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Michl J, White B, Monterisi S, Bodmer WF, Swietach P. Phenotypic screen of sixty-eight colorectal cancer cell lines identifies CEACAM6 and CEACAM5 as markers of acid resistance. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2319055121. [PMID: 38502695 PMCID: PMC10990159 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2319055121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Elevated cancer metabolism releases lactic acid and CO2 into the under-perfused tumor microenvironment, resulting in extracellular acidosis. The surviving cancer cells must adapt to this selection pressure; thus, targeting tumor acidosis is a rational therapeutic strategy to manage tumor growth. However, none of the major approved treatments are based explicitly on disrupting acid handling, signaling, or adaptations, possibly because the distinction between acid-sensitive and acid-resistant phenotypes is not clear. Here, we report pH-related phenotypes of sixty-eight colorectal cancer (CRC) cell lines by measuring i) extracellular acidification as a readout of acid production by fermentative metabolism and ii) growth of cell biomass over a range of extracellular pH (pHe) levels as a measure of the acid sensitivity of proliferation. Based on these measurements, CRC cell lines were grouped along two dimensions as "acid-sensitive"/"acid-resistant" versus "low metabolic acid production"/"high metabolic acid production." Strikingly, acid resistance was associated with the expression of CEACAM6 and CEACAM5 genes coding for two related cell-adhesion molecules, and among pH-regulating genes, of CA12. CEACAM5/6 protein levels were strongly induced by acidity, with a further induction under hypoxia in a subset of CRC lines. Lack of CEACAM6 (but not of CEACAM5) reduced cell growth and their ability to differentiate. Finally, CEACAM6 levels were strongly increased in human colorectal cancers from stage II and III patients, compared to matched samples from adjacent normal tissues. Thus, CEACAM6 is a marker of acid-resistant clones in colorectal cancer and a potential motif for targeting therapies to acidic regions within the tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johanna Michl
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, OxfordOX1 3PT, United Kingdom
| | - Bobby White
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, OxfordOX1 3PT, United Kingdom
| | - Stefania Monterisi
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, OxfordOX1 3PT, United Kingdom
| | - Walter F. Bodmer
- Department of Oncology, University of Oxford, OxfordOX3 7DQ, United Kingdom
| | - Pawel Swietach
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, OxfordOX1 3PT, United Kingdom
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2
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Osei GY, Adu-Amankwaah J, Koomson S, Beletaa S, Ahmad MK, Asiamah EA, Smith-Togobo C, Abdul Razak SR. Revolutionizing colorectal cancer treatment: unleashing the potential of miRNAs in targeting cancer stem cells. Future Oncol 2023; 19:2369-2382. [PMID: 37970643 DOI: 10.2217/fon-2023-0426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a significant contributor to cancer mortality worldwide, and the presence of cancer stem cells (CSC) represents a major challenge for achieving effective treatment. miRNAs have emerged as critical regulators of gene expression, and recent studies have highlighted their role in regulating stemness and therapeutic resistance in CRC stem cells. This review highlights the mechanisms of CSC development, therapy resistance and the potential of miRNAs as therapeutic targets for CRC. It emphasizes the promise of miRNAs as a novel approach to CRC treatment and calls for further research to explore effective miRNA-based therapies and strategies for delivering miRNAs to CSCs in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- George Yiadom Osei
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Advanced Medical & Dental Institute, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 13200 Kepala Batas, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, University of Health & Allied Sciences, PMB 31, Ho, Ghana
| | - Joseph Adu-Amankwaah
- Department of Physiology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Selina Koomson
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, University of Health & Allied Sciences, PMB 31, Ho, Ghana
| | - Solomon Beletaa
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, University of Health & Allied Sciences, PMB 31, Ho, Ghana
| | - Muhammad Khairi Ahmad
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Advanced Medical & Dental Institute, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 13200 Kepala Batas, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
| | - Emmanuel Akomanin Asiamah
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, University of Health & Allied Sciences, PMB 31, Ho, Ghana
- Discipline of Public Health Medicine, School of Nursing & Public Health, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 4001, South Africa
- Cancer & Infectious Diseases Epidemiology Research Unit (CIDERU), College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 4001, South Africa
| | - Cecilia Smith-Togobo
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, University of Health & Allied Sciences, PMB 31, Ho, Ghana
| | - Siti Razila Abdul Razak
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Advanced Medical & Dental Institute, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 13200 Kepala Batas, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
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Sukphokkit S, Kiatwuthinon P, Kumkate S, Janvilisri T. Distinct cholangiocarcinoma cell migration in 2D monolayer and 3D spheroid culture based on galectin-3 expression and localization. Front Oncol 2023; 12:999158. [PMID: 36713574 PMCID: PMC9881414 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.999158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2022] [Accepted: 12/02/2022] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is difficult to cure due to its ineffective treatment and advanced stage diagnosis. Thoroughly mechanistic understandings of CCA pathogenesis crucially help improving the treatment success rates. Using three-dimensional (3D) cell culture platform offers several advantages over a traditional two-dimensional (2D) culture as it resembles more closely to in vivo tumor. Methods Here, we aimed to establish the 3D CCA spheroids with lowly (KKU-100) and highly (KKU-213A) metastatic potentials to investigate the CCA migratory process and its EMT-associated galectin-3 in the 3D setting. Results and discussion Firstly, the growth of lowly metastatic KKU-100 cells was slower than highly metastatic KKU-213A cells in both 2D and 3D systems. Hollow formation was observed exclusively inside the KKU-213A spheroids, not in KKU-100. Additionally, the migration activity of KKU-213A cells was higher than that of KKU-100 cells in both 2D and 3D systems. Besides, altered expression of galectin-3 were observed across all CCA culture conditions with substantial relocalization from inside the 2D cells to the border of spheroids in the 3D system. Notably, the CCA migration was inversely proportional to the galectin-3 expression in the 3D culture, but not in the 2D setting. This suggests the contribution of culture platforms to the alternation of the CCA cell migration process. Conclusions Thus, our data revealed that 3D culture of CCA cells was phenotypically distinct from 2D culture and pointed to the superiority of using the 3D culture model for examining the CCA cellular mechanisms, providing knowledges that are better correlated with CCA phenotypes in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siriwat Sukphokkit
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Pichamon Kiatwuthinon
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Supeecha Kumkate
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Tavan Janvilisri
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand,*Correspondence: Tavan Janvilisri,
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Liu TC, Kalugin PN, Wilding JL, Bodmer WF. GMMchi: gene expression clustering using Gaussian mixture modeling. BMC Bioinformatics 2022; 23:457. [PMID: 36324085 PMCID: PMC9632092 DOI: 10.1186/s12859-022-05006-0] [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: 02/22/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cancer evolution consists of a stepwise acquisition of genetic and epigenetic changes, which alter the gene expression profiles of cells in a particular tissue and result in phenotypic alterations acted upon by natural selection. The recurrent appearance of specific genetic lesions across individual cancers and cancer types suggests the existence of certain "driver mutations," which likely make up the major contribution to tumors' selective advantages over surrounding normal tissue and as such are responsible for the most consequential aspects of the cancer cells' gene expression patterns and phenotypes. We hypothesize that such mutations are likely to cluster with specific dichotomous shifts in the expression of the genes they most closely control, and propose GMMchi, a Python package that leverages Gaussian Mixture Modeling to detect and characterize bimodal gene expression patterns across cancer samples, as a tool to analyze such correlations using 2 × 2 contingency table statistics. RESULTS Using well-defined simulated data, we were able to confirm the robust performance of GMMchi, reaching 85% accuracy with a sample size of n = 90. We were also able to demonstrate a few examples of the application of GMMchi with respect to its capacity to characterize background florescent signals in microarray data, filter out uninformative background probe sets, as well as uncover novel genetic interrelationships and tumor characteristics. Our approach to analysing gene expression analysis in cancers provides an additional lens to supplement traditional continuous-valued statistical analysis by maximizing the information that can be gathered from bulk gene expression data. CONCLUSIONS We confirm that GMMchi robustly and reliably extracts bimodal patterns from both colorectal cancer (CRC) cell line-derived microarray and tumor-derived RNA-Seq data and verify previously reported gene expression correlates of some well-characterized CRC phenotypes. AVAILABILITY The Python package GMMchi and our cell line microarray data used in this paper is available for downloading on GitHub at https://github.com/jeffliu6068/GMMchi .
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Affiliation(s)
- Ta-Chun Liu
- grid.4991.50000 0004 1936 8948Cancer and Immunogenetics Laboratory, Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, Department of Oncology, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, OX3 9DS UK
| | - Peter N. Kalugin
- grid.4991.50000 0004 1936 8948Cancer and Immunogenetics Laboratory, Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, Department of Oncology, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, OX3 9DS UK ,grid.38142.3c000000041936754XHarvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115 USA
| | - Jennifer L. Wilding
- grid.4991.50000 0004 1936 8948Cancer and Immunogenetics Laboratory, Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, Department of Oncology, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, OX3 9DS UK
| | - Walter F. Bodmer
- grid.4991.50000 0004 1936 8948Cancer and Immunogenetics Laboratory, Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, Department of Oncology, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, OX3 9DS UK
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5
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Baião A, Dias S, Soares AF, Pereira CL, Oliveira C, Sarmento B. Advances in the use of 3D colorectal cancer models for novel drug discovery. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2022; 17:569-580. [PMID: 35343351 DOI: 10.1080/17460441.2022.2056162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common and deadly tumors worldwide. CRC in vitro and in vivo models that recapitulate key features of human disease are essential to the development of novel and effective therapeutics. However, two-dimensional (2D) in vitro culture systems are considered too simple and do not represent the complex nature of the human tumor. However, three-dimensional (3D) models have emerged in recent years as more advanced and complex cell culture systems, able to closely resemble key features of human cancer tissues. AREAS COVERED The authors' review the currently established in vitro cell culture models and describe the advances in the development of 3D scaffold-free models to study CRC. The authors also discuss intestinal spheroids and organoids. As well as in vitro models for drug screening and metastatic CRC (mCRC). EXPERT OPINION The ideal CRC in vitro model is not yet established. Spheroid-based 3D models represent one of the most used approaches to recapitulate the tumor environment, overcoming some limitations of 2D models. Mouse and patient-derived organoids are more advanced models that can mimic more closely the characteristics and properties of CRC, with the possibility of including cells derived from patients with metastatic CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Baião
- i3S, Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal.,INEB, Instituto de Engenharia Biomédica, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal.,ICBAS, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
| | - Sofia Dias
- i3S, Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal.,INEB, Instituto de Engenharia Biomédica, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal.,ICBAS, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
| | - Ana Francisca Soares
- i3S, Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal.,INEB, Instituto de Engenharia Biomédica, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
| | - Catarina Leite Pereira
- i3S, Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal.,INEB, Instituto de Engenharia Biomédica, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
| | - Carla Oliveira
- i3S, Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal.,IPATIMUP, Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of University of Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal.,Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine of University of Porto, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal
| | - Bruno Sarmento
- i3S, Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal.,INEB, Instituto de Engenharia Biomédica, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal.,CESPU - Instituto Universitário de Ciências da Saúde, Rua Central de Gandra 1317, 4585-116 Gandra, Portugal
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Torres-Sánchez A, Winter MK, Salbreux G. Tissue hydraulics: Physics of lumen formation and interaction. Cells Dev 2021; 168:203724. [PMID: 34339904 DOI: 10.1016/j.cdev.2021.203724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2021] [Revised: 07/08/2021] [Accepted: 07/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Lumen formation plays an essential role in the morphogenesis of tissues during development. Here we review the physical principles that play a role in the growth and coarsening of lumens. Solute pumping by the cell, hydraulic flows driven by differences of osmotic and hydrostatic pressures, balance of forces between extracellular fluids and cell-generated cytoskeletal forces, and electro-osmotic effects have been implicated in determining the dynamics and steady-state of lumens. We use the framework of linear irreversible thermodynamics to discuss the relevant force, time and length scales involved in these processes. We focus on order of magnitude estimates of physical parameters controlling lumen formation and coarsening.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Max Kerr Winter
- The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, NW1 1AT, United Kingdom
| | - Guillaume Salbreux
- The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, NW1 1AT, United Kingdom; University of Geneva, Quai Ernest Ansermet 30, 1205 Genève, Switzerland.
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7
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Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and colorectal cancer: Correlation and missing links. Life Sci 2020; 262:118507. [PMID: 33017572 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2020.118507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2020] [Revised: 09/21/2020] [Accepted: 09/22/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the major metabolic diseases that occur in almost one in every four global population, while colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the leading causes of cancer related deaths in the world. Individuals with pre-existing NAFLD show a higher rate of developing CRC and liver metastasis, suggesting a causal relationship. Interestingly, both of these diseases are strongly associated with obesity, which is also a growing global health concern. In this current review, we will explore scientific findings that demonstrate the relationship between NAFLD, CRC and obesity, as well as the underlying mechanisms. We will also indicate the missing links and knowledge gaps that require more in-depth investigation.
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8
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Lee SH, Reed-Newman T, Anant S, Ramasamy TS. Regulatory Role of Quiescence in the Biological Function of Cancer Stem Cells. Stem Cell Rev Rep 2020; 16:1185-1207. [DOI: 10.1007/s12015-020-10031-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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9
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Szvicsek Z, Oszvald Á, Szabó L, Sándor GO, Kelemen A, Soós AÁ, Pálóczi K, Harsányi L, Tölgyes T, Dede K, Bursics A, Buzás EI, Zeöld A, Wiener Z. Extracellular vesicle release from intestinal organoids is modulated by Apc mutation and other colorectal cancer progression factors. Cell Mol Life Sci 2019; 76:2463-2476. [PMID: 31028424 PMCID: PMC6529386 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-019-03052-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2018] [Revised: 02/04/2019] [Accepted: 02/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are membrane-surrounded structures that transmit biologically important molecules from the releasing to target cells, thus providing a novel intercellular communication mechanism. Since EVs carry their cargo in a protected form and their secretion is generally increased in tumorigenesis, EVs hold a great potential for early cancer diagnosis. By 3D culturing, we provide evidence that colorectal cancer (CRC) patient-derived organoids, representing a state-of-the-art established and essential approach for studying human CRC, is a suitable model for EV analysis. When testing the effects of major factors promoting CRC progression on EV release in the organoid model, we observed that Apc mutation, leading to uncontrolled Wnt activation and thus to tumorigenesis in the vast majority in CRC patients, critically induces EV release by activating the Wnt pathway. Furthermore, the extracellular matrix component collagen, known to accumulate in tumorigenesis, enhances EV secretion as well. Importantly, we show that fibroblast-derived EVs induce colony formation of CRC organoid cells under hypoxia. In contrast, there was no major effect of tumor cell-derived EVs on the activation of fibroblasts. Collectively, our results with CRC and Apc-mutant adenoma organoids identify Apc mutation and collagen deposition as critical factors for increasing EV release from tumors. Furthermore, we provide evidence that stromal fibroblast-derived EVs contribute to tumorigenesis under unfavorable conditions in CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zsuzsanna Szvicsek
- Department of Genetics, Cell and Immunobiology, Semmelweis University, Nagyvárad tér 4, 1089, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Ádám Oszvald
- Department of Genetics, Cell and Immunobiology, Semmelweis University, Nagyvárad tér 4, 1089, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Lili Szabó
- Department of Genetics, Cell and Immunobiology, Semmelweis University, Nagyvárad tér 4, 1089, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Gyöngyvér Orsolya Sándor
- Department of Genetics, Cell and Immunobiology, Semmelweis University, Nagyvárad tér 4, 1089, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Andrea Kelemen
- Department of Genetics, Cell and Immunobiology, Semmelweis University, Nagyvárad tér 4, 1089, Budapest, Hungary
| | - András Áron Soós
- Department of Genetics, Cell and Immunobiology, Semmelweis University, Nagyvárad tér 4, 1089, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Krisztina Pálóczi
- Department of Genetics, Cell and Immunobiology, Semmelweis University, Nagyvárad tér 4, 1089, Budapest, Hungary
| | - László Harsányi
- 1st Department of Surgery, Semmelweis University, Üllői út 78, 1082, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Tamás Tölgyes
- Uzsoki Hospital, Uzsoki u. 29-41, 1145, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Kristóf Dede
- Uzsoki Hospital, Uzsoki u. 29-41, 1145, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Attila Bursics
- Uzsoki Hospital, Uzsoki u. 29-41, 1145, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Edit I Buzás
- Department of Genetics, Cell and Immunobiology, Semmelweis University, Nagyvárad tér 4, 1089, Budapest, Hungary
- MTA-SE Immune-Proteogenomics Extracellular Vesicle Research Group, Nagyvárad tér 4, 1089, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Anikó Zeöld
- Department of Genetics, Cell and Immunobiology, Semmelweis University, Nagyvárad tér 4, 1089, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Zoltán Wiener
- Department of Genetics, Cell and Immunobiology, Semmelweis University, Nagyvárad tér 4, 1089, Budapest, Hungary.
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10
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Legge DN, Shephard AP, Collard TJ, Greenhough A, Chambers AC, Clarkson RW, Paraskeva C, Williams AC. BCL-3 promotes a cancer stem cell phenotype by enhancing β-catenin signalling in colorectal tumour cells. Dis Model Mech 2019; 12:dmm.037697. [PMID: 30792270 PMCID: PMC6451435 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.037697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2018] [Accepted: 02/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
To decrease bowel cancer incidence and improve survival, we need to understand the mechanisms that drive tumorigenesis. Recently, B-cell lymphoma 3 (BCL-3; a key regulator of NF-κB signalling) has been recognised as an important oncogenic player in solid tumours. Although reported to be overexpressed in a subset of colorectal cancers (CRCs), the role of BCL-3 expression in colorectal tumorigenesis remains poorly understood. Despite evidence in the literature that BCL-3 may interact with β-catenin, it is perhaps surprising, given the importance of deregulated Wnt/β-catenin/T-cell factor (TCF) signalling in colorectal carcinogenesis, that the functional significance of this interaction is not known. Here, we show for the first time that BCL-3 acts as a co-activator of β-catenin/TCF-mediated transcriptional activity in CRC cell lines and that this interaction is important for Wnt-regulated intestinal stem cell gene expression. We demonstrate that targeting BCL-3 expression (using RNA interference) reduced β-catenin/TCF-dependent transcription and the expression of intestinal stem cell genes LGR5 and ASCL2. In contrast, the expression of canonical Wnt targets Myc and cyclin D1 remained unchanged. Furthermore, we show that BCL-3 increases the functional stem cell phenotype, as shown by colorectal spheroid and tumoursphere formation in 3D culture conditions. We propose that BCL-3 acts as a driver of the stem cell phenotype in CRC cells, potentially promoting tumour cell plasticity and therapeutic resistance. As recent reports highlight the limitations of directly targeting cancer stem cells (CSCs), we believe that identifying and targeting drivers of stem cell plasticity have significant potential as new therapeutic targets. This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper. Summary: BCL-3 acts as a co-activator of β-catenin/TCF-mediated transcriptional activity, driving a stem-cell-like phenotype in colorectal cancer cells, with implications for tumour cell plasticity and therapeutic resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danny N Legge
- Colorectal Tumour Biology Group, School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Life Sciences, Biomedical Sciences Building, University Walk, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK
| | - Alex P Shephard
- Colorectal Tumour Biology Group, School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Life Sciences, Biomedical Sciences Building, University Walk, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK
| | - Tracey J Collard
- Colorectal Tumour Biology Group, School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Life Sciences, Biomedical Sciences Building, University Walk, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK
| | - Alexander Greenhough
- Colorectal Tumour Biology Group, School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Life Sciences, Biomedical Sciences Building, University Walk, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK.,Centre for Research in Biosciences, Faculty of Health and Applied Sciences, University of the West of England, Coldharbour Lane, Bristol BS16 1QY, UK
| | - Adam C Chambers
- Colorectal Tumour Biology Group, School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Life Sciences, Biomedical Sciences Building, University Walk, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK
| | - Richard W Clarkson
- European Cancer Stem Cell Research Institute, Hadyn Ellis Building, Maindy Road, Cathays, Cardiff CF24 4HQ, UK
| | - Christos Paraskeva
- Colorectal Tumour Biology Group, School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Life Sciences, Biomedical Sciences Building, University Walk, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK
| | - Ann C Williams
- Colorectal Tumour Biology Group, School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Life Sciences, Biomedical Sciences Building, University Walk, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK
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11
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Ashley N, Ouaret D, Bodmer WF. Cellular polarity modulates drug resistance in primary colorectal cancers via orientation of the multidrug resistance protein ABCB1. J Pathol 2019; 247:293-304. [PMID: 30306567 PMCID: PMC6519031 DOI: 10.1002/path.5179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2018] [Revised: 08/30/2018] [Accepted: 10/02/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Colonic epithelial cells are highly polarised with a lumen‐facing apical membrane, termed the brush border, and a basal membrane in contact with the underlying extracellular matrix (ECM). This polarity is often maintained in cancer tissue in the form of neoplastic glands and has prognostic value. We compared the cellular polarity of several ex vivo spheroid colonic cancer cultures with their parental tumours and found that those grown as non‐attached colonies exhibited apical brush border proteins on their outer cellular membranes. Transfer of these cultures to an ECM, such as collagen, re‐established the centralised apical polarity observed in vivo. The multidrug resistance protein ABCB1 also became aberrantly polarised to outer colony membranes in suspension cultures, unlike cultures grown in collagen, where it was polarised to central lumens. This polarity switch was dependent on the presence of serum or selected serum components, including epidermal growth factor (EGF), transforming growth factor‐β1 (TGF‐β1) and insulin‐like growth factor‐1 (IGF‐1). The apical/basal orientation of primary cancer colon cultures cultured in collagen/serum was modulated by α2β1 integrin signalling. The polarisation of ABCB1 in colonies significantly altered drug uptake and sensitivity, as the outward polarisation of ABCB1 in suspension colonies effluxed substrates more effectively than ECM‐grown colonies with ABCB1 polarised to central lumens. Thus, serum‐free suspension colonies were more resistant to a variety of anti‐cancer drugs than ECM‐grown colonies. In conclusion, the local stroma, or absence thereof, can have profound effects on the sensitivity of colorectal cultures to drugs that are ABCB1 substrates. © 2018 The Authors. The Journal of Pathology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neil Ashley
- Cancer and Immunogenetics Laboratory, Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.,Single Cell Genomics Facility, Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Djamila Ouaret
- Cancer and Immunogenetics Laboratory, Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Walter F Bodmer
- Cancer and Immunogenetics Laboratory, Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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12
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Högström J, Heino S, Kallio P, Lähde M, Leppänen VM, Balboa D, Wiener Z, Alitalo K. Transcription Factor PROX1 Suppresses Notch Pathway Activation via the Nucleosome Remodeling and Deacetylase Complex in Colorectal Cancer Stem-like Cells. Cancer Res 2018; 78:5820-5832. [PMID: 30154153 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-18-0451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2018] [Revised: 06/25/2018] [Accepted: 08/20/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The homeobox transcription factor PROX1 is induced by high Wnt/β-catenin activity in intestinal adenomas and colorectal cancer, where it promotes tumor progression. Here we report that in LGR5+ colorectal cancer cells, PROX1 suppresses the Notch pathway, which is essential for cell fate in intestinal stem cells. Pharmacologic inhibition of Notch in ex vivo 3D organoid cultures from transgenic mouse intestinal adenoma models increased Prox1 expression and the number of PROX1-positive cells. Notch inhibition led to increased proliferation of the PROX1-positive colorectal cancer cells, but did not affect their ability to give rise to PROX1-negative secretory cells. Conversely, PROX1 deletion increased Notch target gene expression and NOTCH1 promoter activity, indicating reciprocal regulation between PROX1 and the Notch pathway in colorectal cancer. PROX1 interacted with the nucleosome remodeling and deacetylase (NuRD) complex to suppress the Notch pathway. Thus, our data suggests that PROX1 and Notch suppress each other and that PROX1-mediated suppression of Notch mediates its stem cell function in colorectal cancer.Significance: These findings address the role of the PROX1 homeobox factor as a downstream effector of Wnt/β-catenin singling in colorectal cancer stem cells and show that PROX1 inhibits the Notch pathway and helps to enforce the stem cell phenotype and inhibit differentiation. Cancer Res; 78(20); 5820-32. ©2018 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenny Högström
- Translational Cancer Biology Research Program, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Sarika Heino
- Translational Cancer Biology Research Program, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Pauliina Kallio
- Translational Cancer Biology Research Program, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Marianne Lähde
- Translational Cancer Biology Research Program, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Veli-Matti Leppänen
- Translational Cancer Biology Research Program, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Diego Balboa
- Molecular Neurology Program and Biomedicum Stem Cell Center, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Zoltán Wiener
- Translational Cancer Biology Research Program, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Kari Alitalo
- Translational Cancer Biology Research Program, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
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Buzzelli JN, Ouaret D, Brown G, Allen PD, Muschel RJ. Colorectal cancer liver metastases organoids retain characteristics of original tumor and acquire chemotherapy resistance. Stem Cell Res 2018; 27:109-120. [PMID: 29414601 PMCID: PMC5842239 DOI: 10.1016/j.scr.2018.01.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2017] [Revised: 11/30/2017] [Accepted: 01/12/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Colorectal cancer (CRC) liver metastasis is highly unfavorable for patient outcome and is a leading cause of cancer-related death. Pre-clinical research of CRC liver metastasis predominately utilizes CRC cell lines grown in tissue culture. Here, we demonstrate that CRC liver metastases organoids derived from human specimens recapitulate some aspects of human disease. METHODS Human CRC liver metastases pathological specimens were obtained following patient consent. Tumor disaggregates were plated and organoids were allowed to expand. CRC markers were identified by immunofluorescence. Stem cell genes were analysed by QPCR and flow cytometry. Response to drug therapy was quantified using time-lapse imaging and MATLAB analysis. RESULTS Organoids showed global expression of the epithelial marker, EpCAM and the adenocarcinoma marker, CEA CAM1. Flow cytometry analysis demonstrated that organoids express the stem cell surface markers CD24 and CD44. Finally, we demonstrated that CRC liver metastases organoids acquire chemotherapy resistance and can be utilized as surrogates for drug testing. CONCLUSION These data demonstrate that CRC liver metastases organoids recapitulate some aspects of human disease and may provide an invaluable resource for investigating novel drug therapies, chemotherapy resistance and mechanism of metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jon N Buzzelli
- Old Road Research Campus Building, Department of Oncology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
| | - Djamila Ouaret
- Cancer and Immunogenetics Laboratory, Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, Department of Oncology, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK
| | - Graham Brown
- Old Road Research Campus Building, Department of Oncology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Philip D Allen
- Old Road Research Campus Building, Department of Oncology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Ruth J Muschel
- Old Road Research Campus Building, Department of Oncology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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14
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Onstenk W, Sieuwerts AM, Mostert B, Lalmahomed Z, Bolt-de Vries JB, van Galen A, Smid M, Kraan J, Van M, de Weerd V, Ramírez-Moreno R, Biermann K, Verhoef C, Grünhagen DJ, IJzermans JNM, Gratama JW, Martens JWM, Foekens JA, Sleijfer S. Molecular characteristics of circulating tumor cells resemble the liver metastasis more closely than the primary tumor in metastatic colorectal cancer. Oncotarget 2018; 7:59058-59069. [PMID: 27340863 PMCID: PMC5312295 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.10175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2016] [Accepted: 05/29/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background CTCs are a promising alternative for metastatic tissue biopsies for use in precision medicine approaches. We investigated to what extent the molecular characteristics of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) resemble the liver metastasis and/or the primary tumor from patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). Results The CTC profiles were concordant with the liver metastasis in 17/23 patients (74%) and with the primary tumor in 13 patients (57%). The CTCs better resembled the liver metastasis in 13 patients (57%), and the primary tumor in five patients (22%). The strength of the correlations was not associated with clinical parameters. Nine genes (CDH1, CDH17, CDX1, CEACAM5, FABP1, FCGBP, IGFBP3, IGFBP4, and MAPT) displayed significant differential expressions, all of which were downregulated, in CTCs compared to the tissues in the 23 patients. Patients and Methods Patients were retrospectively selected from a prospective study. Using the CellSearch System, CTCs were enumerated and isolated just prior to liver metastasectomy. A panel of 25 CTC-specific genes was measured by RT-qPCR in matching CTCs, primary tumors, and liver metastases. Spearman correlation coefficients were calculated and considered as continuous variables with r=1 representing absolute concordance and r= -1 representing absolute discordance. A cut-off of r>0.1 was applied in order to consider profiles to be concordant. Conclusions In the majority of the patients, CTCs reflected the molecular characteristics of metastatic cells better than the primary tumors. Genes involved in cell adhesion and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition were downregulated in the CTCs. Our results support the use of CTC characterization as a liquid biopsy for precision medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wendy Onstenk
- Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Department of Medical Oncology and Cancer Genomics Netherlands, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Anieta M Sieuwerts
- Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Department of Medical Oncology and Cancer Genomics Netherlands, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Bianca Mostert
- Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Department of Medical Oncology and Cancer Genomics Netherlands, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Zarina Lalmahomed
- Department of Surgery, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Joan B Bolt-de Vries
- Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Department of Medical Oncology and Cancer Genomics Netherlands, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Anne van Galen
- Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Department of Medical Oncology and Cancer Genomics Netherlands, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Marcel Smid
- Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Department of Medical Oncology and Cancer Genomics Netherlands, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jaco Kraan
- Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Department of Medical Oncology and Cancer Genomics Netherlands, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Mai Van
- Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Department of Medical Oncology and Cancer Genomics Netherlands, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Vanja de Weerd
- Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Department of Medical Oncology and Cancer Genomics Netherlands, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Raquel Ramírez-Moreno
- Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Department of Medical Oncology and Cancer Genomics Netherlands, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Katharina Biermann
- Department of Pathology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Cornelis Verhoef
- Department of Surgery, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Dirk J Grünhagen
- Department of Surgery, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jan N M IJzermans
- Department of Surgery, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jan W Gratama
- Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Department of Medical Oncology and Cancer Genomics Netherlands, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - John W M Martens
- Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Department of Medical Oncology and Cancer Genomics Netherlands, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - John A Foekens
- Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Department of Medical Oncology and Cancer Genomics Netherlands, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Stefan Sleijfer
- Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Department of Medical Oncology and Cancer Genomics Netherlands, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
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15
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Lavrsen K, Dabelsteen S, Vakhrushev SY, Levann AMR, Haue AD, Dylander A, Mandel U, Hansen L, Frödin M, Bennett EP, Wandall HH. De novo expression of human polypeptide N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase 6 (GalNAc-T6) in colon adenocarcinoma inhibits the differentiation of colonic epithelium. J Biol Chem 2017; 293:1298-1314. [PMID: 29187600 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m117.812826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2017] [Revised: 11/27/2017] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Aberrant expression of O-glycans is a hallmark of epithelial cancers. Mucin-type O-glycosylation is initiated by a large family of UDP-GalNAc:polypeptide N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferases (GalNAc-Ts) that target different proteins and are differentially expressed in cells and organs. Here, we investigated the expression patterns of all of the GalNAc-Ts in colon cancer by analyzing transcriptomic data. We found that GalNAc-T6 was highly up-regulated in colon adenocarcinomas but absent in normal-appearing adjacent colon tissue. These results were verified by immunohistochemistry, suggesting that GalNAc-T6 plays a role in colon carcinogenesis. To investigate the function of GalNAc-T6 in colon cancer, we used precise gene targeting to produce isogenic colon cancer cell lines with a knockout/rescue system for GALNT6 GalNAc-T6 expression was associated with a cancer-like, dysplastic growth pattern, whereas GALNT6 knockout cells showed a more normal differentiation pattern, reduced proliferation, normalized cell-cell adhesion, and formation of crypts in tissue cultures. O-Glycoproteomic analysis of the engineered cell lines identified a small set of GalNAc-T6-specific targets, suggesting that this isoform has unique cellular functions. In support of this notion, the genetically and functionally closely related GalNAc-T3 homolog did not show compensatory functionality for effects observed for GalNAc-T6. Taken together, these data strongly suggest that aberrant GalNAc-T6 expression and site-specific glycosylation is involved in oncogenic transformation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kirstine Lavrsen
- From the Copenhagen Center for Glycomics, Departments of Cellular and Molecular Medicine and Odontology, Faculty of Health Sciences, and
| | - Sally Dabelsteen
- From the Copenhagen Center for Glycomics, Departments of Cellular and Molecular Medicine and Odontology, Faculty of Health Sciences, and
| | - Sergey Y Vakhrushev
- From the Copenhagen Center for Glycomics, Departments of Cellular and Molecular Medicine and Odontology, Faculty of Health Sciences, and
| | - Asha M R Levann
- From the Copenhagen Center for Glycomics, Departments of Cellular and Molecular Medicine and Odontology, Faculty of Health Sciences, and
| | - Amalie Dahl Haue
- From the Copenhagen Center for Glycomics, Departments of Cellular and Molecular Medicine and Odontology, Faculty of Health Sciences, and
| | - August Dylander
- From the Copenhagen Center for Glycomics, Departments of Cellular and Molecular Medicine and Odontology, Faculty of Health Sciences, and
| | - Ulla Mandel
- From the Copenhagen Center for Glycomics, Departments of Cellular and Molecular Medicine and Odontology, Faculty of Health Sciences, and
| | - Lars Hansen
- From the Copenhagen Center for Glycomics, Departments of Cellular and Molecular Medicine and Odontology, Faculty of Health Sciences, and
| | - Morten Frödin
- Biotech Research and Innovation Centre (BRIC), University of Copenhagen, DK 2200, Copenhagen N, Denmark
| | - Eric P Bennett
- From the Copenhagen Center for Glycomics, Departments of Cellular and Molecular Medicine and Odontology, Faculty of Health Sciences, and
| | - Hans H Wandall
- From the Copenhagen Center for Glycomics, Departments of Cellular and Molecular Medicine and Odontology, Faculty of Health Sciences, and
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16
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Time- and cell-resolved dynamics of redox-sensitive Nrf2, HIF and NF-κB activities in 3D spheroids enriched for cancer stem cells. Redox Biol 2017; 12:403-409. [PMID: 28319891 PMCID: PMC5357678 DOI: 10.1016/j.redox.2017.03.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2017] [Revised: 03/06/2017] [Accepted: 03/09/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer cells have an altered redox status, with changes in intracellular signaling pathways. The knowledge of how such processes are regulated in 3D spheroids, being well-established tumor models, is limited. To approach this question we stably transfected HCT116 cells with a pTRAF reporter that enabled time- and cell-resolved activity monitoring of three redox-regulated transcription factors Nrf2, HIF and NF-κB in spheroids enriched for cancer stem cells. At the first day of spheroid formation, these transcription factors were activated and thereafter became repressed. After about a week, both HIF and Nrf2 were reactivated within the spheroid cores. Further amplifying HIF activation in spheroids by treatment with DMOG resulted in a dominant quiescent stem-cell-like phenotype, with high resistance to stress-inducing treatments. Auranofin, triggering oxidative stress and Nrf2 activation, had opposite effects with increased differentiation and proliferation. These novel high-resolution insights into spatiotemporal activation patterns demonstrate a striking coordination of redox regulated transcription factors within spheroids not occurring in conventional cell culture models.
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17
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Zheng H, Yang Y, Wang MC, Yuan SX, Tian T, Han J, Ni JS, Wang J, Xing H, Zhou WP. Low CDX1 expression predicts a poor prognosis for hepatocellular carcinoma patients after hepatectomy. Surg Oncol 2016; 25:171-7. [DOI: 10.1016/j.suronc.2016.05.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2016] [Accepted: 05/20/2016] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
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18
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Yao S. MicroRNA biogenesis and their functions in regulating stem cell potency and differentiation. Biol Proced Online 2016; 18:8. [PMID: 26966421 PMCID: PMC4785656 DOI: 10.1186/s12575-016-0037-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2016] [Accepted: 02/22/2016] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Stem cells are unspecialized/undifferentiated cells that exist in embryos and adult tissues or can be converted from somatic differentiated cells. Use of stem cells for tissue regeneration and tissue engineering has been a cornerstone of the regenerative medicine. Stem cells are also believed to exist in cancer tissues, namely cancer stem cells (CSCs). Growing evidence suggests that CSCs are the culprit of cancer dormancy, progression and recurrence, and thus have recently received great attention. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a group of short, non-coding RNAs that regulate expression of a wide range of genes at a post-transcriptional manner. They are emerging as key regulators of stem cell behaviors. This mini review summarizes the basic biogenesis and mode of actions of miRNAs, recent progress and discoveries of miRNAs in cellular reprogramming, stem cell differentiation and cellular communication, as well as miRNAs in CSCs. Some potential of miRNAs in future biomedical applications and research pertaining to stem cells are briefly discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaomian Yao
- Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803 USA
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19
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Okuyama H, Kondo J, Sato Y, Endo H, Nakajima A, Piulats JM, Tomita Y, Fujiwara T, Itoh Y, Mizoguchi A, Ohue M, Inoue M. Dynamic Change of Polarity in Primary Cultured Spheroids of Human Colorectal Adenocarcinoma and Its Role in Metastasis. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY 2016; 186:899-911. [PMID: 26878211 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2015.12.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2015] [Revised: 10/23/2015] [Accepted: 12/03/2015] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Intestinal epithelial cells possess apical-basal polarity, which governs the exchange of nutrients and waste. Perturbation of cell polarity appears to be a general feature of cancers, although most colorectal cancers are differentiated adenocarcinomas, in which polarity is maintained to some extent. Little is known about the role of dysregulated polarity in cancer. The cancer tissue-originated spheroid method was applied to the preparation and culture of spheroids. Spheroids were cultured in suspension or in type I collagen gel. Polarity was assessed by IHC of apical markers and electron microscopy. Two types of polarity status in spheroids were observed: apical-in, with apical membrane located at cavities inside the spheroids in type I collagen gel; and apical-out, with apical membrane located at the outermost layer of spheroids in suspension. These polarities were highly interchangeable. Inhibitors of Src and dynamin attenuated the polarity switch. In patients, clusters of cancer cells that invaded vessels had both apical-in and apical-out morphologic features, whereas primary and metastatic tumors had apical-in features. In a mouse liver metastasis model, apical-out spheroids injected into the portal vein became apical-in spheroids in the liver within a few days. Inhibitors of Src and dynamin significantly decreased liver metastasis. Polarity switching was observed in spheroids and human cancer. The polarity switch was critical in an experimental liver metastasis model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroaki Okuyama
- Department of Biochemistry, Osaka Medical Center for Cancer and Cardiovascular Diseases, Osaka, Japan
| | - Jumpei Kondo
- Department of Biochemistry, Osaka Medical Center for Cancer and Cardiovascular Diseases, Osaka, Japan
| | - Yumi Sato
- Department of Biochemistry, Osaka Medical Center for Cancer and Cardiovascular Diseases, Osaka, Japan
| | - Hiroko Endo
- Department of Biochemistry, Osaka Medical Center for Cancer and Cardiovascular Diseases, Osaka, Japan
| | - Aya Nakajima
- Department of Biochemistry, Osaka Medical Center for Cancer and Cardiovascular Diseases, Osaka, Japan
| | - Jose M Piulats
- Department of Biochemistry, Osaka Medical Center for Cancer and Cardiovascular Diseases, Osaka, Japan
| | - Yasuhiko Tomita
- Department of Pathology, Osaka Medical Center for Cancer and Cardiovascular Diseases, Osaka, Japan
| | - Takeshi Fujiwara
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Mie University, Tsu, Japan
| | - Yu Itoh
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Mie University, Tsu, Japan
| | - Akira Mizoguchi
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Mie University, Tsu, Japan
| | - Masayuki Ohue
- Department of Surgery, Osaka Medical Center for Cancer and Cardiovascular Diseases, Osaka, Japan
| | - Masahiro Inoue
- Department of Biochemistry, Osaka Medical Center for Cancer and Cardiovascular Diseases, Osaka, Japan.
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20
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Liu J, Geng X, Li Y. Milky spots: omental functional units and hotbeds for peritoneal cancer metastasis. Tumour Biol 2016; 37:5715-26. [PMID: 26831659 PMCID: PMC4875158 DOI: 10.1007/s13277-016-4887-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2015] [Accepted: 01/19/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
As the most common metastatic disease of abdomen pelvic cavity cancer, peritoneal carcinomatosis (PC) renders significant negative impact on patient survival and quality of life. Invasive peritoneal exfoliated cancer cells (PECCs) preferentially select the omentum as a predominant target site for cancer cell colonization and proliferation compared with other tissues in the abdominal cavity. The precise pathogenic mechanism remains to be determined. As omental milky spots (MSs) are the major implantation site for malignant cells in peritoneal dissemination, researches on mechanisms of PC have been mainly focused on MS, primitive lymphoid tissues with unique structural features, and functional characteristics. To date, extensive biophysical and biochemical methods have been manipulated to investigate the MS exact function in the peritoneal cavity. This review summarized MS as hotbeds for PECC. The anatomical distribution was briefly described first. Then, MS histology was systematically reviewed, including morphological features, cellular constituents, and histological staining methods. At last, the roles of MS in PC pathological process were summarized with special emphasis on the distinct roles of macrophages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiuyang Liu
- Department of Oncology, Hubei Key Laboratory of Tumor Biological Behaviors and Hubei Cancer Clinical Study Center, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, No. 169 Donghu Road, Wuchang District, Wuhan, 430071, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiafei Geng
- Department of Oncology, Hubei Key Laboratory of Tumor Biological Behaviors and Hubei Cancer Clinical Study Center, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, No. 169 Donghu Road, Wuchang District, Wuhan, 430071, People's Republic of China
| | - Yan Li
- Department of Oncology, Hubei Key Laboratory of Tumor Biological Behaviors and Hubei Cancer Clinical Study Center, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, No. 169 Donghu Road, Wuchang District, Wuhan, 430071, People's Republic of China. .,Department of Peritoneal Cancer Surgery, Beijing Shijitan Hospital Affiliated to the Capital Medical University, Tieyilu 10, Yangfangdian, Haidian District, Beijing, 100038, People's Republic of China.
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21
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Lu Y, Yang H, Yuan L, Liu G, Zhang C, Hong M, Liu Y, Zhou M, Chen F, Li X. Overexpression of miR-335 confers cell proliferation and tumour growth to colorectal carcinoma cells. Mol Cell Biochem 2015; 412:235-45. [DOI: 10.1007/s11010-015-2630-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2015] [Accepted: 12/15/2015] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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22
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Gao Y, An XH, Yang XL, Yang BL. Colon cancer stem cells: Markers, characteristics and pathogenic roles. Shijie Huaren Xiaohua Zazhi 2015; 23:5662-5669. [DOI: 10.11569/wcjd.v23.i35.5662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third leading cause of cancer death worldwide. With the development of molecular biology, it is found that there is a small group of special cells, named cancer stem cells (CSCs), in tumor cells. CSCs are capable of continuous self-renewal and differentiation and are closely related to tumor growth, distant metastasis and recurrence. Specific recognition of CSCs from the tumor mass and normal healthy cells could be achieved by targeting specific cell surface markers, thus providing a foundation for CSC targeted therapies. CSCs are also responsible for tumor relapse, because conventional drugs fail to eliminate the CSC reservoir. Therefore, the design of CSC-targeted interventions is a rational strategy, which will enhance responsiveness to traditional therapeutic strategies and reduce local recurrence and metastasis. Understanding the mechanism of self-renewal and differentiation of CSCs and blocking their homeostasis will provide a new opportunity for the targeted treatment of colon cancer.
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23
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Miao ZF, Wang ZN, Zhao TT, Xu YY, Gao J, Miao F, Xu HM. Peritoneal milky spots serve as a hypoxic niche and favor gastric cancer stem/progenitor cell peritoneal dissemination through hypoxia-inducible factor 1α. Stem Cells 2015; 32:3062-74. [PMID: 25142304 PMCID: PMC4282537 DOI: 10.1002/stem.1816] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2014] [Accepted: 07/07/2014] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Peritoneal dissemination is the most common cause of death in gastric cancer patients. The hypoxic microenvironment plays a major role in controlling the tumor stem cell phenotype and is associated with patients' prognosis through hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α), a key transcriptional factor that responds to hypoxic stimuli. During the peritoneal dissemination process, gastric cancer stem/progenitor cells (GCSPCs) are thought to enter into and maintained in peritoneal milky spots (PMSs), which have hypoxic microenvironments. However, the mechanism through which the hypoxic environment of PMSs regulated GCSPC maintenance is still poorly understood. Here, we investigated whether hypoxic PMSs were an ideal cancer stem cell niche suitable for GCSPC engraftment. We also evaluated the mechanisms through which the HIF-1α-mediated hypoxic microenvironment regulated GCSPC fate. We observed a positive correlation between HIF-1α expression and gastric cancer peritoneal dissemination (GCPD) in gastric cancer patients. Furthermore, the GCSPC population expanded in primary gastric cancer cells under hypoxic condition in vitro, and hypoxic GCSPCs showed enhanced self-renewal ability, but reduced differentiation capacity, mediated by HIF-1α. In an animal model, GCSPCs preferentially resided in the hypoxic zone of PMSs; moreover, when the hypoxic microenvironment in PMSs was destroyed, GCPD was significantly alleviated. In conclusion, our results demonstrated that PMSs served as a hypoxic niche and favored GCSPCs peritoneal dissemination through HIF-1α both in vitro and in vivo. These results provided new insights into the GCPD process and may lead to advancements in the clinical treatment of gastric cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhi-Feng Miao
- Department of Surgical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, People's Republic of China
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24
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Schell MJ, Yang M, Missiaglia E, Delorenzi M, Soneson C, Yue B, Nebozhyn MV, Loboda A, Bloom G, Yeatman TJ. A Composite Gene Expression Signature Optimizes Prediction of Colorectal Cancer Metastasis and Outcome. Clin Cancer Res 2015; 22:734-45. [PMID: 26446941 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-15-0143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2015] [Accepted: 06/30/2015] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE We previously found that an epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-based gene expression signature was highly correlated with the first principal component (PC1) of 326 colorectal cancer tumors and was prognostic. This study was designed to improve these signatures for better prediction of metastasis and outcome. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN A total of 468 colorectal cancer tumors including all stages (I-IV) and metastatic lesions were used to develop a new prognostic score (ΔPC1.EMT) by subtracting the EMT signature score from its correlated PC1 signature score. The score was validated on six other independent datasets with a total of 3,697 tumors. RESULTS ΔPC1.EMT was found to be far more predictive of metastasis and outcome than its parent scores. It performed well in stages I to III, among microsatellite instability subtypes, and across multiple mutation-based subclasses, demonstrating a refined capacity to predict distant metastatic potential even in tumors with a "good" prognosis. For example, in the PETACC-3 clinical trial dataset, it predicted worse overall survival in an adjusted multivariable model for stage III patients (HR standardized by interquartile range [IQR] = 1.50; 95% confidence interval, 1.25-1.81; P = 0.000016, N = 644). The improved performance of ΔPC1.EMT was related to its propensity to identify epithelial-like subpopulations as well as mesenchymal-like subpopulations. Biologically, the signature was correlated positively with RAS signaling but negatively with mitochondrial metabolism. ΔPC1.EMT was a "best of assessed" prognostic score when compared with 10 other known prognostic signatures. CONCLUSIONS The study developed a prognostic signature score with a propensity to detect non-EMT features, including epithelial cancer stem cell-related properties, thereby improving its potential to predict metastasis and poorer outcome in stage I-III patients.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mingli Yang
- Gibbs Cancer Center & Research Institute, Spartanburg, South Carolina
| | | | - Mauro Delorenzi
- SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Lausanne, Switzerland. Ludwig Center for Cancer Research, University of Lausanne (CH), Lausanne, Switzerland. Department of Oncology, University of Lausanne (CH), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | | | - Binglin Yue
- Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | | | | | - Gregory Bloom
- Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Timothy J Yeatman
- Gibbs Cancer Center & Research Institute, Spartanburg, South Carolina.
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25
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Qiu H, Fang X, Luo Q, Ouyang G. Cancer stem cells: a potential target for cancer therapy. Cell Mol Life Sci 2015; 72:3411-24. [PMID: 25967289 PMCID: PMC11113644 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-015-1920-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2014] [Revised: 04/08/2015] [Accepted: 04/28/2015] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Current evidence indicates that a subpopulation of cancer cells, named cancer stem cells (CSCs) or tumor-initiating cells, are responsible for the initiation, growth, metastasis, therapy resistance and recurrence of cancers. CSCs share core regulatory pathways with normal stem cells; however, CSCs rely on distinct reprogrammed pathways to maintain stemness and to contribute to the progression of cancers. The specific targeting of CSCs, together with conventional chemotherapy or radiotherapy, may achieve stable remission or cure cancer. Therefore, the identification of CSCs and a better understanding of the complex characteristics of CSCs will provide invaluable diagnostic, therapeutic and prognostic targets for clinical application. In this review, we will introduce the dysregulated properties of CSCs in cancers and discuss the possible challenges in targeting CSCs for cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong Qiu
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Innovation Center for Cell Signaling Network, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102 China
| | - Xiaoguang Fang
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Innovation Center for Cell Signaling Network, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102 China
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195 USA
| | - Qi Luo
- Department of Surgical Oncology, First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361003 China
| | - Gaoliang Ouyang
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Innovation Center for Cell Signaling Network, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102 China
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26
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Kim J, Tanner K. Recapitulating the Tumor Ecosystem Along the Metastatic Cascade Using 3D Culture Models. Front Oncol 2015; 5:170. [PMID: 26284194 PMCID: PMC4518327 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2015.00170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2015] [Accepted: 07/08/2015] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Advances in cancer research have shown that a tumor can be likened to a foreign species that disrupts delicately balanced ecological interactions, compromising the survival of normal tissue ecosystems. In efforts to mitigate tumor expansion and metastasis, experimental approaches from ecology are becoming more frequently and successfully applied by researchers from diverse disciplines to reverse engineer and re-engineer biological systems in order to normalize the tumor ecosystem. We present a review on the use of 3D biomimetic platforms to recapitulate biotic and abiotic components of the tumor ecosystem, in efforts to delineate the underlying mechanisms that drive evolution of tumor heterogeneity, tumor dissemination, and acquisition of drug resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiyun Kim
- Laboratory of Cell Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
- Nano System Institute, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Kandice Tanner
- Laboratory of Cell Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
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27
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Hatano Y, Semi K, Hashimoto K, Lee MS, Hirata A, Tomita H, Kuno T, Takamatsu M, Aoki K, Taketo MM, Kim YJ, Hara A, Yamada Y. Reducing DNA methylation suppresses colon carcinogenesis by inducing tumor cell differentiation. Carcinogenesis 2015; 36:719-29. [PMID: 25939752 DOI: 10.1093/carcin/bgv060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2014] [Accepted: 04/25/2015] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The forced reduction of global DNA methylation suppresses tumor development in several cancer models in vivo. Nevertheless, the mechanisms underlying these suppressive effects remain unclear. In this report, we describe our findings showing that a genome-wide reduction in the DNA methylation levels induces cellular differentiation in association with decreased cell proliferation in Apc (Min/+) mouse colon tumor cells in vivo. Colon tumor-specific DNA methylation at Cdx1 is reduced in the DNA-hypomethylated tumors accompanied by Cdx1 derepression and an increased expression of intestinal differentiation-related genes. Furthermore, a histological analysis revealed that Cdx1 derepression in the DNA-hypomethylated tumors is correlated with the differentiation of colon tumor cells. Similarly, the treatment of human colon cancer cell lines with a hypomethylating agent induces differentiation-related genes, including CDX1. We herein propose that DNA demethylation exerts a tumor suppressive effect in the colon by inducing tumor cell differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuichiro Hatano
- Department of Tumor Pathology, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1 Yanagido, Gifu 501-1194, Japan
| | - Katsunori Semi
- Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences (WPI-iCeMS), Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan
| | - Kyoichi Hashimoto
- Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences (WPI-iCeMS), Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan
| | - Myeong Sup Lee
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, 138-736, Korea
| | - Akihiro Hirata
- Division of Animal Experiment, Life Science Research Center, Gifu University, 1-1 Yanagido, Gifu 501-1194, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Tomita
- Department of Tumor Pathology, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1 Yanagido, Gifu 501-1194, Japan
| | - Toshiya Kuno
- Department of Tumor Pathology, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1 Yanagido, Gifu 501-1194, Japan
| | - Manabu Takamatsu
- Department of Tumor Pathology, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1 Yanagido, Gifu 501-1194, Japan
| | - Koji Aoki
- Division of Pharmacology, University of Fukui School of Medicine, 23-3 Matsuokashimoaizuki, Eiheiji-cho, Yoshida-gun, Fukui 910-1193, Japan
| | - Makoto M Taketo
- Department of Pharmacology, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Sakyo, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan and
| | - Young-Joon Kim
- Department of Integrated Omics for Biomedical Sciences, Yonsei University, 50 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul 120-749, Korea
| | - Akira Hara
- Department of Tumor Pathology, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1 Yanagido, Gifu 501-1194, Japan
| | - Yasuhiro Yamada
- Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences (WPI-iCeMS), Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan,
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28
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The CDX1-microRNA-215 axis regulates colorectal cancer stem cell differentiation. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2015; 112:E1550-8. [PMID: 25775580 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1503370112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The transcription factor caudal-type homeobox 1 (CDX1) is a key regulator of differentiation in the normal colon and in colorectal cancer (CRC). CDX1 activates the expression of enterocyte genes, but it is not clear how the concomitant silencing of stem cell genes is achieved. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are important mediators of gene repression and have been implicated in tumor suppression and carcinogenesis, but the roles of miRNAs in differentiation, particularly in CRC, remain poorly understood. Here, we identified microRNA-215 (miR-215) as a direct transcriptional target of CDX1 by using high-throughput small RNA sequencing to profile miRNA expression in two pairs of CRC cell lines: CDX1-low HCT116 and HCT116 with stable CDX1 overexpression, and CDX1-high LS174T and LS174T with stable CDX1 knockdown. Validation of candidate miRNAs identified by RNA-seq in a larger cell-line panel revealed miR-215 to be most significantly correlated with CDX1 expression. Quantitative ChIP-PCR and promoter luciferase assays confirmed that CDX1 directly activates miR-215 transcription. miR-215 expression is depleted in FACS-enriched cancer stem cells compared with unsorted samples. Overexpression of miR-215 in poorly differentiated cell lines causes a decrease in clonogenicity, whereas miR-215 knockdown increases clonogenicity and impairs differentiation in CDX1-high cell lines. We identified the genome-wide targets of miR-215 and found that miR-215 mediates the repression of cell cycle and stemness genes downstream of CDX1. In particular, the miR-215 target gene BMI1 has been shown to promote stemness and self-renewal and to vary inversely with CDX1. Our work situates miR-215 as a link between CDX1 expression and BMI1 repression that governs differentiation in CRC.
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29
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Garza-Treviño EN, Said-Fernández SL, Martínez-Rodríguez HG. Understanding the colon cancer stem cells and perspectives on treatment. Cancer Cell Int 2015; 15:2. [PMID: 25685060 PMCID: PMC4328053 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-015-0163-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2014] [Accepted: 01/14/2015] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
An area of research that has been recently gaining attention is the relationship between cancer stem cell (CSC) biology and chemo-resistance in colon cancer patients. It is well recognized that tumor initiation, growth, invasion and metastasis are promoted by CSCs. An important reason for the widespread interest in the CSC model is that it can comprehensibly explain essential and poorly understood clinical events, such as therapy resistance, minimal residual disease, and tumor recurrence. This review discusses the recent advances in colon cancer stem cell research, the genes responsible for CSC chemoresistance, and new therapies against CSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elsa N Garza-Treviño
- Laboratorio de Terapia Celular, Departamento de Bioquímica y Medicina Molecular, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, León, Mexico
| | - Salvador L Said-Fernández
- Laboratorio de Terapia Celular, Departamento de Bioquímica y Medicina Molecular, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, León, Mexico
| | - Herminia G Martínez-Rodríguez
- Laboratorio de Terapia Celular, Departamento de Bioquímica y Medicina Molecular, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, León, Mexico
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30
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Wiener Z, Högström J, Hyvönen V, Band A, Kallio P, Holopainen T, Dufva O, Haglund C, Kruuna O, Oliver G, Ben-Neriah Y, Alitalo K. Prox1 Promotes Expansion of the Colorectal Cancer Stem Cell Population to Fuel Tumor Growth and Ischemia Resistance. Cell Rep 2014; 8:1943-1956. [DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2014.08.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2013] [Revised: 01/14/2014] [Accepted: 08/17/2014] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
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31
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Ashley N, Jones M, Ouaret D, Wilding J, Bodmer WF. Rapidly derived colorectal cancer cultures recapitulate parental cancer characteristics and enable personalized therapeutic assays. J Pathol 2014; 234:34-45. [PMID: 24797403 DOI: 10.1002/path.4371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2014] [Revised: 04/09/2014] [Accepted: 04/29/2014] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
We have developed a simple procedure for deriving pure cultures of growing cancer cells from colorectal cancers, including material refrigerated overnight, for pathological characterization and cytotoxicity assays. Forty-six cancers were processed and cultures set up under varying culture conditions. Use of a Rho kinase (ROCK1) inhibitor markedly increased culture survival, resulting in 80% of samples growing in culture for at least 1 month and beyond. Overnight refrigeration of samples before culture initiation had little effect on success rates, paving the way for cultures to be established for samples collected over wide geographical areas, such as those for clinical trials. Primary cultures demonstrated good correlation for differentiation markers compared to parent cancers, and were highly dynamic in 3D culture. In Matrigel, many colonies formed central lumens, indicating the presence of stem-like cells. Viable colonies in these cultures recapitulated the in vivo generation of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA)-positive necrotic/apoptotic debris, much of which was derived from abnormal vacuolated dynamic 'bubble cells' that have not previously been described. Although bubble cells morphologically resembled signet ring cells, a rare cancer subtype, immunostaining suggested that they were most likely derived from terminally differentiated enterocytes. Micro-assays showed that drug toxicity could be measured in these cultures within hours and with sensitivity down to a few hundred cells. Primary cultures derived by our method provide valid in vitro avatars for studying the pathology of cancers in vitro and are amenable to pre-clinical drug testing, paving the way for personalized cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neil Ashley
- Cancer and Immunogenetics Laboratory, Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, Department of Oncology, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, OX3 9DS, UK
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32
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Oncogenic mutations in intestinal adenomas regulate Bim-mediated apoptosis induced by TGF-β. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2014; 111:E2229-36. [PMID: 24825889 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1406444111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
In the majority of microsatellite-stable colorectal cancers (CRCs), an initiating mutation occurs in the adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) or β-catenin gene, activating the β-catenin/TCF pathway. The progression of resulting adenomas is associated with oncogenic activation of KRas and inactivation of the p53 and TGF-β/Smad functions. Most established CRC cell lines contain mutations in the TGF-β/Smad pathway, but little is known about the function of TGF-β in the early phases of intestinal tumorigenesis. We used mouse and human ex vivo 3D intestinal organoid cultures and in vivo mouse models to study the effect of TGF-β on the Lgr5(+) intestinal stem cells and their progeny in intestinal adenomas. We found that the TGF-β-induced apoptosis in Apc-mutant organoids, including the Lgr5(+) stem cells, was mediated by up-regulation of the BH3-only proapoptotic protein Bcl-2-like protein 11 (Bim). BH3-mimetic compounds recapitulated the effect of Bim not only in the adenomas but also in human CRC organoids that had lost responsiveness to TGF-β-induced apoptosis. However, wild-type intestinal crypts were markedly less sensitive to TGF-β than Apc-mutant adenomas, whereas the KRas oncogene increased resistance to TGF-β via the activation of the Erk1/2 kinase pathway, leading to Bim down-regulation. Our studies identify Bim as a critical mediator of TGF-β-induced apoptosis in intestinal adenomas and show that the common progression mutations modify Bim levels and sensitivity to TGF-β during intestinal adenoma development.
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33
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Abstract
Despite the millions of dollars spent on target validation and drug optimization in preclinical models, most therapies still fail in phase III clinical trials. Our current model systems, or the way we interpret data from them, clearly do not have sufficient clinical predictive power. Current opinion suggests that this is because the cell lines and xenografts that are commonly used are inadequate models that do not effectively mimic and predict human responses. This has become such a widespread belief that it approaches dogma in the field of drug discovery and optimization and has spurred a surge in studies devoted to the development of more sophisticated animal models such as orthotopic patient-derived xenografts in an attempt to obtain more accurate estimates of whether particular cancers will respond to given treatments. Here, we explore the evidence that has led to the move away from the use of in vitro cell lines and toward various forms of xenograft models for drug screening and development. We review some of the pros and cons of each model and give an overview of ways in which the use of cell lines could be modified to improve the predictive capacity of this well-defined model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer L Wilding
- Authors' Affiliation: Department of Oncology, Cancer and Immunogenetics Laboratory, Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, United Kingdom
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