, leading to dissolution of the AJ. In quiescent pulmonary epithelial cells, HER2 and β-catenin colocalized along the lateral intercellular junction. HER2 activation by the ligand neuregulin-1 was associated with tyrosine phosphorylation of β-catenin, dissociation of β-catenin from E-cadherin, and decreased E-cadherin-mediated cell adhesion. All effects were blocked with the HER2 inhibitor lapatinib. β-Catenin knockdown using shRNA significantly attenuated neuregulin-1-induced decreases in pulmonary epithelial resistance in vitro. Our data indicate that HER2 interacts with β-catenin, leading to dissolution of the AJ, decreased cell-cell adhesion, and disruption of the pulmonary epithelial barrier.
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Affiliation(s)
- James H Finigan
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, National Jewish Health, Denver, Colorado; Division of Oncology, National Jewish Health, Denver, Colorado; Division of Pulmonary Sciences and Critical Care Medicine, University of Colorado, Denver, Colorado
| | - Vihas T Vasu
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, National Jewish Health, Denver, Colorado
| | - Jyoti V Thaikoottathil
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, National Jewish Health, Denver, Colorado
| | - Rangnath Mishra
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, National Jewish Health, Denver, Colorado
| | - Mohammad A Shatat
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Case Western Reserve University and the Louis Stokes Cleveland Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio; and
| | - Robert J Mason
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, National Jewish Health, Denver, Colorado; Division of Pulmonary Sciences and Critical Care Medicine, University of Colorado, Denver, Colorado
| | - Jeffrey A Kern
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, National Jewish Health, Denver, Colorado; Division of Oncology, National Jewish Health, Denver, Colorado; Division of Pulmonary Sciences and Critical Care Medicine, University of Colorado, Denver, Colorado
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15
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Cuello-Carrión FD, Cayado-Gutiérrez N, Natoli AL, Restall C, Anderson RL, Nadin S, Alvarez-Olmedo D, Castro GN, Gago FE, Fanelli MA, Ciocca DR. In MMTV-Her-2/neu transgenic mammary tumors the absence of caveolin-1-/- alters PTEN and NHERF1 but not β-catenin expression. Cell Stress Chaperones 2013; 18:559-67. [PMID: 23397229 PMCID: PMC3745264 DOI: 10.1007/s12192-013-0408-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2012] [Revised: 01/23/2013] [Accepted: 01/24/2013] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
In a recent study, we have shown that in mammary tumors from mice lacking the Cav-1 gene, there are alterations in specific heat shock proteins as well as in tumor development. With this in mind, we have now investigated other proteins in the same mammary mouse tumor model (Her-2/neu expressing mammary tumors from Cav-1 wild type and Cav-1 null mice), to further comprehend the complex tumor-stroma mechanisms involved in regulating stress responses during tumor development. In this tumor model the cancer cells always lacked of Cav-1, so the KO influenced the Cav-1 in the stroma. By immunohistochemistry, we have found a striking co-expression of β-catenin and Her-2/neu in the tumor cells. The absence of Cav-1 in the tumor stroma had no effect on expression or localization of β-catenin and Her-2/neu. Both proteins appeared co-localized at the cell surface during tumor development and progression. Since Her-2/neu activation induces MTA1, we next evaluated MTA1 in the mouse tumors. Although this protein was found in numerous nuclei, the absence of Cav-1 did not alter its expression level. In contrast, significantly more PTEN protein was noted in the tumors lacking Cav-1 in the stroma, with the protein localized mainly in the nuclei. P-Akt levels were relatively low in tumors from both Cav-1 WT and Cav-1 KO mice. There was also an increase in nuclear NHERF1 expression levels in the tumors arising from Cav-1 KO mice. The data obtained in the MMTV-neu model are consistent with a role for Cav-1 in adjacent breast cancer stromal cells in modulating the expression and localization of important proteins implicated in tumor cell behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- F. Darío Cuello-Carrión
- />Laboratory of Oncology, Institute of Experimental Medicine and Biology of Cuyo (IMBECU), Technology and Scientific Center (CCT)-National Research Council of Argentina (CONICET), Ruiz Leal s/n, Parque General San Martín, 5500 Mendoza, Argentina
| | - Niubys Cayado-Gutiérrez
- />Laboratory of Oncology, Institute of Experimental Medicine and Biology of Cuyo (IMBECU), Technology and Scientific Center (CCT)-National Research Council of Argentina (CONICET), Ruiz Leal s/n, Parque General San Martín, 5500 Mendoza, Argentina
| | - Anthony L. Natoli
- />Metastasis Research Laboratory, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Victoria, Australia
| | - Christina Restall
- />Metastasis Research Laboratory, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Victoria, Australia
| | - Robin L. Anderson
- />Metastasis Research Laboratory, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Victoria, Australia
- />Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010 Australia
| | - Silvina Nadin
- />Laboratory of Oncology, Institute of Experimental Medicine and Biology of Cuyo (IMBECU), Technology and Scientific Center (CCT)-National Research Council of Argentina (CONICET), Ruiz Leal s/n, Parque General San Martín, 5500 Mendoza, Argentina
| | - Daiana Alvarez-Olmedo
- />Laboratory of Oncology, Institute of Experimental Medicine and Biology of Cuyo (IMBECU), Technology and Scientific Center (CCT)-National Research Council of Argentina (CONICET), Ruiz Leal s/n, Parque General San Martín, 5500 Mendoza, Argentina
| | - Gisela N. Castro
- />Laboratory of Oncology, Institute of Experimental Medicine and Biology of Cuyo (IMBECU), Technology and Scientific Center (CCT)-National Research Council of Argentina (CONICET), Ruiz Leal s/n, Parque General San Martín, 5500 Mendoza, Argentina
| | - Francisco E. Gago
- />Medical School, National University of Cuyo, and Italian Hospital, Mendoza, Argentina
| | - Mariel A. Fanelli
- />Laboratory of Oncology, Institute of Experimental Medicine and Biology of Cuyo (IMBECU), Technology and Scientific Center (CCT)-National Research Council of Argentina (CONICET), Ruiz Leal s/n, Parque General San Martín, 5500 Mendoza, Argentina
| | - Daniel R. Ciocca
- />Laboratory of Oncology, Institute of Experimental Medicine and Biology of Cuyo (IMBECU), Technology and Scientific Center (CCT)-National Research Council of Argentina (CONICET), Ruiz Leal s/n, Parque General San Martín, 5500 Mendoza, Argentina
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16
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Nigam A. Breast cancer stem cells, pathways and therapeutic perspectives 2011. Indian J Surg 2013; 75:170-80. [PMID: 24426422 PMCID: PMC3689383 DOI: 10.1007/s12262-012-0616-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2011] [Accepted: 06/06/2012] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
The evidence for the existence of a heterogeneous population of cancer stem cells (CSCs) responsible for the initiation and maintenance of cancer has been characterized for several tumors recently. Purification and molecular characterization of normal human mammary stem cells from cultured mammospheres has been achieved, providing evidence supporting a model in which breast tumor heterogeneity is a reflection of a number of CSC-like cells in the tumor. A number of experimental methodologies have been developed to characterize epithelial stem cells, including the expression of cell surface or intracellular markers, mammosphere formation, exclusion of fluorescent dye by a side population, retention of the radionucleotide label, etc. Methodologies have also been successfully employed to identify tumorigenic cells within breast cancers. The most important characteristics of stem cells are the capacity for self-renewal and the regulation of the balance between self-renewal and differentiation. In the mammary gland, signaling pathways, such as Hedgehog (Hh), Wnt/β-catenin, and Notch, play a role in embryogenesis and organogenesis and maintenance of tissues in the adult through regulation of the balance between self-renewal and differentiation of stem cells. Breast TAAs include epitopes from proteins, such as carcinoembryonic antigen and NYBR-1, which are involved in tissue differentiation. Targeting BCSCs may be achieved by a number of approaches such as chemotherapy sensitization of BCSCs, differentiating therapy, targeting stem cell elimination, targeting signaling pathways and drug transporters, and inhibition of regulatory pathways involved in self-renewal. Targeting cells which have the potential to metastasize will be an important aspect of the BCSC field as these are the cells that cause the majority of morbidity and mortality from breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anjana Nigam
- Department of Surgery, Pt.J.N.M.Medical College, Raipur, 492001 CG India
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17
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Arias-Romero LE, Villamar-Cruz O, Huang M, Hoeflich KP, Chernoff J. Pak1 kinase links ErbB2 to β-catenin in transformation of breast epithelial cells. Cancer Res 2013; 73:3671-82. [PMID: 23576562 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-12-4453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
p21-Activated kinase-1 (Pak1) is frequently upregulated in human breast cancer and is required for transformation of mammary epithelial cells by ErbB2. Here, we show that loss of Pak1, but not the closely related Pak2, leads to diminished expression of β-catenin and its target genes. In MMTV-ErbB2 transgenic mice, loss of Pak1 prolonged survival, and mammary tissues of such mice showed loss of β-catenin. Expression of a β-catenin mutant bearing a phospho-mimetic mutation at Ser 675, a specific Pak1 phosphorylation site, restored transformation to ErbB2-positive, Pak1-deficient mammary epithelial cells. Mice bearing xenografts of ErbB2-positive breast cancer cells showed tumor regression when treated with small-molecule inhibitors of Pak or β-catenin, and combined inhibition by both agents was synergistic. These data delineate a signaling pathway from ErbB2 to Pak to β-catenin that is required for efficient transformation of mammary epithelial cells, and suggest new therapeutic strategies in ErbB2-positive breast cancer.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Apoptosis/drug effects
- Apoptosis/genetics
- Blotting, Western
- Breast Neoplasms/genetics
- Breast Neoplasms/metabolism
- Breast Neoplasms/prevention & control
- Cell Line
- Cell Line, Tumor
- Cell Proliferation/drug effects
- Cell Survival/drug effects
- Cell Survival/genetics
- Cell Transformation, Neoplastic/drug effects
- Cell Transformation, Neoplastic/genetics
- Cell Transformation, Neoplastic/metabolism
- Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
- Epithelial Cells/drug effects
- Epithelial Cells/metabolism
- Humans
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred ICR
- Mice, Knockout
- Mice, SCID
- Mice, Transgenic
- Pyrazoles/pharmacology
- Pyrroles/pharmacology
- RNA Interference
- Receptor, ErbB-2/genetics
- Receptor, ErbB-2/metabolism
- Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
- beta Catenin/genetics
- beta Catenin/metabolism
- p21-Activated Kinases/genetics
- p21-Activated Kinases/metabolism
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis E Arias-Romero
- Cancer Biology Program and Department of Pathology, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA 19111, USA.
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18
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Abstract
Breast cancer is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in women with a high incidence of recurrence or treatment failure. Growing evidence suggests that cancer stem cells (CSCs) most likely contribute to tumour progression, spread and therapy failure. However, despite extensive research and the tremendous clinical potential of such cells in possible therapeutic management, the real nature of CSCs remains an enigma. In this review, we discuss the fundamental properties and molecular target of CSCs and focus on recent advances regarding the identification of CSC markers with emphasis on breast cancer and the underlying molecular mechanism of CSC phenotypes. We also discuss experimental evidence of targeting molecular pathways in order to modulate breast CSC behaviour in tumourigenesis and the controversies associated with it that potentially weaken the CSC model in breast cancer and other cancers as well.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jabed Iqbal
- Department of Pathology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore, Singapore.
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19
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Silva RD, Marie SKN, Uno M, Matushita H, Wakamatsu A, Rosemberg S, Oba-Shinjo SM. CTNNB1, AXIN1 and APC expression analysis of different medulloblastoma variants. Clinics (Sao Paulo) 2013; 68:167-72. [PMID: 23525311 PMCID: PMC3584274 DOI: 10.6061/clinics/2013(02)oa08] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2012] [Accepted: 10/15/2012] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES We investigated four components of the Wnt signaling pathway in medulloblastomas. Medulloblastoma is the most common type of malignant pediatric brain tumor, and the Wnt signaling pathway has been shown to be activated in this type of tumor. METHODS Sixty-one medulloblastoma cases were analyzed for β-catenin gene (CTNNB1) mutations, β-catenin protein expression via immunostaining and Wnt signaling pathway-related gene expression. All data were correlated with histological subtypes and patient clinical information. RESULTS CTNNB1 sequencing analysis revealed that 11 out of 61 medulloblastomas harbored missense mutations in residues 32, 33, 34 and 37, which are located in exon 3. These mutations alter the glycogen synthase kinase-3β phosphorylation sites, which participate in β-catenin degradation. No significant differences were observed between mutation status and histological medulloblastoma type, patient age and overall or progression-free survival times. Nuclear β-catenin accumulation, which was observed in 27.9% of the cases, was not associated with the histological type, CTNNB1 mutation status or tumor cell dissemination. The relative expression levels of genes that code for proteins involved in the Wnt signaling pathway (CTNNB1, APC, AXIN1 and WNT1) were also analyzed, but no significant correlations were found. In addition, large-cell variant medulloblastomas presented lower relative CTNNB1 expression as compared to the other tumor variants. CONCLUSIONS A small subset of medulloblastomas carry CTNNB1 mutations with consequent nuclear accumulation of β-catenin. The Wnt signaling pathway plays a role in classic, desmoplastic and extensive nodularity medulloblastoma variants but not in large-cell medulloblastomas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roseli da Silva
- Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Department of Neurology, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
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20
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Lillehoj EP, Kato K, Lu W, Kim KC. Cellular and molecular biology of airway mucins. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2013; 303:139-202. [PMID: 23445810 PMCID: PMC5593132 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-407697-6.00004-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 104] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Airway mucus constitutes a thin layer of airway surface liquid with component macromolecules that covers the luminal surface of the respiratory tract. The major function of mucus is to protect the lungs through mucociliary clearance of inhaled foreign particles and noxious chemicals. Mucus is comprised of water, ions, mucin glycoproteins, and a variety of other macromolecules, some of which possess anti-microbial, anti-protease, and anti-oxidant activities. Mucins comprise the major protein component of mucus and exist as secreted and cell-associated glycoproteins. Secreted, gel-forming mucins are mainly responsible for the viscoelastic property of mucus, which is crucial for effective mucociliary clearance. Cell-associated mucins shield the epithelial surface from pathogens through their extracellular domains and regulate intracellular signaling through their cytoplasmic regions. However, neither the exact structures of mucin glycoproteins, nor the manner through which their expression is regulated, are completely understood. This chapter reviews what is currently known about the cellular and molecular properties of airway mucins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erik P. Lillehoj
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Kosuke Kato
- Center for Inflammation, Translational and Clinical Lung Research and Department of Physiology, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Wenju Lu
- Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Diseases, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, PR China
| | - Kwang C. Kim
- Center for Inflammation, Translational and Clinical Lung Research and Department of Physiology, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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21
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Activation of β-catenin by oncogenic PIK3CA and EGFR promotes resistance to glucose deprivation by inducing a strong antioxidant response. PLoS One 2012; 7:e37526. [PMID: 22662165 PMCID: PMC3360841 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0037526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2011] [Accepted: 04/24/2012] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Glucose is an essential fuel for cell survival and its availability limits aberrant cellular proliferation. We have hypothesized that specific cancer mutations regulate metabolic response(s) to glucose deprivation (GD). By means of somatic knock-in cellular models, we have analyzed the response to glucose deprivation in cells carrying the frequent delE746-A750EGFR, G13DKRAS or E545KPIK3CA cancer alleles. We demonstrate that, in mammary epithelial cells, glucose has an essential antioxidant function and that these cells are very sensitive to GD. Conversely, isogenic cells carrying the delE746-A750EGFR or the E545KPIK3CA, but not the G13DKRAS allele, display high tolerance to GD by stimulating the expression of anti-oxidant genes (MnSOD and catalase). This adaptive transcriptional response is mediated by the activation of WNT/β-catenin and FOXO4 signalling. Our data highlights a new functional synergism between oncogenic EGFR and PIK3CA with WNT/β-catenin conferring high tolerance to oxidative stress generated by nutrient deprivation.
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22
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Najafov A, Seker T, Even I, Hoxhaj G, Selvi O, Ozel DE, Koman A, Birgül-İyison N. MENA is a transcriptional target of the Wnt/beta-catenin pathway. PLoS One 2012; 7:e37013. [PMID: 22615875 PMCID: PMC3355175 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0037013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2012] [Accepted: 04/11/2012] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Wnt/β-catenin signalling pathway plays important roles in embryonic development and carcinogenesis. Overactivation of the pathway is one of the most common driving forces in major cancers such as colorectal and breast cancers. The downstream effectors of the pathway and its regulation of carcinogenesis and metastasis are still not very well understood. In this study, which was based on two genome-wide transcriptomics screens, we identify MENA (ENAH, Mammalian enabled homologue) as a novel transcriptional target of the Wnt/β-catenin signalling pathway. We show that the expression of MENA is upregulated upon overexpression of degradation-resistant β-catenin. Promoters of all mammalian MENA homologues contain putative binding sites for Tcf4 transcription factor – the primary effector of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway and we demonstrate functionality of these Tcf4-binding sites using luciferase reporter assays and overexpression of β-catenin, Tcf4 and dominant-negative Tcf4. In addition, lithium chloride-mediated inhibition of GSK3β also resulted in increase in MENA mRNA levels. Chromatin immunoprecipitation showed direct interaction between β-catenin and MENA promoter in Huh7 and HEK293 cells and also in mouse brain and liver tissues. Moreover, overexpression of Wnt1 and Wnt3a ligands increased MENA mRNA levels. Additionally, knock-down of MENA ortholog in D. melanogaster eyeful and sensitized eye cancer fly models resulted in increased tumor and metastasis formations. In summary, our study identifies MENA as novel nexus for the Wnt/β-catenin and the Notch signalling cascades.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayaz Najafov
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Bogazici University, Istanbul, Turkey.
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23
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Khalil S, Tan GA, Giri DD, Zhou XK, Howe LR. Activation status of Wnt/ß-catenin signaling in normal and neoplastic breast tissues: relationship to HER2/neu expression in human and mouse. PLoS One 2012; 7:e33421. [PMID: 22457761 PMCID: PMC3311643 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0033421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2011] [Accepted: 02/14/2012] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Wnt/ß-catenin signaling is strongly implicated in neoplasia, but the role of this pathway in human breast cancer has been controversial. Here, we examined Wnt/ß-catenin pathway activation as a function of breast cancer progression, and tested for a relationship with HER2/neu expression, using a human tissue microarray comprising benign breast tissues, ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), and invasive carcinomas. Cores were scored for membranous ß-catenin, a key functional component of adherens junctions, and for nucleocytoplasmic ß-catenin, a hallmark of Wnt/ß-catenin pathway activation. Only 82% of benign samples exhibited membrane-associated ß-catenin, indicating a finite frequency of false-negative staining. The frequency of membrane positivity was similar in DCIS samples, but was significantly reduced in carcinomas (45%, P<0.001), consistent with loss of adherens junctions during acquisition of invasiveness. Negative membrane status in cancers correlated with higher grade (P = 0.04) and estrogen receptor-negative status (P = 0.03), both indices of poor prognosis. Unexpectedly, a substantial frequency of nucleocytoplasmic ß-catenin was observed in benign breast tissues (36%), similar to that in carcinomas (35%). Positive-staining basal nuclei observed in benign breast may identify putative stem cells. An increased frequency of nucleocytoplasmic ß-catenin was observed in DCIS tumors (56%), suggesting that pathway activation may be an early event in human breast neoplasia. A correlation was observed between HER2/neu expression and nucleocytoplasmic ß-catenin in node-positive carcinomas (P = 0.02). Furthermore, cytoplasmic ß-catenin was detected in HER2/neu-induced mouse mammary tumors. The Axin2NLSlacZ mouse strain, a previously validated reporter of mammary Wnt/ß-catenin signaling, was utilized to define in vivo transcriptional consequences of HER2/neu-induced ß-catenin accumulation. Discrete hyperplastic foci observed in mammary glands from bigenic MMTV/neu, Axin2NLSlacZ mice, highlighted by robust ß-catenin/TCF signaling, likely represent the earliest stage of mammary intraepithelial neoplasia in MMTV/neu mice. Our study thus provides provocative evidence for Wnt/ß-catenin signaling as an early, HER2/neu-inducible event in breast neoplasia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Khalil
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Grace A. Tan
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Dilip D. Giri
- Department of Pathology, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Xi Kathy Zhou
- Division of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Department of Public Health, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Louise R. Howe
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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24
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Hölsken A, Gebhardt M, Buchfelder M, Fahlbusch R, Blümcke I, Buslei R. EGFR Signaling Regulates Tumor Cell Migration in Craniopharyngiomas. Clin Cancer Res 2011; 17:4367-77. [PMID: 21562037 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-10-2811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Annett Hölsken
- Department of Neuropathology, Hospital of the Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany.
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25
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Incassati A, Chandramouli A, Eelkema R, Cowin P. Key signaling nodes in mammary gland development and cancer: β-catenin. Breast Cancer Res 2010; 12:213. [PMID: 21067528 PMCID: PMC3046427 DOI: 10.1186/bcr2723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 107] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
β-Catenin plays important roles in mammary development and tumorigenesis through its functions in cell adhesion, signal transduction and regulation of cell-context-specific gene expression. Studies in mice have highlighted the critical role of β-catenin signaling for stem cell biology at multiple stages of mammary development. Deregulated β-catenin signaling disturbs stem and progenitor cell dynamics and induces mammary tumors in mice. Recent data showing deregulated β-catenin signaling in metaplastic and basal-type tumors suggest a similar link to reactivated developmental pathways and human breast cancer. The present review will discuss β-catenin as a central transducer of numerous signaling pathways and its role in mammary development and breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela Incassati
- Department of Cell Biology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA.
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26
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Tai W, Mahato R, Cheng K. The role of HER2 in cancer therapy and targeted drug delivery. J Control Release 2010; 146:264-75. [PMID: 20385184 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2010.04.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 363] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2010] [Accepted: 04/05/2010] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
HER2 is highly expressed in a significant proportion of breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and gastric cancer. Since the discovery of its role in tumorigenesis, HER2 has received great attention in cancer research during the past two decades. Successful development of the humanized monoclonal anti-HER2 antibody (Trastuzumab) for the treatment of breast cancer further spurred scientists to develop various HER2 specific antibodies, dimerization inhibitors and kinase inhibitors for cancer therapy. On the other hand, the high expression of HER2 and the accessibility of its extracellular domain make HER2 an ideal target for the targeted delivery of anti-tumor drugs as well as imaging agents. Although there is no natural ligand for HER2, artificial ligands targeting HER2 have been developed and applied in various targeted drug delivery systems. The emphasis of this review is to elucidate the roles of HER2 in cancer therapy and targeted drug delivery. The structure and signal pathway of HER2 will be briefly described. The role of HER2 in tumorigenesis and its relationship with other tumor markers will be discussed. For the HER2 targeted cancer therapy, numerous strategies including the blockage of receptor dimerization, inhibition of the tyrosine kinase activity, and interruption of the downstream signal pathway will be summarized. For the targeted drug delivery to HER2 positive tumor cells, various targeting ligands and their delivery systems will be described in details.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wanyi Tai
- Division of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Missouri-Kansas City, 2464 Charlotte Street, Kansas City, MO 64108, USA
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Zhu H, Zhang G, Wang Y, Xu N, He S, Zhang W, Chen M, Liu M, Quan L, Bai J, Xu N. Inhibition of ErbB2 by Herceptin reduces survivin expression via the ErbB2-beta-catenin/TCF4-survivin pathway in ErbB2-overexpressed breast cancer cells. Cancer Sci 2010; 101:1156-62. [PMID: 20331626 DOI: 10.1111/j.1349-7006.2010.01528.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Overexpression of ErbB2 is associated with poor prognosis in breast cancer. Targeting of ErbB2 is a very common therapeutic strategy in ErbB2-overexpressed breast cancer. Herceptin is the first approved and most widely used agent for ErbB2-targeting therapy in breast cancer. Even though the clinical application has been performed for more than 10 years, the exact mechanism underlying how Herceptin exhibits its effects has not been fully elucidated. In this study, we found that Herceptin could inhibit the expression of survivin in ErbB2-overexpressed cell lines. Overexpression of survivin could abrogate the inhibition of cell growth induced by Herceptin. Herceptin could reduce survivin expression at the transcriptional level. The beta-catenin/T-cell factor (TCF) pathway played a very crucial role in this cascade. We found that Herceptin could reduce tyrosine phosphorylation levels of ErbB2 and beta-catenin. Herceptin treatment induced degradation of beta-catenin protein, resulting in reduced binding affinity of beta-catenin/TCF4 to the promoter region of survivin. When we cross-mutated the TCF4 binding sites in the promoter region of survivin, the reduction of survivin promoter activity almost diminished. Taken together, we showed that Herceptin could inhibit survivin expression through the ErbB2-beta-catenin/TCF4-survivin pathway in ErbB2-overexpressed breast cancer cells. This indicates that there may be a new cascade axis from ErbB2 to survivin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongxia Zhu
- Laboratory of Cell and Molecular Biology, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Beijing, China
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Hu T, Li C. Convergence between Wnt-β-catenin and EGFR signaling in cancer. Mol Cancer 2010; 9:236. [PMID: 20828404 PMCID: PMC2944186 DOI: 10.1186/1476-4598-9-236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 202] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2010] [Accepted: 09/09/2010] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
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Li J, Zimmerman LJ, Park BH, Tabb DL, Liebler DC, Zhang B. Network-assisted protein identification and data interpretation in shotgun proteomics. Mol Syst Biol 2009; 5:303. [PMID: 19690572 PMCID: PMC2736651 DOI: 10.1038/msb.2009.54] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2009] [Accepted: 07/07/2009] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Protein assembly and biological interpretation of the assembled protein lists are critical steps in shotgun proteomics data analysis. Although most biological functions arise from interactions among proteins, current protein assembly pipelines treat proteins as independent entities. Usually, only individual proteins with strong experimental evidence, that is, confident proteins, are reported, whereas many possible proteins of biological interest are eliminated. We have developed a clique-enrichment approach (CEA) to rescue eliminated proteins by incorporating the relationship among proteins as embedded in a protein interaction network. In several data sets tested, CEA increased protein identification by 8–23% with an estimated accuracy of 85%. Rescued proteins were supported by existing literature or transcriptome profiling studies at similar levels as confident proteins and at a significantly higher level than abandoned ones. Applying CEA on a breast cancer data set, rescued proteins coded by well-known breast cancer genes. In addition, CEA generated a network view of the proteins and helped show the modular organization of proteins that may underpin the molecular mechanisms of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Li
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37232-8340, USA
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30
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ErbB4 splice variants Cyt1 and Cyt2 differ by 16 amino acids and exert opposing effects on the mammary epithelium in vivo. Mol Cell Biol 2009; 29:4935-48. [PMID: 19596786 DOI: 10.1128/mcb.01705-08] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Data concerning the prognostic value of ErbB4 in breast cancer and effects on cell growth have varied in published reports, perhaps due to the unknown signaling consequences of expression of the intracellular proteolytic ErbB4 s80(HER4) fragment or due to differing signaling capabilities of alternatively spliced ErbB4 isoforms. One isoform (Cyt1) contains a 16-residue intracellular sequence that is absent from the other (Cyt2). We expressed s80(Cyt1) and s80(Cyt2) in HC11 mammary epithelial cells, finding diametrically opposed effects on the growth and organization of colonies in three-dimensional matrices. Whereas expression of s80(Cyt1) decreased growth and increased the rate of three-dimensional lumen formation, that of s80(Cyt2) increased proliferation without promoting lumen formation. These results were recapitulated in vivo, using doxycycline-inducible, mouse breast-transgenic expression of s80(Cyt1) amd s80(Cyt2). Expression of s80(Cyt1) decreased growth of the mammary ductal epithelium, caused precocious STAT5a activation and lactogenic differentiation, and increased cell surface E-cadherin levels. Remarkably, ductal growth inhibition by s80(Cyt1) occurred simultaneously with lobuloalveolar growth that was unimpeded by s80(Cyt1), suggesting that the response to ErbB4 may be influenced by the epithelial subtype. In contrast, expression of s80(Cyt2) caused epithelial hyperplasia, increased Wnt and nuclear beta-catenin expression, and elevated expression of c-myc and cyclin D1 in the mammary epithelium. These results demonstrate that the Cyt1 and Cyt2 ErbB4 isoforms, differing by only 16 amino acids, exhibit markedly opposing effects on mammary epithelium growth and differentiation.
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Lee HH, Uen YH, Tian YF, Sun CS, Sheu MJ, Kuo HT, Koay LB, Lin CY, Tzeng CC, Cheng CJ, Tang LY, Tsai SL, Wang AHJ. Wnt-1 protein as a prognostic biomarker for hepatitis B-related and hepatitis C-related hepatocellular carcinoma after surgery. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2009; 18:1562-9. [PMID: 19423534 DOI: 10.1158/1055-9965.epi-09-0039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Up-regulation of Wnt-1 protein has been reported in hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related and hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissues and cell lines. It is known to play a fundamental role in signaling cancer progression, whereas its prognostic role in HCC remains unexplored. METHODS As a prognostic biomarker, this study analyzed Wnt-1 protein expression in 63 histology-verified HCC patients receiving curative resection. In each paired tumor and nontumor specimen, Wnt-1 levels were semiquantitatively measured by Western blotting and expressed by tumor/nontumor ratio. The data were further correlated with quantitative real-time PCR as well as with beta-catenin and E-cadherin expression by immunohistochemistry. Cumulative tumor recurrence-free survival curves were constructed using the Kaplan-Meier method and compared by the log-rank test. RESULTS The results showed that 26 (group I) and 37 (group II) HCC patients had an expression ratio of Wnt-1 > or =1.5 and <1.5, respectively. The amount of Wnt-1 estimated by tumor/nontumor ratio correlated with the results by quantitative real-time PCR. High tumor Wnt-1 expression correlated with enhanced nuclear beta-catenin accumulation, diminished membranous E-cadherin expression, and increased tumor recurrence after curative tumor resection. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that Wnt-1 may be used as a predisposing risk factor for HCC recurrence. The use of tumor Wnt-1 as prognostic biomarker may identify patients with HBV- and/or HCV-related HCC patients with a high risk of tumor recurrence who may then benefit from further intensive therapy after surgery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao-Hsien Lee
- Department of Medical Research, Chi-Mei Medical Center, Tainan 710, Taiwan
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Bitler BG, Menzl I, Huerta CL, Sands B, Knowlton W, Chang A, Schroeder JA. Intracellular MUC1 peptides inhibit cancer progression. Clin Cancer Res 2009; 15:100-9. [PMID: 19118037 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-08-1745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE During cancer progression, the oncoprotein MUC1 binds beta-catenin while simultaneously inhibiting the degradation of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), resulting in enhanced transformation and metastasis. The purpose of this study was to design a peptide-based therapy that would block these intracellular protein-protein interactions as a treatment for metastatic breast cancer. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN The amino acid residues responsible for these interactions lie in tandem in the cytoplasmic domain of MUC1, and we have targeted this sequence to produce a MUC1 peptide that blocks the protumorigenic functions of MUC1. We designed the MUC1 inhibitory peptide (MIP) to block the intracellular interactions between MUC1/beta-catenin and MUC1/EGFR. To allow for cellular uptake we synthesized MIP adjacent to the protein transduction domain, PTD4 (PMIP). RESULTS We have found that PMIP acts in a dominant-negative fashion, blocking both MUC1/beta-catenin and MUC1/EGFR interactions. In addition, PMIP induces ligand-dependent reduction of EGFR levels. These effects correspond to a significant reduction in proliferation, migration, and invasion of metastatic breast cancer cells in vitro, and inhibition of tumor growth and recurrence in an established MDA-MB-231 immunocompromised (SCID) mouse model. Importantly, PMIP also inhibits genetically driven breast cancer progression, as injection of tumor-bearing MMTV-pyV mT transgenic mice with PMIP results in tumor regression and a significant inhibition of tumor growth rate. CONCLUSIONS These data show that intracellular MUC1 peptides possess significant antitumor activity and have important clinical applications in the treatment of cancer.
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Poh TW, Bradley JM, Mukherjee P, Gendler SJ. Lack of Muc1-regulated beta-catenin stability results in aberrant expansion of CD11b+Gr1+ myeloid-derived suppressor cells from the bone marrow. Cancer Res 2009; 69:3554-62. [PMID: 19351842 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-08-3806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) are a heterogeneous population of myeloid cells that inhibit T-cell activity and contribute to the immune suppression characteristic of most tumors. We discovered that bone marrow (BM) progenitor cells from the Muc1 knockout (KO) mice differentiated into CD11b(+)Gr1(+) MDSCs in vitro under granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor and interleukin-4 signaling. MUC1 is a tumor-associated mucin and its cytoplasmic tail (MUC1-CT) can regulate beta-catenin to promote oncogenesis. Given the importance of beta-catenin in hematopoiesis, we hypothesized that the MUC1 regulation of beta-catenin is important for MDSC development. Our current study shows that the aberrant development of BM progenitors into CD11b(+)Gr1(+) MDSCs is dependent on the down-regulation of beta-catenin levels that occurs in the absence of Muc1. In light of this, KO mice showed enhanced EL4 tumor growth and were able to better tolerate allogeneic BM185 tumor growth, with an accumulation of CD11b(+)Gr1(+) cells in the blood and tumor-draining lymph nodes. WT mice were able to similarly tolerate allogeneic tumor growth when they were injected with CD11b(+)Gr1(+) cells from tumor-bearing KO mice, suggesting that tolerance of allogeneic tumors is dependent on MDSC-mediated immune suppression. This further delineates the ability of Muc1 to control MDSC development, which could directly affect tumorigenesis. Knowledge of the biology by which Muc1 regulates the development of myeloid progenitors into MDSCs would also be very useful in enhancing the efficacy of cancer vaccines in the face of tumor immune suppression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tze Wei Poh
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Mayo Clinic Arizona, Scottsdale, Arizona 85259, USA
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34
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Morrison BJ, Andera L, Reynolds BA, Ralph SJ, Neuzil J. Future use of mitocans against tumour-initiating cells? Mol Nutr Food Res 2009; 53:147-53. [DOI: 10.1002/mnfr.200800254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
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35
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Guha U, Chaerkady R, Marimuthu A, Patterson AS, Kashyap MK, Harsha HC, Sato M, Bader JS, Lash AE, Minna JD, Pandey A, Varmus HE. Comparisons of tyrosine phosphorylated proteins in cells expressing lung cancer-specific alleles of EGFR and KRAS. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2008; 105:14112-7. [PMID: 18776048 PMCID: PMC2531065 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0806158105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
We have used unbiased phosphoproteomic approaches, based on quantitative mass spectrometry using stable isotope labeling with amino acids in cell culture (SILAC), to identify tyrosine phosphorylated proteins in isogenic human bronchial epithelial cells (HBECs) and human lung adenocarcinoma cell lines, expressing either of the two mutant alleles of EGFR (L858R and Del E746-A750), or a mutant KRAS allele, which are common in human lung adenocarcinomas. Tyrosine phosphorylation of signaling molecules was greater in HBECs expressing the mutant EGFRs than in cells expressing WT EGFR or mutant KRAS. Receptor tyrosine kinases (such as EGFR, ERBB2, MET, and IGF1R), and Mig-6, an inhibitor of EGFR signaling, were more phosphorylated in HBECs expressing mutant EGFR than in cells expressing WT EGFR or mutant RAS. Phosphorylation of some proteins differed in the two EGFR mutant-expressing cells; for example, some cell junction proteins (beta-catenin, plakoglobin, and E-cadherin) were more phosphorylated in HBECs expressing L858R EGFR than in cells expressing Del EGFR. There were also differences in degree of phosphorylation at individual tyrosine sites within a protein; for example, a previously uncharacterized phosphorylation site in the nucleotide-binding loop of the kinase domains of EGFR (Y727), ERBB2 (Y735), or ERBB4 (Y733), is phosphorylated significantly more in HBECs expressing the deletion mutant than in cells expressing the wild type or L858R EGFR. Signaling molecules not previously implicated in ERBB signaling, such as polymerase transcript release factor (PTRF), were also phosphorylated in cells expressing mutant EGFR. Bayesian network analysis of these and other datasets revealed that PTRF might be a potentially important component of the ERBB signaling network.
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Affiliation(s)
- Udayan Guha
- *Programs in Cancer Biology and Genetics, and
- †To whom correspondence may be addressed. E-mail: or
| | - Raghothama Chaerkady
- ‡McKusick-Nathans Institute for Genetic Medicine and
- Departments of §Biological Chemistry and Oncology, and
- ¶Institute of Bioinformatics, Bangalore 560066, India;
| | - Arivusudar Marimuthu
- ‡McKusick-Nathans Institute for Genetic Medicine and
- Departments of §Biological Chemistry and Oncology, and
- ¶Institute of Bioinformatics, Bangalore 560066, India;
| | - A. Scott Patterson
- ‖Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205;
| | - Manoj K. Kashyap
- ‡McKusick-Nathans Institute for Genetic Medicine and
- Departments of §Biological Chemistry and Oncology, and
- ¶Institute of Bioinformatics, Bangalore 560066, India;
| | - H. C. Harsha
- ‡McKusick-Nathans Institute for Genetic Medicine and
- Departments of §Biological Chemistry and Oncology, and
- ¶Institute of Bioinformatics, Bangalore 560066, India;
| | - Mitsuo Sato
- **Department of Clinical Oncology and Chemotherapy, Nagoya University School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan 466-8550; and
| | - Joel S. Bader
- ‖Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205;
| | - Alex E. Lash
- ††Comptational Biology, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065;
| | - John D. Minna
- ‡‡Hamon Center for Therapeutic Oncology Research, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390
| | - Akhilesh Pandey
- ‡McKusick-Nathans Institute for Genetic Medicine and
- Departments of §Biological Chemistry and Oncology, and
| | - Harold E. Varmus
- *Programs in Cancer Biology and Genetics, and
- †To whom correspondence may be addressed. E-mail: or
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Morrison BJ, Schmidt CW, Lakhani SR, Reynolds BA, Lopez JA. Breast cancer stem cells: implications for therapy of breast cancer. Breast Cancer Res 2008; 10:210. [PMID: 18671830 PMCID: PMC2575525 DOI: 10.1186/bcr2111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 95] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The concept of cancer stem cells responsible for tumour origin, maintenance, and resistance to treatment has gained prominence in the field of breast cancer research. The therapeutic targeting of these cells has the potential to eliminate residual disease and may become an important component of a multimodality treatment. Recent improvements in immunotherapy targeting of tumour-associated antigens have advanced the prospect of targeting breast cancer stem cells, an approach that might lead to more meaningful clinical remissions. Here, we review the role of stem cells in the healthy breast, the role of breast cancer stem cells in disease, and the potential to target these cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian J Morrison
- Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Royal Brisbane Hospital Post Office, Brisbane 4029, Australia.
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Anti-sense morpholino oligonucleotide assay shows critical involvement for NF-kappaB activation in the production of Wnt-1 protein by HepG2 cells: oncology implications. J Biomed Sci 2008; 15:633-43. [PMID: 18461473 DOI: 10.1007/s11373-008-9251-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2007] [Accepted: 04/08/2008] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The link of proto-oncogenic protein Wnt-1 production with NF-kappaB activation has been functionally demonstrated in PC12 cells, a rat pheochromocytoma cell line of neural crest lineage, while it is not yet verified in human cells. The link can be indirectly supported in our previous report that functional proteomics identifies enhanced expression of NF-kappaB-associated Wnt-1 production in human hepatocellular carcinoma tissues. This study aimed to further validate this link in human cells using anti-sense strategy. The effects of sequence-specific anti-sense morpholino oligonucleotides (ONs) targeting against pre-mRNA sequences of human p50 and p65 subunits of NF-kappaB as well as Wnt-1 genes were investigated. It revealed that all the three morpholino ONs inhibited NF-kappaB activation in human hepatoblastoma cell line HepG2 cells along with decreased Wnt-1 production. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assay ascertained the direct binding of NF-kappaB-p50 to the Wnt-1 promoter. Additionally, anti-P50 and anti-P65 morpholino ONs also repressed the phosphorylation of Ikappa Balpha which temporarily correlated with the inhibition of NF-kappaB activation accompanied by decreased Wnt-1 production by HepG2 cells. In summary, NF-kappaB activation is critically involved in the production of Wnt-1 by HepG2 cells. These results may have important oncology implications in treating patients with NF-kappaB-associated Wnt-1-producing cancers.
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Turashvili G, Bouchal J, Burkadze G, Kolar Z. Wnt Signaling Pathway in Mammary Gland Development and Carcinogenesis. Pathobiology 2007; 73:213-23. [PMID: 17314492 DOI: 10.1159/000098207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 146] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2006] [Accepted: 10/03/2006] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The signaling pathway mediated by Wingless-type (Wnt) proteins is highly conserved in evolution. This pivotal pathway is known to regulate cell fate decisions, cell proliferation, morphology, migration, apoptosis, differentiation and stem cell self-renewal. It currently includes the canonical or Wnt/beta-catenin pathway in which Wnt proteins bind to 'frizzled' receptors, which leads to downstream activation of gene transcription by beta-catenin. Second, the noncanonical or beta-catenin-independent pathways are now known to be mediated by three possible mechanisms: (1) the Wnt/Ca(2+) pathway, (2) the Wnt/G protein signaling pathway, and (3) the Wnt/PCP or planar cell polarity pathway. Wnt signaling is implicated at several stages of mammary gland growth and differentiation, and possibly in the involution of mammary gland following lactation. Recent evidence suggests the role of Wnt signaling in human breast cancer involves elevated levels of nuclear and/or cytoplasmic beta-catenin using immunohistochemistry, overexpression or downregulation of specific Wnt proteins, overexpression of CKII and sFRP4, downregulation of WIF-1 and sFRP1, as well as amplification of DVL-1. Further research is required to determine how Wnt signaling is involved in the development of different histological types of breast cancer and whether it promotes the viability of cancer stem cells or not.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gulisa Turashvili
- Laboratory of Molecular Pathology, Institute of Pathology, Palacky University, Olomouc, Czech Republic.
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39
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Dearth RK, Cui X, Kim HJ, Kuiatse I, Lawrence NA, Zhang X, Divisova J, Britton OL, Mohsin S, Allred DC, Hadsell DL, Lee AV. Mammary tumorigenesis and metastasis caused by overexpression of insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS-1) or IRS-2. Mol Cell Biol 2006; 26:9302-14. [PMID: 17030631 PMCID: PMC1698542 DOI: 10.1128/mcb.00260-06] [Citation(s) in RCA: 126] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Insulin receptor substrates (IRSs) are signaling adaptors that play a major role in the metabolic and mitogenic actions of insulin and insulin-like growth factors. Reports have recently noted increased levels, or activity, of IRSs in many human cancers, and some have linked this to poor patient prognosis. We found that overexpressed IRS-1 was constitutively phosphorylated in vitro and in vivo and that transgenic mice overexpressing IRS-1 or IRS-2 in the mammary gland showed progressive mammary hyperplasia, tumorigenesis, and metastasis. Tumors showed extensive squamous differentiation, a phenotype commonly seen with activation of the canonical beta-catenin signaling pathway. Consistent with this, IRSs were found to bind beta-catenin in vitro and in vivo. IRS-induced tumorigenesis is unique, given that the IRSs are signaling adaptors with no intrinsic kinase activity, and this supports a growing literature indicating a role for IRSs in cancer. This study defines IRSs as oncogene proteins in vivo and provides new models to develop inhibitors against IRSs for anticancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert K Dearth
- Breast Cancer, Baylor College of Medicine and Methodist Hospital, Department of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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Hiscox S, Jiang WG, Obermeier K, Taylor K, Morgan L, Burmi R, Barrow D, Nicholson RI. Tamoxifen resistance in MCF7 cells promotes EMT-like behaviour and involves modulation of beta-catenin phosphorylation. Int J Cancer 2006; 118:290-301. [PMID: 16080193 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.21355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 214] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
We have previously demonstrated that, following acquisition of endocrine resistance, breast cancer cells display an altered growth rate together with increased aggressive behaviour in vitro. Since dysfunctional cell-cell adhesive interactions can promote an aggressive phenotype, we investigated the integrity of this protein complex in our breast cancer model of tamoxifen resistance. In culture, tamoxifen-resistant MCF7 (TamR) cells grew as loosely packed colonies with loss of cell-cell junctions and demonstrated altered morphology characteristic of cells undergoing epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Neutralising E-cadherin function promoted the invasion and inhibited the aggregation of endocrine-sensitive MCF7 cells, whilst having little effect on the behaviour of TamR cells. Additionally, TamR cells had increased levels of tyrosine-phosphorylated beta-catenin, whilst serine/threonine-phosphorylated beta-catenin was decreased. These cells also displayed loss of association between beta-catenin and E-cadherin, increased cytoplasmic and nuclear beta-catenin and elevated transcription of beta-catenin target genes known to be involved in tumour progression and EMT. Inhibition of EGFR kinase activity in TamR cells reduced beta-catenin tyrosine phosphorylation, increased beta-catenin-E-cadherin association and promoted cell-cell adhesion. In such treated cells, the association of beta-catenin with Lef-1 and the transcription of c-myc, cyclin-D1, CD44 and COX-2 were also reduced. These results suggest that homotypic adhesion in tamoxifen-resistant breast cancer cells is dysfunctional due to EGFR-driven modulation of the phosphorylation status of beta-catenin and may contribute to an enhanced aggressive phenotype and transition towards a mesenchymal phenotype in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen Hiscox
- Tenovus Centre for Cancer Research, Welsh School of Pharmacy, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom.
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41
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Sell S. Cancer Stem Cells and Differentiation Therapy. Tumour Biol 2006; 27:59-70. [PMID: 16557043 DOI: 10.1159/000092323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2005] [Accepted: 11/08/2005] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancers arise from stem cells in adult tissues and the cells that make up a cancer reflect the same stem cell --> progeny --> differentiation progression observed in normal tissues. All adult tissues are made up of lineages of cells consisting of tissue stem cells and their progeny (transit-amplifying cells and terminally differentiated cells); the number of new cells produced in normal tissue lineages roughly equals the number of old cells that die. Cancers result from maturation arrest of this process, resulting in continued proliferation of cells and a failure to differentiate and die. The biological behavior, morphological appearance, and clinical course of a cancer depend on the stage of maturation at which the genetic lesion is activated. This review makes a comparison of cancer cells to embryonic stem cells and to adult tis sue stem cells while addressing two basic questions: (1) Where do cancers come from?, and (2) How do cancers grow? The answers to these questions are critical to the development of approaches to the detection, prevention, and treatment of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stewart Sell
- New York State Health Department, Wadsworth Center and Ordway Research Institute, Albany, NY 12201, USA.
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Lee CJ, Chan WI, Scotting PJ. CIC, a gene involved in cerebellar development and ErbB signaling, is significantly expressed in medulloblastomas. J Neurooncol 2005; 73:101-8. [PMID: 15981098 DOI: 10.1007/s11060-004-4598-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
In children, the majority of brain tumors arise in the cerebellum. Medulloblastomas, the most common of these, are believed to originate from the granule cell lineage. We have recently identified a mammalian gene, capicua (Cic), the ortholog of a Drosophila gene implicated in c-erbB (Egfr) signaling, which is predominantly expressed during mouse granule cell development. Its expression in medulloblastoma is therefore of particular interest. In the present study the expression of human CIC in medulloblastoma was analyzed. In silico SAGE analysis demonstrated that medulloblastomas exhibited the highest level of CIC expression and expression was most common in tumors of the CNS in general. RT-PCR and in situ hybridization verified the expression of CIC in tumor cells, although the level of expression varied between different medulloblastoma subtypes. The expression of CIC did not correlate with other markers, such as neurofilament, GFAP and Mib-1. In postnatally developing cerebellum, in silico analysis and in situ hybridization both indicated a strong correlation between Cic expression and the maturation profile of cerebellar granule cell precursors. Expression of CIC is therefore a feature shared between immature granule cells and the tumors derived from them. Cic has been implicated as a mediator of ErbB signaling and this pathway has been associated with a poor prognosis for medulloblastomas. Therefore, further analysis of the role of Cic is likely to provide valuable insight into the biology of these tumors. Additionally, study of genes such as CIC should provide objective criteria by which, in combination with other markers and clinical data, to categorize these tumors into subgroups that might allow better allocation into specific treatment regimes.
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Chow LWC, Loo WTY, Toi M. Current directions for COX-2 inhibition in breast cancer. Biomed Pharmacother 2005; 59 Suppl 2:S281-4. [PMID: 16507393 DOI: 10.1016/s0753-3322(05)80046-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Chemotherapy is effective against breast cancer. COX-2 has been implicated in the progression and angiogenesis of cancers. Celecoxib, a cyclooxygenase type 2 (COX-2) inhibitor, has both apoptotic and antiangiogenic activities, and may be of use in treatment of breast tumors which overexpress the COX-2 enzyme. Preliminary clinical trials have shown that the combination of chemotherapy with celecoxib has minimal additional toxicity and it may enhance the effects of the chemotherapy. Beside chemotherapy, celecoxib may promulgate the effect of aromatase inhibitor in breast cancer cells. Animal studies have shown that there are fewer and smaller tumors treated by combining exemestane and celecoxib. Larger clinical trials should be initiated to study the potential anti-cancer effects of celecoxib in breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- L W C Chow
- Department Hung Chao Hong Integrated Center for Breast Diseases, University of Hong Kong Medical Center, Pokfulam, China.
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Abstract
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are generally prescribed to ameliorate symptoms associated with acute pain and chronic inflammatory diseases such as arthritis. Recent epidemiologic studies and clinical trials indicate that use of NSAIDs and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 selective inhibitors are associated with a reduced risk of certain malignancies, especially gastrointestinal cancer. The cyclooxygenase enzymes are the best known targets of NSAIDs; this diverse class of compounds blocks conversion of arachidonic acid to prostanoids. Prostaglandins and other eicosanoids derived from COX-1 and COX-2 are involved in a variety of physiologic and pathologic processes in the gastrointestinal tract. Recent efforts to identify the molecular mechanisms by which COX-2-derived prostanoids exert their proneoplastic effects have provided a rationale for the possible use of NSAIDs alone or in a combination with conventional or experimental anticancer agents for the treatment or prevention of gastrointestinal cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dingzhi Wang
- Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
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Abstract
The maintenance of vascular function is of paramount importance to an organism's existence. PECAM-1 (CD31), first thought of as a marker for endothelia, has been shown to be an important scaffolding molecule involved in several signaling pathways. Recent studies have demonstrated an even wider range of functions for this versatile molecule including participation in maintenance of adherens junction integrity and permeability, organization of the intermediate filament cytoskeleton, regulation of catenin localization and transcriptional activities, participation in STAT isoform signaling, control of apoptotic events, and modulation of cardiac cushion development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neta Ilan
- Department of Vascular Biology, Rappaport Family Institute for Research in the Medical Sciences, Haifa, Israel
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Chung GG, Zerkowski MP, Ocal IT, Dolled-Filhart M, Kang JY, Psyrri A, Camp RL, Rimm DL. beta-Catenin and p53 analyses of a breast carcinoma tissue microarray. Cancer 2004; 100:2084-92. [PMID: 15139049 DOI: 10.1002/cncr.20232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Aberrant activation of the beta-catenin signaling pathway has been implicated in several malignancies, including breast carcinoma. Recently, it was shown that p53 down-regulated beta-catenin in a complex fashion. The authors examined the expression of beta-catenin, key members of its signaling pathway, and p53 in a large cohort of breast tumors. METHODS The authors conducted an immunohistochemical analysis of the expression of beta-catenin, upstream modulators (HER-2/neu, Met, and epidermal growth factor receptor [EGFR]), downstream target genes (cyclin D1 and matrix metalloproteinase-7 [MMP7]), and p53 on a tissue microarray of 346 lymph node-negative breast carcinomas. The results were correlated with one another and with standard clinicopathologic parameters. RESULTS beta-Catenin expression was observed in the membrane and/or cytoplasm without any significant nuclear expression. HER-2/neu and EGFR were observed on the membrane in 21% and 6% of tumors, respectively, and Met stained in a membrane/cytoplasm distribution in 28% of cases. Cyclin D1 was expressed in the nucleus and MMP7 was expressed in the cytoplasm in 26% and 75% of tumors, respectively. Nuclear expression of p53 was noted in 31% of tumors. When each marker was analyzed separately, only p53 and Met demonstrated a significant correlation with survival. However, patients who had tumors that coexpressed high levels of beta-catenin and p53 had markedly worse overall survival (P = 0.0026). In multivariate analysis, only tumor size, Met, and the coexpression of beta-catenin and p53 retained statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS The current findings support a potential synergistic effect of abnormal beta-catenin regulation and p53 status in the pathogenesis and natural history of lymph node-negative breast carcinoma. Furthermore, the results show that a combined analysis of multiple markers, notably beta-catenin and p53, may enhance the prognostic capabilities compared with individual markers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gina G Chung
- Section of Medical Oncology, Yale Cancer Center, New Haven, Connecticut 06520, USA.
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Hattrup CL, Fernandez-Rodriguez J, Schroeder JA, Hansson GC, Gendler SJ. MUC1 can interact with adenomatous polyposis coli in breast cancer. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2004; 316:364-9. [PMID: 15020226 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2004.02.072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2004] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The MUC1 tumor antigen is overexpressed on most breast tumors and metastases. It interacts with signaling proteins such as the ErbB kinases and beta-catenin, and is involved in mammary gland oncogenesis and tumor progression. Herein, we report a novel interaction between MUC1 and adenomatous polyposis coli (APC), a tumor suppressor involved in downregulating beta-catenin signaling. Initially identified in colorectal cancer, APC is also downregulated in breast tumors and presumably involved in mammary carcinogenesis. MUC1 and APC co-immunoprecipitate from the ZR-75-1 human breast carcinoma cell line and co-localize in mouse mammary glands and tumors. These studies also indicate that the association of MUC1 and APC may be increased by epidermal growth factor stimulation. Intriguingly, the co-immunoprecipitation of MUC1 and APC increases in human breast tumors and metastases as compared to adjacent normal tissues, indicating that this association may play a role in the formation and progression of breast tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine L Hattrup
- Tumor Biology Program, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ, USA
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Abstract
Medulloblastoma is the most common malignant brain tumour that occurs during childhood. Multimodality treatment regimens have substantially improved survival in this disease; however, the tumour is incurable in about a third of patients with medulloblastoma, and current treatment has a detrimental effect on long-term survivors. Drugs that target cell-signalling pathways provide an alternative to conventional cytotoxic approaches to treatment of cancer. Several pathways have been implicated in medulloblastoma formation, and knowledge of these is now being used to develop new ways of treating children with medulloblastoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard J Gilbertson
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA.
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Dontu G, Al-Hajj M, Abdallah WM, Clarke MF, Wicha MS. Stem cells in normal breast development and breast cancer. Cell Prolif 2003; 36 Suppl 1:59-72. [PMID: 14521516 PMCID: PMC6495427 DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2184.36.s.1.6.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 426] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The main focus of this review is the role of mammary stem cells in normal breast development and carcinogenesis. We have developed a new in vitro culture system that permits, for the first time, the propagation of mammary stem and progenitor cells in an undifferentiated state, which should facilitate the elucidation of pathways that regulate normal mammary stem-cell self-renewal and differentiation. Furthermore, we propose a model in which transformation of stem cells, or early progenitor cells, results in carcinogenesis. A key event in this process is the deregulation of normal self-renewal in these cells. Transformed mammary stem or progenitor cells undergo aberrant differentiation processes that result in generation of the phenotypic heterogeneity found in human and rodent breast cancers. This phenotypic diversity is driven by a small subset of mammary tumour stem cells. We will discuss the important implications of this mammary tumour stem-cell model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriela Dontu
- Department of Internal Medicine, Hematology-Oncology, Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
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Musgrove EA. Wnt signalling via the epidermal growth factor receptor: a role in breast cancer? Breast Cancer Res 2003; 6:65-8. [PMID: 14979908 PMCID: PMC400647 DOI: 10.1186/bcr737] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent data have suggested the epidermal-growth-factor receptor (EGFR) as a point of convergence for several different classes of receptor. Civenni and colleagues have now demonstrated crosstalk between Wnt signalling and the EGFR, showing that in breast epithelial cells Wnts activate downstream targets of the EGFR, including cyclin D1. Given the role of members of these pathways in the aetiology of breast cancer and as markers of outcome and potential therapeutic targets in breast cancer, this observation has a number of potential implications important for both the basic biology of breast cancer and the clinical management of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth A Musgrove
- Cancer Research Program, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Darlinghurst, NSW, Australia.
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