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Raghuram N, Temel EI, Kawamata T, Kozma KJ, Loch AJ, Wang W, Adams JR, Muller WJ, Egan SE. Elevated expression of wildtype RhoC promotes ErbB2- and Pik3ca-induced mammary tumor formation. Breast Cancer Res 2024; 26:86. [PMID: 38807216 PMCID: PMC11134842 DOI: 10.1186/s13058-024-01842-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 05/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Copy number gains in genes coding for Rho activating exchange factors as well as losses affecting genes coding for RhoGAP proteins are common in breast cancer (BC), suggesting that elevated Rho signaling may play an important role. Extra copies and overexpression of RHOC also occur, although a role for RhoC overexpression in driving tumor formation has not been assessed in vivo. To this end, we report on the development of a Rosa26 (R26)-targeted Cre-conditional RhoC overexpression mouse (R26RhoC). This mouse was crossed to two models for ERBB2/NEU+ breast cancer: one based on expression of an oncogenic ErbB2/Neu cDNA downstream of the endogenous ErbB2 promoter (FloxNeoNeuNT), the other, a metastatic model that is based on high-level expression from MMTV regulatory elements (NIC). RhoC overexpression dramatically enhanced mammary tumor formation in FloxNeoNeuNT mice but showed a more subtle effect in the NIC line, which forms multiple mammary tumors after a very short latency. RhoC overexpression also enhanced mammary tumor formation in an activated Pik3ca model for breast cancer (Pik3caH1047R). The transforming effect of RhoC was associated with epithelial/mesenchymal transition (EMT) in ErbB2/NeuNT and Pik3caH1047R systems. Thus, our study reveals the importance of elevated wildtype Rho protein expression as a driver of breast tumor formation and highlights the significance of Copy Number Abberations that affect Rho signalling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nandini Raghuram
- Program in Cell Biology, The Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning, The Hospital for Sick Children, 686 Bay Street, Room 16-9703, Toronto, ON, M5G 0A4, Canada
- Department of Molecular Genetics, The University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - E Idil Temel
- Program in Cell Biology, The Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning, The Hospital for Sick Children, 686 Bay Street, Room 16-9703, Toronto, ON, M5G 0A4, Canada
- Department of Molecular Genetics, The University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Toshihiro Kawamata
- Program in Cell Biology, The Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning, The Hospital for Sick Children, 686 Bay Street, Room 16-9703, Toronto, ON, M5G 0A4, Canada
| | - Katelyn J Kozma
- Program in Cell Biology, The Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning, The Hospital for Sick Children, 686 Bay Street, Room 16-9703, Toronto, ON, M5G 0A4, Canada
- Department of Molecular Genetics, The University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Amanda J Loch
- Program in Cell Biology, The Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning, The Hospital for Sick Children, 686 Bay Street, Room 16-9703, Toronto, ON, M5G 0A4, Canada
| | - Wei Wang
- Program in Cell Biology, The Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning, The Hospital for Sick Children, 686 Bay Street, Room 16-9703, Toronto, ON, M5G 0A4, Canada
| | - Jessica R Adams
- Program in Cell Biology, The Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning, The Hospital for Sick Children, 686 Bay Street, Room 16-9703, Toronto, ON, M5G 0A4, Canada
| | - William J Muller
- Department of Biochemistry and Department of Medicine, Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Research Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, H3A 1A3, Canada
| | - Sean E Egan
- Program in Cell Biology, The Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning, The Hospital for Sick Children, 686 Bay Street, Room 16-9703, Toronto, ON, M5G 0A4, Canada.
- Department of Molecular Genetics, The University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada.
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2
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Triulzi T, Regondi V, Venturelli E, Gasparini P, Ghirelli C, Groppelli J, Di Modica M, Bianchi F, De Cecco L, Sfondrini L, Tagliabue E. HER2 mRNA Levels, Estrogen Receptor Activity and Susceptibility to Trastuzumab in Primary Breast Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14225650. [PMID: 36428742 PMCID: PMC9688101 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14225650] [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: 10/28/2022] [Revised: 11/11/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
While the results thus far demonstrate the clinical benefit of trastuzumab in breast cancer (BC), some patients do not respond to this drug. HER2 mRNA, alone or combined with other genes/biomarkers, has been proven to be a powerful predictive marker in several studies. Here, we provide evidence of the association between HER2 mRNA levels and the response to anti-HER2 treatment in HER2-positive BC patients treated with adjuvant trastuzumab and show that this association is independent of estrogen receptor (ER) tumor positivity. While HER2 mRNA expression was significantly correlated with HER2 protein levels in ER-negative tumors, no correlation was found in ER-positive tumors, and HER2 protein expression was not associated with relapse risk. Correlation analyses in the ER-positive subset identified ER activity as the pathway inversely associated with HER2 mRNA. Associations between HER2 levels and oncogene addiction, as well as between HER2 activation and trastuzumab sensitivity, were also observed in vitro in HER2-positive BC cell lines. In ER-positive but not ER-negative BC cells, HER2 transcription was increased by reducing ligand-dependent ER activity or inducing ER degradation. Accordingly, HER2 mRNA levels in patients were found to be inversely correlated with blood levels of estradiol, the natural ligand of ER that induces ER activation. Moreover, low estradiol levels were associated with a lower risk of relapse in HER2-positive BC patients treated with adjuvant trastuzumab. Overall, we found that HER2 mRNA levels, but not protein levels, indicate the HER2 dependency of tumor cells and low estrogen-dependent ER activity in HER2-positive tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiziana Triulzi
- Molecular Targeting Unit, Department of Experimental Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, 20133 Milan, Italy
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-0223905121
| | - Viola Regondi
- Molecular Targeting Unit, Department of Experimental Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Venturelli
- Nutritional Research and Metabolomics, Department of Experimental Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Patrizia Gasparini
- Genomic Unit, Department of Experimental Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Cristina Ghirelli
- Molecular Targeting Unit, Department of Experimental Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Jessica Groppelli
- Molecular Targeting Unit, Department of Experimental Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Martina Di Modica
- Molecular Targeting Unit, Department of Experimental Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Francesca Bianchi
- Department of Biomedical Science for Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy
- Laboratorio Morfologia Umana Applicata, IRCCS Policlinico San Donato, 20097 Milan, Italy
| | - Loris De Cecco
- Molecular Mechanisms Unit, Department of Experimental Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Lucia Sfondrini
- Molecular Targeting Unit, Department of Experimental Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, 20133 Milan, Italy
- Department of Biomedical Science for Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Elda Tagliabue
- Molecular Targeting Unit, Department of Experimental Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, 20133 Milan, Italy
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A Transcriptional Link between HER2, JAM-A and FOXA1 in Breast Cancer. Cells 2022; 11:cells11040735. [PMID: 35203384 PMCID: PMC8870165 DOI: 10.3390/cells11040735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Revised: 02/11/2022] [Accepted: 02/17/2022] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Overexpression of the human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2) is associated with aggressive disease in breast and certain other cancers. At a cellular level, the adhesion protein Junctional Adhesion Molecule-A (JAM-A) has been reported to regulate the expression of HER3 via a transcriptional pathway involving FOXA1. Since FOXA1 is also a suggested transcription factor for HER2, this study set out to determine if JAM-A regulates HER2 expression via a similar mechanism. An integrated tripartite approach was taken, involving cellular expression studies after targeted disruption of individual players in the putative pathway, in silico identification of relevant HER2 promoter regions and, finally, interrogation of cancer patient survival databases to deconstruct functionally important links between HER2, JAM-A and FOXA1 gene expression. The outcome of these investigations revealed a unidirectional pathway in which JAM-A expression transcriptionally regulates that of HER2 by influencing the binding of FOXA1 to a specific site in the HER2 gene promoter. Moreover, a correlation between JAM-A and HER2 gene expression was identified in 75% of a sample of 40 cancer types from The Cancer Genome Atlas, and coincident high mean mRNA expression of JAM-A, HER2 and FOXA1 was associated with poorer survival outcomes in HER2-positive (but not HER2-negative) patients with either breast or gastric tumors. These investigations provide the first evidence of a transcriptional pathway linking JAM-A, HER2 and FOXA1 in cancer settings, and support potential future pharmacological targeting of JAM-A as an upstream regulator of HER2.
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Bao R, Ng A, Sasaki M, Esai Selvan M, Katti A, Lee H, Huang L, Skol AD, Lavarino C, Salvador H, Klein RJ, Gümüş ZH, Mora J, Onel K. Functional Common and Rare ERBB2 Germline Variants Cooperate in Familial and Sporadic Cancer Susceptibility. Cancer Prev Res (Phila) 2021; 14:441-454. [PMID: 33419763 PMCID: PMC8026518 DOI: 10.1158/1940-6207.capr-20-0094] [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: 02/26/2020] [Revised: 08/21/2020] [Accepted: 12/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
We investigated a Spanish and Catalan family in which multiple cancer types tracked across three generations, but for which no genetic etiology had been identified. Whole-exome sequencing of germline DNA from multiple affected family members was performed to identify candidate variants to explain this occurrence of familial cancer. We discovered in all cancer-affected family members a single rare heterozygous germline variant (I654V, rs1801201) in ERBB2/HER2, which is located in a transmembrane glycine zipper motif critical for ERBB2-mediated signaling and in complete linkage disequilibrium (D' = 1) with a common polymorphism (I655V, rs1136201) previously reported in some populations as associated with cancer risk. Because multiple cancer types occurred in this family, we tested both the I654V and the I655V variants for association with cancer across multiple tumor types in 6,371 cases of Northern European ancestry drawn from The Cancer Genome Atlas and 6,647 controls, and found that the rare variant (I654V) was significantly associated with an increased risk for cancer (OR = 1.40; P = 0.021; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.05-1.89). Functional assays performed in HEK 293T cells revealed that both the I655V single mutant (SM) and the I654V;I655V double mutant (DM) stabilized ERBB2 protein and activated ERBB2 signaling, with the DM activating ERBB2 significantly more than the SM alone. Thus, our results suggest a model whereby heritable genetic variation in the transmembrane domain activating ERBB2 signaling is associated with both sporadic and familial cancer risk, with increased ERBB2 stabilization and activation associated with increased cancer risk. PREVENTION RELEVANCE: By performing whole-exome sequencing on germline DNA from multiple cancer-affected individuals belonging to a family in which multiple cancer types track across three generations, we identified and then characterized functional common and rare variation in ERBB2 associated with both sporadic and familial cancer. Our results suggest that heritable variation activating ERBB2 signaling is associated with risk for multiple cancer types, with increases in signaling correlated with increases in risk, and modified by ancestry or family history.
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Affiliation(s)
- Riyue Bao
- Hillman Cancer Center, UPMC, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Anita Ng
- The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, Manhasset, New York
| | - Mark Sasaki
- Department of Pediatrics, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Myvizhi Esai Selvan
- The Icahn Institute for Data Science and Genomic Technology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
- Center for Research Informatics, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Alyna Katti
- Department of Pediatrics, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Hyesan Lee
- Department of Pediatrics, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Lei Huang
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | - Andrew D Skol
- Department of Pediatrics, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Cinzia Lavarino
- Pediatric Cancer Center Barcelona (PCCB), Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Hector Salvador
- Pediatric Cancer Center Barcelona (PCCB), Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Robert J Klein
- The Icahn Institute for Data Science and Genomic Technology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
- Center for Research Informatics, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Zeynep H Gümüş
- The Icahn Institute for Data Science and Genomic Technology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
- Center for Research Informatics, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Jaume Mora
- Pediatric Cancer Center Barcelona (PCCB), Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Kenan Onel
- The Icahn Institute for Data Science and Genomic Technology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York.
- Center for Research Informatics, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
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Hua G, Bergon A, Cauchy P, Kahn-Perlès B, Bertucci F, Birnbaum D, Benkirane-Jessel N, Imbert J. ERBB2b mRNA isoform encodes a nuclear variant of the ERBB2 oncogene in breast cancer. J Cell Biochem 2020; 121:4870-4886. [PMID: 32628295 DOI: 10.1002/jcb.29762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2019] [Accepted: 05/05/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
The presence of nuclear ERBB2 receptor-type tyrosine kinase is one of the causes of the resistance to membrane ERBB2-targeted therapy in breast cancers. It has been previously reported that this nuclear location arises through at least two different mechanisms: proteolytic shedding of the extracellular domain of the full-length receptor and translation of the messenger RNA (mRNA)-encoding ERBB2 from internal initiation codons. Here, we report a new mechanism and function where a significant portion of nuclear ERBB2 results from the translation of the variant ERBB2 mRNA under the transcriptional control of a distal promoter that is actively used in breast cancer cells. We show that both membrane ERBB2a and nuclear ERBB2b isoforms are prevalently expressed in breast cancer cell lines and carcinoma samples. The ERBB2b isoform, which is translated from mRNA variant 2, can directly translocate into the nucleus due to the lack of the signal peptide which is required for an intermediate membrane location. Small interfering RNA-mediated gene silencing showed that ERBB2b can repress ERBB2a expression, encoded by variant 1, whereas ERBB2a activates ERBB2b. Nuclear ERBB2 binding to its own promoter was revealed by chromatin immunoprecipitation assay. Altogether, our results provide new insights into the origin and function of nuclear ERBB2 where it can participate at the same time in a positive or a negative feedback autoregulatory loop, dependent on which of its promoters this bona fide transcription factor is acting. They also provide a new understanding for the resistance to therapies targeting the membrane-anchored ERBB2 in breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guoqiang Hua
- INSERM UMR1090 TAGC, Aix-Marseille University, Marseille, France
- INSERM UMR1260, RNM, FMTS, Strasbourg, France
- Faculté de Chirurgie Dentaire de Strasbourg, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Aurélie Bergon
- INSERM UMR1090 TAGC, Aix-Marseille University, Marseille, France
| | - Pierre Cauchy
- INSERM UMR1090 TAGC, Aix-Marseille University, Marseille, France
- Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
| | | | - François Bertucci
- Laboratoire d'Oncologie Prédictive, CRCM, CNRS UMR 7258, INSERM U1068, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Aix-Marseille University, Marseille, France
| | - Daniel Birnbaum
- Laboratoire d'Oncologie Prédictive, CRCM, CNRS UMR 7258, INSERM U1068, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Aix-Marseille University, Marseille, France
| | - Nadia Benkirane-Jessel
- INSERM UMR1260, RNM, FMTS, Strasbourg, France
- Faculté de Chirurgie Dentaire de Strasbourg, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Jean Imbert
- INSERM UMR1090 TAGC, Aix-Marseille University, Marseille, France
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Abedi S, Yung G, Atilano SR, Thaker K, Chang S, Chwa M, Schneider K, Udar N, Bota D, Kenney MC. Differential effects of cisplatin on cybrid cells with varying mitochondrial DNA haplogroups. PeerJ 2020; 8:e9908. [PMID: 33062421 PMCID: PMC7533064 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.9908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2020] [Accepted: 08/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Drug therapy yields different results depending on its recipient population. Cisplatin, a commonly used chemotherapeutic agent, causes different levels of resistance and side effects for different patients, but the mechanism(s) are presently unknown. It has been assumed that this variation is a consequence of differences in nuclear (n) DNA, epigenetics, or some external factor(s). There is accumulating evidence that an individual's mitochondrial (mt) DNA may play a role in their response to medications. Variations within mtDNA can be observed, and an individual's mtDNA can be categorized into haplogroups that are defined by accumulations of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) representing different ethnic populations. Methods The present study was conducted on transmitochondrial cytoplasmic hybrids (cybrids) that possess different maternal-origin haplogroup mtDNA from African (L), Hispanic [A+B], or Asian (D) backgrounds. Cybrids were created by fusing Rho0 ARPE-19 cells (lacking mtDNA) with platelets, which contain numerous mitochondria but no nuclei. These cybrid cells were cultured to passage five, treated with cisplatin, incubated for 48 h, then analyzed for cell metabolic activity (tetrazolium dye (MTT) assay), mitochondrial membrane potential (JC-1 assay), cytotoxicity (lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assay), and gene expression levels for ALK, BRCA1, EGFR, and ERBB2/HER2. Results Results indicated that untreated cybrids with varying mtDNA haplogroups had similar relative metabolic activity before cisplatin treatment. When treated with cisplatin, (1) the decline in metabolic activity was greatest in L (27.4%, p < 0.012) < D (24.86%, p = 0.0001) and [A+B] cybrids (24.67%, p = 0.0285) compared to untreated cybrids; (2) mitochondrial membrane potential remained unchanged in all cybrids (3) LDH production varied between cybrids (L >[A+B], p = 0.0270). (4) The expression levels decreased for ALK in L (p < 0.0001) and [A+B] (p = 0.0001) cybrids but not in D cybrids (p = 0.285); and decreased for EGFR in [A+B] cybrids (p = 0.0246) compared to untreated cybrids. Conclusion Our findings suggest that an individual's mtDNA background may be associated with variations in their response to cisplatin treatment, thereby affecting the efficiency and the severity of side effects from the treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sina Abedi
- Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States of America
| | - Gregory Yung
- Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States of America
| | - Shari R Atilano
- Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States of America
| | - Kunal Thaker
- Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States of America
| | - Steven Chang
- Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States of America
| | - Marilyn Chwa
- Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States of America
| | - Kevin Schneider
- Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States of America
| | - Nitin Udar
- Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States of America
| | - Daniela Bota
- Department of Neurology, Neuro-Oncology Division, University of California, Irvine CA, United States of America
| | - M Cristina Kenney
- Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States of America.,Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California, Irvine, CA, United States of America
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7
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Ebrahimi E, Almasi-Hashiani A, Ghaffari K, Shirkoohi R. Mitochondrial DNA copy number instability in ERBB2-amplified breast cancer tumors. EXCLI JOURNAL 2018; 17:149-158. [PMID: 29743853 PMCID: PMC5938539 DOI: 10.17179/excli2017-819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2017] [Accepted: 12/12/2017] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Increase in the copy number of ERBB2, a Tyrosine Kinase Receptor (TKR) leads to the overexpression of oncogene product and consequently uncontrolled cell proliferation which has been reported in different aggressive cancers with mitochondrial malfunctions. Although, amplification of ERBB2 has been reported in different studies; however, the association between changes in mitochondrial DNA content and the ERBB2 gene copy number is poorly understood. The relative mitochondrial DNA content of breast cancer tumor tissues of 70 patients who were referred to Imam Khomeini Hospital Complex was determined using quantitative Real-time PCR. Multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) was conducted to evaluate the ERBB2 gene copy number variation and finally, two-sample Wilcoxon rank-sum (Mann-Whitney) test was used to investigate the possible association between mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) content and the ERBB2 gene amplification. Seventeen out of 70 breast cancer tumor tissues were found with ERBB2 gene amplification. Comparison of the mitochondrial DNA content of the aforementioned samples with the rest of the cases showed a significant decrease in the mitochondrial DNA content of the ERBB2-amplified samples (P=0.01). Our data provided evidence that ERBB2 have the potential to have a regulatory role over mitochondrial activity by controlling the mtDNA content.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elmira Ebrahimi
- Cancer Biology Research Center, Cancer Institute, Imam Khomeini Hospital Complex, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Amir Almasi-Hashiani
- Department of Epidemiology and Reproductive Health, Reproductive Epidemiology Research Center, Royan Institute for Reproductive Biomedicine, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
| | - Kimia Ghaffari
- Cancer Biology Research Center, Cancer Institute, Imam Khomeini Hospital Complex, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Reza Shirkoohi
- Cancer Biology Research Center, Cancer Institute, Imam Khomeini Hospital Complex, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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8
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Lim RCC, Price JT, Wilce JA. Context-dependent role of Grb7 in HER2+ve and triple-negative breast cancer cell lines. Breast Cancer Res Treat 2014; 143:593-603. [PMID: 24464577 DOI: 10.1007/s10549-014-2838-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2013] [Accepted: 01/10/2014] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Grb7 is an adapter protein, aberrantly co-overexpressed with HER2 and identified as an independent prognostic marker in breast cancer. It has been established that Grb7 exacerbates the cellular growth and migratory behaviour of HER2+ve breast cancer cells. Less is known about Grb7's role in the context of HER2-ve cells. Here we directly compare the effect of stable Grb7 knockdown in oestrogen sensitive (T47D), HER2+ve (SKBR3) and triple-negative (MDA-MB-468 and MDA-MB-231) breast cancer cell lines on anchorage dependent and independent cell growth, wound healing and chemotaxis. All cell lines showed reduced ability to migrate upon Grb7 knockdown, despite their greatly varied endogenous levels of Grb7. Decreased cell proliferation was not observed in any of the cell lines upon Grb7 knockdown; however, decreased ability to form colonies was observed for all but the oestrogen sensitive cell line, depending upon the stringency of the growth conditions. The data reveal that Grb7 plays an important role in breast cancer progression, beyond the context of HER2+ve cell types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reece C C Lim
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash University, Wellington Road, Clayton, VIC, 3800, Australia
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9
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Guille A, Chaffanet M, Birnbaum D. Signaling pathway switch in breast cancer. Cancer Cell Int 2013; 13:66. [PMID: 23805779 PMCID: PMC3712008 DOI: 10.1186/1475-2867-13-66] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2013] [Accepted: 06/20/2013] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Next generation sequencing studies have drawn the general landscape of breast cancers and identified hundreds of new, actual therapeutic targets. Two major signaling pathways seem to be altered in a vast proportion of breast cancers. The PI3 kinase/AKT pathway is activated and the JUN/MAPK pathway is repressed. Via the regulation of the cell cycle this metabolic switch impacts on the balance between self-renewal, proliferation and differentiation of the tumor-initiating cells
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Affiliation(s)
- Arnaud Guille
- Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille, Oncologie Moléculaire, "Equipe labellisée Ligue Contre le Cancer", UMR1068 Inserm, CNRS UMR7258, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Aix-Marseille Université, 27 bd, Leï Roure, BP 30059, Marseille 13273, France.
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10
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Jain K, Paranandi KS, Sridharan S, Basu A. Autophagy in breast cancer and its implications for therapy. Am J Cancer Res 2013; 3:251-265. [PMID: 23841025 PMCID: PMC3696532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2013] [Accepted: 05/01/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Autophagy is an evolutionarily conserved process of cellular self-digestion that serves as a mechanism to clear damaged organelles and recycle nutrients. Since autophagy can promote cell survival as well as cell death, it has been linked to different human pathologies, including cancer. Although mono-allelic deletion of autophagy-related gene BECN1 in breast tumors originally indicated a tumor suppressive role for autophagy in breast cancer, the intense research during the last decade suggests a role for autophagy in tumor progression. It is now recognized that tumor cells often utilize autophagy to survive various stresses, such as oncogene-induced transformation, hypoxia, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and extracellular matrix detachment. Induction of autophagy by tumor cells may also contribute to tumor dormancy and resistance to anticancer therapies, thus making autophagy inhibitors promising drug candidates for breast cancer treatment. The scientific endeavors continue to define a precise role for autophagy in breast cancer. In this article, we review the current literature on the role of autophagy during the development and progression of breast cancer, and discuss the potential of autophagy modulators for breast cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kirti Jain
- Department of Molecular Biology & Immunology, University of North Texas Health Science Center and Institutes for Cancer Research and Focused on Resources for her Health Education and Research Fort Worth, Texas, 76107, USA
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Contino F, Mazzarella C, Ferro A, Lo Presti M, Roz E, Lupo C, Perconti G, Giallongo A, Feo S. Negative transcriptional control of ERBB2 gene by MBP-1 and HDAC1: diagnostic implications in breast cancer. BMC Cancer 2013; 13:81. [PMID: 23421821 PMCID: PMC3599235 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2407-13-81] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2012] [Accepted: 01/28/2013] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The human ERBB2 gene is frequently amplified in breast tumors, and its high expression is associated with poor prognosis. We previously reported a significant inverse correlation between Myc promoter-binding protein-1 (MBP-1) and ERBB2 expression in primary breast invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC). MBP-1 is a transcriptional repressor of the c-MYC gene that acts by binding to the P2 promoter; only one other direct target of MBP-1, the COX2 gene, has been identified so far. Methods To gain new insights into the functional relationship linking MBP-1 and ERBB2 in breast cancer, we have investigated the effects of MBP-1 expression on endogenous ERBB2 transcript and protein levels, as well as on transcription promoter activity, by transient-transfection of SKBr3 cells. Reporter gene and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays were used to dissect the ERBB2 promoter and identify functional MBP-1 target sequences. We also investigated the relative expression of MBP-1 and HDAC1 in IDC and normal breast tissues by immunoblot analysis and immunohistochemistry. Results Transfection experiments and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays in SKBr3 cells indicated that MBP-1 negatively regulates the ERBB2 gene by binding to a genomic region between nucleotide −514 and −262 of the proximal promoter; consistent with this, a concomitant recruitment of HDAC1 and loss of acetylated histone H4 was observed. In addition, we found high expression of MBP-1 and HDAC1 in normal tissues and a statistically significant inverse correlation with ErbB2 expression in the paired tumor samples. Conclusions Altogether, our in vitro and in vivo data indicate that the ERBB2 gene is a novel MBP-1 target, and immunohistochemistry analysis of primary tumors suggests that the concomitant high expression of MBP-1 and HDAC1 may be considered a diagnostic marker of cancer progression for breast IDC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Flavia Contino
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Molecolari e Biomolecolari, Università di Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, Ed. 16, Palermo I-90128, Italy
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW There have been recent new developments in the treatment of breast cancer that over-expresses HER2 (ERRB2/HER2 positive) and the mechanistic understanding of trastuzumab response. We review these findings and reflect on how they may influence the next generation of clinical trials in this breast cancer subtype. RECENT FINDINGS Two recent trials in the neoadjuvant setting report that treatment with dual anti-HER2 agents was superior, in terms of rates of pathological complete response, to trastuzumab alone. Recent data also highlight that HER2 positive disease is biologically different according to estrogen receptor status and for long lasting clinical remissions, anti-HER2 therapy also seems to require an effective adaptive immune response. SUMMARY We are currently in a very exciting era for therapeutic approaches in HER2 positive disease. Recent data suggest that intensive chemotherapy regimens may not be required for some women if we can determine the most potent combinations of signal inhibitors. We also propose that different clinical trials may need to be designed for HER2 positive breast cancer according to estrogen receptor status and consider incorporating immunotherapeutic approaches.
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Pfister AB, Wood RC, Salas PJI, Zea DL, Ramsauer VP. Early response to ErbB2 over-expression in polarized Caco-2 cells involves partial segregation from ErbB3 by relocalization to the apical surface and initiation of survival signaling. J Cell Biochem 2011; 111:643-52. [PMID: 20589763 DOI: 10.1002/jcb.22754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
In several human cancers, ErbB2 over-expression facilitates the formation of constitutively active homodimers resistant to internalization which results in progressive signal amplification from the receptor, conducive to cell survival, proliferation, or metastasis. Here we report on studies of the influence of ErbB2 over-expression on localization and signaling in polarized Caco-2 and MDCK cells, two established models to study molecular trafficking. In these cells, ErbB2 is not over-expressed and shares basolateral localization with ErbB3. Over-expression of ErbB2 by transient transfection resulted in partial separation of the receptors by relocalization of ErbB2, but not ErbB3, to the apical surface, as shown by biotinylation of the apical or basolateral surfaces. These results were confirmed by immunofluorescence and confocal microscopy. Polarity controls indicated that the relocalization of ErbB2 is not the result of depolarization of the cells. Biotinylation and confocal microscopy also showed that apical, but not basolateral ErbB2 is activated at tyrosine 1139. This phosphotyrosine binds adaptor protein Grb2, as confirmed by immunoprecipitation. However, we found that it does not initiate the canonical Grb2-Ras-Raf-Erk pathway. Instead, our data supports the activation of a survival pathway via Bcl-2. The effects of ErbB2 over-expression were abrogated by the humanized anti-ErbB2 monoclonal antibody Herceptin added only from the apical side. The ability of apical ErbB2 to initiate an altered downstream cascade suggests that subcellular localization of the receptor plays an important role in regulating ErbB2 signaling in polarized epithelia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amber B Pfister
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Bill Gatton College of Pharmacy, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, Tennessee 37614, USA
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