The embryonic environment strongly attenuates v-src oncogenesis in mesenchymal and epithelial tissues, but not in endothelia

Cancers make their own luck: theories of cancer origins

Cancer has been a leading cause of death for decades. This dismal statistic has increased efforts to prevent the disease or to detect it early, when treatment is less invasive, relatively inexpensive and more likely to cure. But precisely how tissues are transformed continues to provoke controversy and debate, hindering cancer prevention and early intervention strategies. Various theories of cancer origins have emerged, including the suggestion that it is 'bad luck': the inevitable consequence of random mutations in proliferating stem cells. In this Review, we discuss the principal theories of cancer origins and the relative importance of the factors that underpin them. The body of available evidence suggests that developing and ageing tissues 'walk a tightrope', retaining adequate levels of cell plasticity to generate and maintain tissues while avoiding overstepping into transformation. Rather than viewing cancer as 'bad luck', understanding the complex choreography of cell intrinsic and extrinsic factors that characterize transformation holds promise to discover effective new ways to prevent, detect and stop cancer before it becomes incurable.

Regenerative responses following DNA damage - β-catenin mediates head regrowth in the planarian Schmidtea mediterranea

Pluripotent stem cells hold great potential for regenerative medicine. Increased replication and division, such is the case during regeneration, concomitantly increases the risk of adverse outcomes through the acquisition of mutations. Seeking for driving mechanisms of such outcomes, we challenged a pluripotent stem cell system during the tightly controlled regeneration process in the planarian Schmidtea mediterranea Exposure to the genotoxic compound methyl methanesulfonate (MMS) revealed that despite a similar DNA-damaging effect along the anteroposterior axis of intact animals, responses differed between anterior and posterior fragments after amputation. Stem cell proliferation and differentiation proceeded successfully in the amputated heads, leading to regeneration of missing tissues. Stem cells in the amputated tails showed decreased proliferation and differentiation capacity. As a result, tails could not regenerate. Interference with the body-axis-associated component β-catenin-1 increased regenerative success in tail fragments by stimulating proliferation at an early time point. Our results suggest that differences in the Wnt signalling gradient along the body axis modulate stem cell responses to MMS.

Novel digital signatures of tissue phenotypes for predicting distant metastasis in colorectal cancer

Distant metastasis is the major cause of death in colorectal cancer (CRC). Patients at high risk of developing distant metastasis could benefit from appropriate adjuvant and follow-up treatments if stratified accurately at an early stage of the disease. Studies have increasingly recognized the role of diverse cellular components within the tumor microenvironment in the development and progression of CRC tumors. In this paper, we show that automated analysis of digitized images from locally advanced colorectal cancer tissue slides can provide estimate of risk of distant metastasis on the basis of novel tissue phenotypic signatures of the tumor microenvironment. Specifically, we determine what cell types are found in the vicinity of other cell types, and in what numbers, rather than concentrating exclusively on the cancerous cells. We then extract novel tissue phenotypic signatures using statistical measurements about tissue composition. Such signatures can underpin clinical decisions about the advisability of various types of adjuvant therapy.

Role of Membrane Cholesterol Levels in Activation of Lyn upon Cell Detachment

Cholesterol, a major component of the plasma membrane, determines the physical properties of biological membranes and plays a critical role in the assembly of membrane microdomains. Enrichment or deprivation of membrane cholesterol affects the activities of many signaling molecules at the plasma membrane. Cell detachment changes the structure of the plasma membrane and influences the localizations of lipids, including cholesterol. Recent studies showed that cell detachment changes the activities of a variety of signaling molecules. We previously reported that the localization and the function of the Src-family kinase Lyn are critically regulated by its membrane anchorage through lipid modifications. More recently, we found that the localization and the activity of Lyn were changed upon cell detachment, although the manners of which vary between cell types. In this review, we highlight the changes in the localization of Lyn and a role of cholesterol in the regulation of Lyn’s activation following cell detachment.

Jamming transitions in cancer

The traditional picture of tissues, where they are treated as liquids defined by properties such as surface tension or viscosity has been redefined during the last few decades by the more fundamental question: under which conditions do tissues display liquid-like or solid-like behaviour? As a result, basic concepts arising from the treatment of tissues as solid matter, such as cellular jamming and glassy tissues, have shifted into the current focus of biophysical research. Here, we review recent works examining the phase states of tissue with an emphasis on jamming transitions in cancer. When metastasis occurs, cells gain the ability to leave the primary tumour and infiltrate other parts of the body. Recent studies have shown that a linkage between an unjamming transition and tumour progression indeed exists, which could be of importance when designing surgery and treatment approaches for cancer patients.

Targeting tumor multicellular aggregation through IGPR-1 inhibits colon cancer growth and improves chemotherapy

Adhesion to extracellular matrix (ECM) is crucially important for survival of normal epithelial cells as detachment from ECM triggers specific apoptosis known as anoikis. As tumor cells lose the requirement for anchorage to ECM, they rely on cell-cell adhesion 'multicellular aggregation' for survival. Multicellular aggregation of tumor cells also significantly determines the sensitivity of tumor cells to the cytotoxic effects of chemotherapeutics. In this report, we demonstrate that expression of immunoglobulin containing and proline-rich receptor-1 (IGPR-1) is upregulated in human primary colon cancer. Our study demonstrates that IGPR-1 promotes tumor multicellular aggregation, and interfering with its adhesive function inhibits multicellular aggregation and, increases cell death. IGPR-1 supports colon carcinoma tumor xenograft growth in mouse, and inhibiting its activity by shRNA or blocking antibody inhibits tumor growth. More importantly, IGPR-1 regulates sensitivity of tumor cells to the chemotherapeutic agent, doxorubicin/adriamycin by a mechanism that involves doxorubicin-induced AKT activation and phosphorylation of IGPR-1 at Ser220. Our findings offer novel insight into IGPR-1's role in colorectal tumor growth, tumor chemosensitivity, and as a possible novel anti-cancer target.

Cell state plasticity, stem cells, EMT, and the generation of intra-tumoral heterogeneity

Cellular heterogeneity in cancer represents a significant challenge. In order to develop effective and lasting therapies, it is essential to understand the source of this heterogeneity, and its role in tumor progression and therapy resistance. Here, we consider not only genetic and epigenetic mechanisms, but also inflammation and cell state reprogramming in creating tumor heterogeneity. We discuss similarities between normal mammary epithelial developmental states and various breast cancer molecular sub-types, and the cells that are thought to propagate them. We emphasize that while stem cell phenotypes and mesenchymal character have often been conflated, existing data suggest that the combination of intrinsic genetic and epigenetic changes, and microenvironmental influences generate multiple types of tumor propagating cells distinguishable by their positions along a continuum of epithelial to mesenchymal, stem to differentiated and embryonic to mature cell states. Consequently, in addition to the prospect of stem cell-directed tumor therapies, there is a need to understand interrelationships between stem cell, epithelial–mesenchymal, and tumor-associated reprogramming events to develop new therapies that mitigate cell state plasticity and minimize the evolution of tumor heterogeneity.

Microenvironment in metastasis: roadblocks and supportive niches

In many cancers, malignant cells can spread from the primary tumor through blood circulation and initiate metastasis in secondary organs. Metastatic colonization may depend not only on inherent properties of cancer cells, but also on suitable microenvironments in distant sites. Increasing evidence suggests that the nature of the microenvironment may determine the fate of disseminated cancer cells, providing either hindrance or support for cancer cell propagation. This can result in strong selective pressure where the vast majority of cancer cells, invading a secondary organ, are either eliminated or maintained in a dormant state. The ability of cancer cells to fend off or circumvent anti-metastatic signals from the stroma and the capacity to manipulate the local microenvironment towards a supporting environment, a metastatic niche, may be essential for metastatic growth. The molecular interactions between cancer cells and the stroma are still enigmatic, but recent studies are beginning to reveal their nature. Here, we discuss the interactive relationship between metastatic cancer cells and host stroma, involving selection and adaptation of metastasis-initiating cells and host tissue remodeling. Understanding the dynamic and continuously evolving cross talk between metastatic cancer cells and the stroma may be crucial when developing cancer treatments.

Breast Cancer beyond the Age of Mutation

Age is the greatest risk factor for breast cancer, but the reasons underlying this association are unclear. While there is undeniably a genetic component to all cancers, the accumulation of mutations with age is insufficient to explain the age-dependent increase in breast cancer incidence. In this viewpoint, we propose a multilevel framework to better understand the respective roles played by somatic mutation, microenvironment, and epigenetics making women more susceptible to breast cancer with age. The process of aging is associated with gradual breast tissue changes that not only corrupt the tumor-suppressive activity of normal tissue but also impose age-specific epigenetic changes that alter gene expression, thus reinforcing cellular phenotypes that are associated with a continuum of age-related tissue microenvironments. The evidence discussed here suggests that while the riddle of whether epigenetics drives microenvironmental changes, or whether changes in the microenvironment alter heritable cellular memory has not been solved, a path has been cleared enabling functional analysis leading to the prediction of key nodes in the network that link the microenvironment with the epigenome. The hypothesis that the accumulation of somatic mutations with age drives the age-related increase in breast cancer incidence, if correct, has a somewhat nihilistic conclusion, namely that cancers will be impossible to avoid. Alternatively, if microenvironment-driven epigenetic changes are the key to explaining susceptibility to age-related breast cancers, then there is hope that primary prevention is possible because epigenomes are relatively malleable.

Feather on the Cap of Medicine

Through cyclic regeneration, feather stem cells are molded into different shapes under different physiological states. With its distinct morphology, context-dependent growth, and experimental manipulability, the feather provides a rich model to study growth control, regeneration, and morphogenesis in vivo. Recent examples include novel insights revealed by transient perturbation with chemotherapeutic reagents and irradiation during feather growth.

Biosafety Recommendations on the Handling of Animal Cell Cultures

The first steps in tissue culture are dating back to the beginning of the nineteenth century when biosafety measures did not yet exist. Later on, animal cell culture became essential for scientific research, diagnosis and biotechnological activities. Along with this development, biosafety concerns have emerged pointing to the risks for human health and in a lesser extent for the environment associated to the handling of animal cell cultures. The management of these risks requires a thorough risk assessment of both the cell cultures and the type of manipulation prior the start of any activity. It involves a case-by-case evaluation of both the intrinsic properties of the cell culture genetically modified or not and the probability that it may inadvertently or intentionally become infected with pathogenic micro-organisms. The latter hazard is predominant when adventitious contaminants are pathogenic or have a better capacity to persist in unfavourable conditions. Consequently, most of the containment measures primarily aim at protecting cells from adventitious contamination. Cell cultures known to harbour an infectious etiologic agent should be manipulated in compliance with containment measures recommended for the etiologic agent itself. The manipulation of cell cultures from human or primate origin necessitates the use of a type II biosafety cabinet. The scope of this chapter is to highlight aspects relevant for the risk assessment and to summarize the main biosafety recommendations and the recent technological advances allowing a mitigation of the risk for the handling of animal cell cultures.

Cancer stem cells, pluripotency, and cellular heterogeneity: a WNTer perspective

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are thought to represent the "beating heart" of malignant growth as they continuously fuel tumors through their ability to self-renew and differentiate. Moreover, they are also believed to underlie malignant behavior, local invasion, and metastasis in distal organ sites upon reversible epithelial-to-mesenchymal transitions (EMTs). Nevertheless, the CSC concept has been the object of controversy, mainly due to the absence of robust operational definitions and to the lack of consistency in the use of the often incorrect nomenclature employed to refer to these cells. Notwithstanding the controversies, it is now generally accepted that primary cancers are organized in hierarchical fashion with neoplastic stem-like cells able to give rise to new CSCs and to more committed malignant cells. Notably, these hierarchical structures are not unidirectional, but are rather characterized by a more dynamic equilibrium where stem-like and more committed cancer cells transit from one meta-state to the other partly because of cues from the microenvironment (niche), but also because of intrinsic and yet incompletely understood characteristics in the activation/silencing of specific signal transduction pathways. Here, we will focus on the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway as one of the major regulator of stemness in homeostasis and cancer, and on germ cell tumors as the type of malignancy that most closely mimics normal embryonic development and as such serve as a unique model to study the role of stem cells in neoplasia.

Epithelial cancers in the post-genomic era: should we reconsider our lifestyle?

The age-related epithelial cancers of the breast, colorectum and prostate are the most prevalent and are increasing in our aging populations. Epithelial cells turnover rapidly and mutations naturally accumulate throughout life. Most epithelial cancers arise from this normal mutation rate. All elderly individuals will harbour many cells with the requisite mutations and most will develop occult neoplastic lesions. Although essential for initiation, these mutations are not sufficient for the progression of cancer to a life-threatening disease. This progression appears to be dependent on context: the tissue ecosystem within individuals and lifestyle exposures across populations of individuals. Together, this implies that the seeds may be plentiful but they only germinate in the right soil. The incidence of these cancers is much lower in Eastern countries but is increasing with Westernisation and increases more acutely in migrants to the West. A Western lifestyle is strongly associated with perturbed metabolism, as evidenced by the epidemics of obesity and diabetes: this may also provide the setting enabling the progression of epithelial cancers. Epidemiology has indicated that metabolic biomarkers are prospectively associated with cancer incidence and prognosis. Furthermore, within cancer research, there has been a rediscovery that a switch in cell metabolism is critical for cancer progression but this is set within the metabolic status of the host. The seed may only germinate if the soil is fertile. This perspective brings together the different avenues of investigation implicating the role that metabolism may play within the context of post-genomic concepts of cancer.

Of plasticity and specificity: dialectics of the microenvironment and macroenvironment and the organ phenotype

The study of biological form and how it arises is the domain of the developmental biologists; but once the form is achieved, the organ poses a fascinating conundrum for all the life scientists: how are form and function maintained in adult organs throughout most of the life of the organism? That they do appears to contradict the inherently plastic nature of organogenesis during development. How do cells with the same genetic information arrive at, and maintain such different architectures and functions, and how do they keep remembering that they are different from each other? It is now clear that narratives based solely on genes and an irreversible regulatory dynamics cannot answer these questions satisfactorily, and the concept of microenvironmental signaling needs to be added to the equation. During development, cells rearrange and differentiate in response to diffusive morphogens, juxtacrine signals, and the extracellular matrix (ECM). These components, which constitute the modular microenvironment, are sensitive to cues from other tissues and organs of the developing embryo as well as from the external macroenvironment. On the other hand, once the organ is formed, these modular constituents integrate and constrain the organ architecture, which ensures structural and functional homeostasis and therefore, organ specificity. We argue here that a corollary of the above is that once the organ architecture is compromised in adults by mutations or by changes in the microenvironment such as aging or inflammation, that organ becomes subjected to the developmental and embryonic circuits in search of a new identity. But since the microenvironment is no longer embryonic, the confusion leads to cancer: hence as we have argued, tumors become new evolutionary organs perhaps in search of an elusive homeostasis.

Platinum-sensitive recurrence in ovarian cancer: the role of tumor microenvironment

Despite several advances in the understanding of ovarian cancer pathobiology, in terms of driver genetic alterations in high-grade serous cancer, histologic heterogeneity of epithelial ovarian cancer, cell-of-origin for ovarian cancer, the survival rate from ovarian cancer is disappointingly low when compared to that of breast or prostate cancer. One of the factors contributing to the poor survival rate from ovarian cancer is the development of chemotherapy resistance following several rounds of chemotherapy. Although unicellular drug resistance mechanisms contribute to chemotherapy resistance, tumor microenvironment and the extracellular matrix (ECM), in particular, is emerging as a significant determinant of a tumor’s response to chemotherapy. In this review, we discuss the potential role of the tumor microenvironment in ovarian cancer recurrence and resistance to chemotherapy. Finally, we propose an alternative view of platinum-sensitive recurrence to describe a potential role of the ECM in the process.

Redirection of Human Cancer Cells upon the Interaction with the Regenerating Mouse Mammary Gland Microenvironment

Tumorigenesis is often described as a result of accumulated mutations that lead to growth advantage and clonal expansion of mutated cells. There is evidence in the literature that cancer cells are influenced by the microenvironment. Our previous studies demonstrated that the mouse mammary gland is capable of redirecting mouse cells of non-mammary origins as well as Mouse Mammary Tumor Virus (MMTV)-neu transformed cells toward normal mammary epithelial cell fate during gland regeneration. Interestingly, the malignant phenotype of MMTV-neu transformed cells was suppressed during serial transplantation experiments. Here, we discuss our studies that demonstrated the potential of the regenerating mouse mammary gland to redirect cancer cells of different species into a functional tumor-free mammary epithelial cell progeny. Immunochemistry for human specific CD133, mitochondria, cytokeratins as well as milk proteins and FISH for human specific probe identified human epithelial cell progeny in ducts, lobules, and secretory acini. Fluorescent In Situ Hybridization (FISH) for human centromeric DNA and FACS analysis of propidium iodine staining excluded the possibility of mouse-human cell fusion. To our knowledge this is the first evidence that human cancer cells of embryonic or somatic origins respond to developmental signals generated by the mouse mammary gland microenvironment during gland regeneration in vivo.

Critical choices for modeling breast cancer in transgenic mouse models

Modeling breast cancer in the mouse has helped to better define the heterogeneity of human breast cancer. In the recent past, it has become evident that some limitations have restricted the potential benefits that can be achieved with this approach. In this review, we highlight some key points that should be taken into account when the mouse is used, with special emphasis on transgenic models.

The tumor microenvironment is a dominant force in multidrug resistance

The emergence of clinical drug resistance is still one of the most challenging factors in cancer treatment effectiveness. Until more recently, the assumption has been that random genetic lesions are sufficient to explain the progression of malignancy and escape from chemotherapy. Here we propose an additional perspective, one in which the tumor cells despite the malignant genome could find a microenvironment either within the tumor or as a dormant cell to remain polar and blend into an organized context. Targeting this dynamic interplay could be considered a new avenue to prevent therapeutic resistance, and may even provide a promising effective cancer treatment.

The complexities of TGF-β action during mammary and squamous cell carcinogenesis

Many advanced tumors produce excess amounts of Transforming Growth Factor-β (TGF-β), which is a potent growth inhibitor of normal epithelial cells. However, in tumors its homeostatic action on cells can be diverted along several alternative pathways. Thus, TGF-β signaling has been reported to elicit a preventative or tumor suppressive effect during the earlier stages of tumorigenesis, but later in tumor development, when carcinoma cells become refractory to TGF-β-mediated growth inhibition, response to TGF-β signaling elicits predominantly tumor progressing effects. This is not a simple switch from suppression to progression, but more like a rheostat, involving multiple complementary and antagonizing activities that slowly tip the balance from one to the other. This review will focus on the multiple activities of TGF-β in regulation of two epithelial tumor types, namely squamous cell carcinoma and breast cancer. Basic findings in current mouse models of cancer are presented, as well as a discussion of the complicating issue of outcome of altered TGFβ signaling depending on genetic variability between mouse strains. This review also discusses the role TGF-β within the tumor microenvironment particularly its ability to polarize the microenvironment towards a pro-tumorigenic milieu.

The mammary gland microenvironment directs progenitor cell fate in vivo

The mammary gland is a unique organ that continually undergoes postnatal developmental changes. In mice, the mammary gland is formed via signals from terminal end buds, which direct ductal growth and elongation. Intriguingly, it is likely that the entire cellular repertoire of the mammary gland is formed from a single antecedent cell. Furthermore, in order to produce progeny of varied lineages (e.g., luminal and myoepithelial cells), signals from the local tissue microenvironment influence mammary stem/progenitor cell fate. Data have shown that cells from the mammary gland microenvironment reprogram adult somatic cells from other organs (testes, nerve) into cells that produce milk and express mammary epithelial cell proteins. Similar results were found for human tumorigenic epithelial carcinoma cells. Presently, it is unclear how the deterministic power of the mammary gland microenvironment controls epithelial cell fate. Regardless, signals generated by the microenvironment have a profound influence on progenitor cell differentiation in vivo.

Why don't we get more cancer? A proposed role of the microenvironment in restraining cancer progression

Tumors are like new organs and are made of multiple cell types and components. The tumor competes with the normal microenvironment to overcome antitumorigenic pressures. Before that battle is won, the tumor may exist within the organ unnoticed by the host, referred to as 'occult cancer'. We review how normal tissue homeostasis and architecture inhibit progression of cancer and how changes in the microenvironment can shift the balance of these signals to the procancerous state. We also include a discussion of how this information is being tailored for clinical use.

In search of the Golden Fleece: unraveling principles of morphogenesis by studying the integrative biology of skin appendages

The mythological story of the Golden Fleece symbolizes the magical regenerative power of skin appendages. Similar to the adventurous pursuit of the Golden Fleece by the multi-talented Argonauts, today we also need an integrated multi-disciplined approach to understand the cellular and molecular processes during development, regeneration and evolution of skin appendages. To this end, we have explored several aspects of skin appendage biology that contribute to the Turing activator/inhibitor model in feather pattern formation, the topo-biological arrangement of stem cells in organ shape determination, the macro-environmental regulation of stem cells in regenerative hair waves, and potential novel molecular pathways in the morphological evolution of feathers. Here we show our current integrative biology efforts to unravel the complex cellular behavior in patterning stem cells and the control of regional specificity in skin appendages. We use feather/scale tissue recombination to demonstrate the timing control of competence and inducibility. Feathers from different body regions are used to study skin regional specificity. Bioinformatic analyses of transcriptome microarrays show the potential involvement of candidate molecular pathways. We further show Hox genes exhibit some region specific expression patterns. To visualize real time events, we applied time-lapse movies, confocal microscopy and multiphoton microscopy to analyze the morphogenesis of cultured embryonic chicken skin explants. These modern imaging technologies reveal unexpectedly complex cellular flow and organization of extracellular matrix molecules in three dimensions. While these approaches are in preliminary stages, this perspective highlights the challenges we face and new integrative tools we will use. Future work will follow these leads to develop a systems biology view and understanding in the morphogenetic principles that govern the development and regeneration of ectodermal organs.

What we learn from transformation suppressor genes: lessons from RECK

Expression cloning is a powerful approach to finding genes that induce appreciable changes in cultured cells. One way to use this technique in cancer research is to isolate cDNAs that induce flat reversion in transformed cells. Such screening, however, is inherently artificial, and therefore requires independent validation of the clinical relevance of isolated genes. Studies of the mechanisms of actions, physiological functions and mechanisms of regulation of these genes at various levels may enrich our knowledge of cancer biology and supplement our toolbox in developing new cancer diagnoses and therapies. In this article we discuss the promise, limitations and recent innovations in this approach, taking one transformation suppressor gene, RECK, as an example.

Overexpression of REIC/Dkk-3 in normal fibroblasts suppresses tumor growth via induction of interleukin-7

We previously showed that the tumor suppressor gene REIC/Dkk-3, when overexpressed by an adenovirus (Ad-REIC), exhibited a dramatic therapeutic effect on human cancers through a mechanism triggered by endoplasmic reticulum stress. Adenovirus vectors show no target cell specificity and thus may elicit unfavorable side effects through infection of normal cells even upon intra-tumoral injection. In this study, we examined possible effects of Ad-REIC on normal cells. We found that infection of normal human fibroblasts (NHF) did not cause apoptosis but induced production of interleukin (IL)-7. The induction was triggered by endoplasmic reticulum stress and mediated through IRE1alpha, ASK1, p38, and IRF-1. When Ad-REIC-infected NHF were transplanted in a mixture with untreated human prostate cancer cells, the growth of the cancer cells was significantly suppressed. Injection of an IL-7 antibody partially abrogated the suppressive effect of Ad-REIC-infected NHF. These results indicate that Ad-REIC has another arm against human cancer, an indirect host-mediated effect because of overproduction of IL-7 by mis-targeted NHF, in addition to its direct effect on cancer cells.

Fibronectin expression modulates mammary epithelial cell proliferation during acinar differentiation

The mammary gland consists of a polarized epithelium surrounded by a basement membrane matrix that forms a series of branching ducts ending in hollow, sphere-like acini. Essential roles for the epithelial basement membrane during acinar differentiation, in particular laminin and its integrin receptors, have been identified using mammary epithelial cells cultured on a reconstituted basement membrane. Contributions from fibronectin, which is abundant in the mammary gland during development and tumorigenesis, have not been fully examined. Here, we show that fibronectin expression by mammary epithelial cells is dynamically regulated during the morphogenic process. Experiments with synthetic polyacrylamide gel substrates implicate both specific extracellular matrix components, including fibronectin itself, and matrix rigidity in this regulation. Alterations in fibronectin levels perturbed acinar organization. During acinar development, increased fibronectin levels resulted in overproliferation of mammary epithelial cells and increased acinar size. Addition of fibronectin to differentiated acini stimulated proliferation and reversed growth arrest of mammary epithelial cells negatively affecting maintenance of proper acinar morphology. These results show that expression of fibronectin creates a permissive environment for cell growth that antagonizes the differentiation signals from the basement membrane. These effects suggest a link between fibronectin expression and epithelial cell growth during development and oncogenesis in the mammary gland.

Architecture Is the Message: The role of extracellular matrix and 3-D structure in tissue-specific gene expression and breast cancer

I was honored to deliver the 2(nd) Stanley Korsmeyer memorial Lecture on May 9(th), 2007 in Padova, Italy. Stan will always occupy a very special place in my heart: I admired him greatly not only for his magnificent and original science but also for his integrity and his grace. This review, which summarizes my laboratory's contribution to cell and cancer biology in the last 30 years, is dedicated to Stan's memory, and to Elaine Fuchs, one of my most cherished friends without whose support this work would not have gained the degree of recognition it enjoys today. My thanks also to the Pezcoller Foundation for making that week in May, 2007 one of the most memorable in my scientific life.

Modelling molecular mechanisms of breast cancer and invasion: lessons from the normal gland

The interplay between genes and environment is complex, particularly when it comes to cancer. Studies on breast cancer cells have shown that environmental influences dominate over genotype in their effect on phenotype, and can cause cancerous cells to revert to a non-malignant phenotype, while remaining genotypically malignant. Using breast tissue in three-dimensional cell culture has proved a better model than traditional two-dimensional cell culture in that different cell types can be seen to behave differently to the same pro-apoptotic signal, with normal cells surviving.

The fate of human malignant melanoma cells transplanted into zebrafish embryos: assessment of migration and cell division in the absence of tumor formation

Certain aggressive melanoma cell lines exhibit a dedifferentiated phenotype, expressing genes that are characteristic of various cell types including endothelial, neural, and stem cells. Moreover, we have shown that aggressive melanoma cells can participate in neovascularization in vivo and vasculogenic mimicry in vitro, demonstrating that these cells respond to microenvironmental cues and manifest developmental plasticity. To explore this plasticity further, we transplanted human metastatic melanoma cells into zebrafish blastula-stage embryos and monitored their behavior post-transplantation. The data show that human metastatic melanoma cells placed in the zebrafish embryo survive, exhibit motility, and divide. The melanoma cells do not form tumors nor integrate into host organs, but instead become scattered throughout the embryo in interstitial spaces, reflecting the dedifferentiated state of the cancer cells. In contrast to the fate of melanoma cells, human melanocytes transplanted into zebrafish embryos most frequently become distributed to their normal microenvironment of the skin, revealing that the zebrafish embryo contains possible homing cues that can be interpreted by normal human cells. Finally, we show that within the zebrafish embryo, metastatic melanoma cells retain their dedifferentiated phenotype. These results demonstrate the utility of the zebrafish embryonic model for the study of tumor cell plasticity and suggest that this experimental paradigm can be a powerful one in which to investigate tumor-microenvironment interactions.

Distinct and opposite roles for SH2 and SH3 domains of v-src in embryo survival and hemangiosarcoma formation

The cellular proto-oncogene c-src is thought to be involved in formation, progression, and metastasis of a variety of tumor cell types, although its exact role during tumor cell genesis is not well defined. v-src, the viral oncogene counterpart of c-src, causes metastatic sarcomas, hemorrhagic disease, and hemangiosarcomas in chicken embryos and, thus, can be used as a constitutively activated form of src for experimentally-induced tumorigenesis. Here, we used retroviral vectors to express wild-type v-src or SH2 or SH3 domain-deleted forms (DeltaSH2 or DeltaSH3) to determine if different pathogenic effects resulted. Vectors were injected into early chick embryo midbrain ventricles and embryos were sacrificed at various ages up to embryonic day (E) 18. Retroviral expression of all forms of v-src resulted in transformation of pial connective tissue cells into large, rounded abnormal-appearing cells. Surprisingly, all forms of v-src were lethal. The v-src retrovirus was lethal and killed most embryos by E15 with the development of hemangiosarcomas over the injection site between E10-E12. The DeltaSH3 retrovirus was the most deadly, killing most embryos by E12, however, it never resulted in hemangiosarcoma formation. The DeltaSH2 retrovirus injected embryos survived longer than v-src or DeltaSH3 embryos, and some of these embryos also developed large hemangiosarcomas over the injection site between E13 and E18. These results demonstrate that the src SH2 domain is required to be fully lethal, whereas the presence of the SH3 domain attenuated lethality. Furthermore, the formation of hemangiosarcomas absolutely required the presence of the src SH3 domain and to some extent required the SH2 domain. This implicates distinct and opposite roles for SH2 and SH3 domains of src and their cellular binding partners in tumorigenesis and hemorrhagic disease.

Microenvironmental regulators of tissue structure and function also regulate tumor induction and progression: the role of extracellular matrix and its degrading enzymes

It is now widely accepted that elements of the cellular and tissue microenvironment are crucial regulators of cell behavior in culture and homeostasis in vivo, and that many of the same factors influence the course of tumor progression. Less well established is the extent to which extracellular factors actually cause cancer, and the circumstances under which this may occur. Using physiologically relevant three-dimensional culture assays and transgenic animals, we have explored how the environmental and architectural context of cells, tissues, and organs controls mammary-specific gene expression, growth regulation, apoptosis, and drug resistance and have found that loss of tissue structure is a prerequisite for cancer progression. Here we summarize this evidence and highlight two of our recent studies. Using mouse mammary epithelial cells, we show that exposure to matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3) stimulates production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) that destabilize the genome and induce epithelial-mesenchymal transition, causing malignant transformation. Using a human breast cancer progression series, we find that ADAM-dependent growth factor shedding plays a crucial role in acquisition of the malignant phenotype. These findings illustrate how normal tissue structure controls the response to extracellular signals so as to preserve tissue specificity and growth status.

Retroviral delivery of homeobox D3 gene induces cerebral angiogenesis in mice

Angiogenesis is regulated by concerted actions of angiogenic and angiostatic factors. Homeobox D3 gene (HOXD3) is a potent proangiogenic transcription factor that promotes angiogenesis by modulating the expression of matrix-degrading proteinases, integrins, and extracellular matrix components. Application of HOXD3 can promote angiogenesis in the skin, but its role in other vascular beds has not been examined. The authors examined HOXD3 expression in human brain vessels by in situ hybridization. Although little or no HOXD3 mRNA was detected in normal brain vessels, increased levels of HOXD3 and its target gene, alpha V beta 3, were found in angiogenic vessels in human brain arteriovenous malformations. The authors further investigated whether HOXD3 plays a role in cerebral angiogenesis in a murine model. Expression of HOXD3 in mouse brain was achieved through retroviral vector-mediated HOXD3 gene transfer. HOXD3 expression lead to a significant induction of cerebral angiogenesis as shown by quantitative microvessel counting (HOXD3: 241 +/- 19 vessels/mm2 vs. saline: 150 +/- 14 vessels/mm2, P < 0.05). The data also showed that focal cerebral blood flow was increased in the angiogenic region with less vascular leakage. Moreover, expression of HOXD3 led to an increase in the expression of a direct downstream target gene alpha V beta 3 integrin. The data suggest that HOXD3 may play an important role in regulating cerebral angiogenesis, and that gene transfer of HOXD3 may provide a novel and potent means to stimulate angiogenesis.

Tumor reversion: correction of malignant behavior by microenvironmental cues

Cancer is characterized by unrestrained proliferation and loss of organization, a process that is intimately linked to, and controlled by, reciprocal signaling between the genetically altered tumor epithelium, the stroma, the components of the basement membrane and inflammatory mediators. Much work has been done to characterize the genetics of cancer cells. In this review, we describe the experiments that have been performed, which point to the significant role of the tissue microenvironment in the developmental regulation of normal and neoplastic cells. Using a variety of model systems, the works of a number of laboratories have converged on a hypothesis where the correction of 1 or 2 signaling defects can revert tumor cells to a normal phenotype, both in vivo and in culture, even when the tumor cells possess multiple genetic and epigenetic lesions. This paradigm has been successfully used to treat acute promyelocytic leukemia, and it remains the task of biomedical researchers to identify additional targets for the reversion of other human malignancies.

Function and regulation of melanoma-stromal fibroblast interactions: when seeds meet soil

Melanoma development and progression not only involve genetic and epigenetic changes that take place within the melanocytic cells, but also involve processes that are determined collectively by contextual factors including intercellular adhesions and communications. In this review, we focus on melanoma-stromal fibroblast crosstalk by direct cell-cell contact and by growth factors/cytokines/chemokines interacting with their respective receptors. The interactions between melanoma cells and stromal fibroblasts create a context that promotes tumor growth, migration/invasion, and angiogenesis. An understanding of this process and developing new experimental and screening models are of great importance for the development of effective therapeutical strategies to treat melanoma.

Kinetics of v-src-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition in developing glandular stomach

The oncogene function in primary epithelial cells is largely unclear. Recombination organ cultures in combination with the stable and transient gene transfer techniques by retrovirus and electroporation, respectively, enable us to transfer oncogenes specifically into primary epithelial cells of the developing avian glandular stomach (proventriculus). In this system, the epithelium and mesenchyme are mutually dependent on each other for their growth and differentiation. We report here that either stable or transient expression of v-src in the epithelium causes budding and migration of epithelial cells into mesenchyme. In response to the transient expression of v-Src or a constitutive active mutant of MEK, we observed immediate downregulation of the Sonic hedgehog gene and subsequent elimination of E-cadherine expression in migrating cells, suggesting the involvement of MAP kinase signaling pathway in these processes. v-src-expressing cells that were retained in the epithelium underwent apoptosis (anoikis) and detached from the culture. Continuous expression of v-src by, for example, Rous sarcoma virus (RSV) was required for the epithelial cells to acquire the ability to express type I collagen and fibronectin genes (mesenchymal markers), and finally to establish the epithelial-mesenchymal transition. These observations would partly explain why RSV does not apparently cause carcinoma formation, but induces sarcomas exclusively.

Microenvironmental Regulation of the Initiated Cell

In the classical skin model of tumor initiation, keratinocytes treated once with carcinogen retain their normal appearance and growth behavior indefinitely unless promoted to growth into papillomas. Because many of the papillomas regress and may recur with further promotion, their cells can also be considered as initiated. The growth of initiated keratinocytes can be inhibited either in vitro or in vivo by close association with an excess of normal keratinocytes, but it is enhanced by dermal fibroblasts. Chick embryo fibroblasts (CEF) in culture produce transformed foci after infection with Rous sarcoma virus (RSV) on a background of normal CEF in a medium containing 10% or less calf serum (CS), but they retain normal appearance and growth regulation in 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS) or 20% CS. Transformation of a carcinogen-treated line of mouse embryo fibroblasts is prevented, and can be reversed, in high concentrations of FBS in the presence of an excess of normal cells. FBS has high, broad-spectrum antiprotease activity. Increased protease production occurs in a variety of transformed cells and is correlated with progression in tumors. Protease treatment stimulates DNA synthesis and mitosis in confluent, contact-inhibited normal cell cultures. Synthetic inhibitors of proteases suppress transformation in carcinogen-treated cultures and inhibit tumor formation in animals. Several different classes of protease may be overexpressed in the same transformed cells. It is proposed that excessive protease production accounts for major features of neoplastic transformation of initiated cells, but that transformation can be held in check by protease inhibitors present in serum and released from surrounding cells. It would be informative to determine whether high concentrations of FBS would inhibit the neoplastic development of initiated keratinocytes.

Putting tumours in context

The interactions between cancer cells and their micro- and macroenvironment create a context that promotes tumour growth and protects it from immune attack. The functional association of cancer cells with their surrounding tissues forms a new 'organ' that changes as malignancy progresses. Investigation of this process might provide new insights into the mechanisms of tumorigenesis and could also lead to new therapeutic targets.

Large-scale preparation and concentration of retrovirus stocks

For some applications, such as infection of cells in vivo, it is necessary to concentrate retrovirus stocks in order to increase their titer. Because viruses are macromolecular structures, they can be concentrated fairly easily by a relatively short centrifugation step. This unit provides protocols in which the viral particles are either pelleted or centrifuged onto a sucrose density step gradient. An alternate protocol details how virions can be precipitated using polyethylene glycol or ammonium sulfate, and the resulting precipitate collected by centrifugation. After resuspension of the precipitates, the virions can be used directly, or further purified either by sedimentation onto sucrose density gradients, or by column filtration as described here. Perhaps most simply of all, an alternate procedure describes how small volumes of virus stock can be concentrated by centrifugation through a filter that allows only small molecules to pass.

Wild-type and mutant forms of v-src differentially alter neuronal migration and differentiation in vivo

The effects of three different forms of v-src on brain cell development were determined in vivo. Recombinant retroviral vectors encoding the marker lacZ (control) and either wild-type v-src or SH2 or SH3 domain-deleted forms of v-src (deltaSH2 or deltaSH3, respectively) were used to infect neuronal progenitor cells in the embryonic chicken midbrain (optic tectum; OT). Embryos were injected in the OT with retroviral concentrates on embryonic day (E) 3 and sacrificed at E6, E9, and later in development. Patterns of cell proliferation, migration, and differentiation of lacZ-marked clonal cell progeny were then analyzed. Relative to lacZ-only controls, cell clone size at E6 was significantly increased for v-src-, unchanged for deltaSH2-, and smaller for deltaSH3-injected embryos. At E9, deltaSH2 cell clones were significantly larger than controls, suggesting increased survival from normal programmed cell death. Radial neuronal migration was impaired for v-src and deltaSH3 clones, whereas tangential neuronal migration was enhanced along fiber tracts in v-src and deltaSH2 clones. Moreover, radial glial cell development and differentiation was hindered in v-src and deltaSH3 clones. These experiments demonstrate that ectopic v-src signaling alters proliferation, migration, survival, and differentiation of developing brain cells and suggest that src signaling pathways are involved in these developmental processes. Furthermore, certain effects of v-src on brain cells require specific src homology domains.

Selective requirement for Src kinases during VEGF-induced angiogenesis and vascular permeability

Src kinase activity was found to protect endothelial cells from apoptosis during vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-, but not basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF)-, mediated angiogenesis in chick embryos and mice. In fact, retroviral targeting of kinase-deleted Src to tumor-associated blood vessels suppressed angiogenesis and the growth of a VEGF-producing tumor. Although mice lacking individual Src family kinases (SFKs) showed normal angiogenesis, mice deficient in pp60c-src or pp62c-yes showed no VEGF-induced vascular permeability (VP), yet fyn-/- mice displayed normal VP. In contrast, inflammation-mediated VP appeared normal in Src-deficient mice. Therefore, VEGF-, but not bFGF-, mediated angiogenesis requires SFK activity in general, whereas the VP activity of VEGF specifically depends on the SFKs, Src, or Yes.

Structural cues from the tissue microenvironment are essential determinants of the human mammary epithelial cell phenotype

Historically, the study of normal human breast function and breast disorders has been significantly impaired by limitations inherent to available model systems. Recent improvements in human breast epithelial cell lines and three-dimensional (3-D)3 culture systems have contributed to the development of in vitro model systems that recapitulate differentiated epithelial cell phenotypes with remarkable fidelity. Molecular characterization of these human breast cell models has demonstrated that normal breast epithelial cell behavior is determined in part by the precise interplay that exists between a cell and its surrounding microenvironment. Recent functional studies of integrins in a human model system provide evidence to support the idea that the structural stability afforded by integrin-mediated cell-extracellular matrix interactions is an important determinant of normal cellular behavior, and that alterations in tissue structure can give rise to tumorigenic progression.

Induction of the angiogenic phenotype by Hox D3

Angiogenesis is characterized by distinct phenotypic changes in vascular endothelial cells (EC). Evidence is provided that the Hox D3 homeobox gene mediates conversion of endothelium from the resting to the angiogenic/invasive state. Stimulation of EC with basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) resulted in increased expression of Hox D3, integrin alphavbeta3, and the urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA). Hox D3 antisense blocked the ability of bFGF to induce uPA and integrin alphavbeta3 expression, yet had no effect on EC cell proliferation or bFGF-mediated cyclin D1 expression. Expression of Hox D3, in the absence of bFGF, resulted in enhanced expression of integrin alphavbeta3 and uPA. In fact, sustained expression of Hox D3 in vivo on the chick chorioallantoic membrane retained EC in this invasive state and prevented vessel maturation leading to vascular malformations and endotheliomas. Therefore, Hox D3 regulates EC gene expression associated with the invasive stage of angiogenesis.

Chondrocytes as a specific target of ectopic Fos expression in early development

The Finkel-Biskis-Jinkins murine sarcoma virus, which carries v-fos, induces osteosarcomas, whereas high-level expression of exogenous c-fos in transgenic and chimeric mice leads to postnatal development of osteogenic and chondrogenic tumors, respectively. To test whether such target cell specificity of an oncogene can be detected even in early development, we induced ectopic expression of fos in chicken limb buds by microinjecting replication-competent retrovirus into the presumptive leg field of stage 10 embryos. This caused cartilage truncation of all the long bones of the injected leg, which was mainly attributable to chondrodysplasia due to severe retardation of differentiation of the proliferating chondrocytes into mature or hypertrophic chondrocytes, as well as a slight delay in precartilagenous condensation. Expression of genes for all the other known members of chicken AP-1, which include such transforming genes as c-jun and fra-2, however, caused no macroscopic abnormalities in limb formation, indicating a specific function of Fos proteins in embryonic endochondral bone differentiation. The extent of truncation was stronger with v-Fos than with c-Fos, and comparative analysis of these proteins, as well as v-Fos mutants, revealed that strong transforming activity of Fos protein is necessary to cause dysplasia, suggesting that common molecular mechanisms are involved in both embryonic chondrodysplasia and bone tumor formation in postnatal mice.

Reversion of the malignant phenotype of human breast cells in three-dimensional culture and in vivo by integrin blocking antibodies

In a recently developed human breast cancer model, treatment of tumor cells in a 3-dimensional culture with inhibitory beta1-integrin antibody or its Fab fragments led to a striking morphological and functional reversion to a normal phenotype. A stimulatory beta1-integrin antibody proved to be ineffective. The newly formed reverted acini re-assembled a basement membrane and re-established E-cadherin-catenin complexes, and re-organized their cytoskeletons. At the same time they downregulated cyclin D1, upregulated p21(cip,wat-1), and stopped growing. Tumor cells treated with the same antibody and injected into nude mice had significantly reduced number and size of tumors in nude mice. The tissue distribution of other integrins was also normalized, suggesting the existence of intimate interactions between the different integrin pathways as well as adherens junctions. On the other hand, nonmalignant cells when treated with either alpha6 or beta4 function altering antibodies continued to grow, and had disorganized colony morphologies resembling the untreated tumor colonies. This shows a significant role of the alpha6/beta4 heterodimer in directing polarity and tissue structure. The observed phenotypes were reversible when the cells were disassociated and the antibodies removed. Our results illustrate that the extracellular matrix and its receptors dictate the phenotype of mammary epithelial cells, and thus in this model system the tissue phenotype is dominant over the cellular genotype.

The importance of the microenvironment in breast cancer progression: recapitulation of mammary tumorigenesis using a unique human mammary epithelial cell model and a three-dimensional culture assay

The extracellular matrix (ECM) is a dominant regulator of tissue development and homeostasis. "Designer microenvironments" in culture and in vivo model systems have shown that the ECM regulates growth, differentiation, and apoptosis in murine and human mammary epithelial cells (MEC) through a hierarchy of transcriptional events involving the intricate interplay between soluble and physical signaling pathways. Furthermore, these studies have shown that these pathways direct and in turn are influenced by the tissue structure. Tissue structure is directed by the cooperative interactions of the cell-cell and cell-ECM pathways and can be modified by stromal factors. Not surprisingly then, loss of tissue structure and alterations in ECM components are associated with the appearance and dissemination of breast tumors, and malignancy is associated with perturbations in cell adhesion, changes in adhesion molecules, and a stromal reaction. Several lines of evidence now support the contention that the pathogenesis of breast cancer is determined (at least in part) by the dynamic interplay between the ductal epithelial cells, the microenvironment, and the tissue structure (acini). Thus, to understand the mechanisms involved in carcinogenesis, the role of the microenvironment (ECM as well as the stromal cells) with respect to tissue structure should be considered and studied. Towards this goal, we have established a unique human MEC model of tumorigenesis, which in concert with a three-dimensional assay, recapitulates many of the genetic and morphological changes observed in breast in cancer in vivo. We are currently using this system to understand the role of the microenvironment and tissue structure in breast cancer progression.

The potential role of inflammation in the development of postvaccinal sarcomas in cats

Epidemiologic evidence shows a strong association between the administration of inactivated feline vaccines (feline leukemia virus and rabies) and subsequent soft tissue sarcoma development at vaccine sites. Although more research is needed to understand the complete pathogenesis of vaccine-induced tumors in cats, good evidence exists that inflammation plays a role.