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Mitha M, Aden D, Zaheer S, Alvi Y, Chintamani. Role of tumor budding and fibrotic cancer stroma in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Pathol Res Pract 2024; 253:155052. [PMID: 38176309 DOI: 10.1016/j.prp.2023.155052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2023] [Revised: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is an aggressive cancer with an increased frequency of lymph node metastasis at the time of presentation. Tumour budding, characterised by the presence of a single cell or a small grouping of tumour cells (a cluster containing fewer than five malignant cells) at the invasive front and composition of the fibrotic cancer stroma has been demonstrated to have a growing impact on the behaviour of the solid tumour. However exact role played by them is yet to be defined and a standardized scoring system needs to be incorporated. MATERIAL AND METHODS A total of 45 histopathologically confirmed cases of HNSCC were included in the study. Hematoxylin and Eosin staining (H&E staining), and immunohistochemistry for CK and alpha-SMA were applied to study the tumour budding and fibrotic cancer stroma in all HNSCC cases. The tumour budding was graded as, Grade 1: 0-4 tumour buds, Grade 2: 5-9 buds and Grade 3: ≥ 10 buds and the nature of fibrotic cancer stroma was categorized as mature, intermediate or immature. RESULTS Among 45 cases analyzed, well differentiated squamous cell carcinoma (WDSCC; Grade 1) accounted for 42.22% (19 cases), whereas moderately differentiated squamous cell carcinoma (MDSCC; Grade 2) and poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma (PDSCC; Grade 3) comprised 48.89% (22 cases) and 8.89% (4 cases) respectively. Tumour budding showed instances of 0-4 buds in 33.3% (Grade 1), 5-9 buds in 48.9% (Grade 2), and ≥ 10 buds in 17.8% of cases. Evaluating tumour stroma, Intermediate stroma led at 51.1%, Mature at 37.8%, and 11.1% displayed Immature stroma. Histologically, < 5 buds were seen in 47.4% of Grade 1 cases, while ≥ 10 buds were in 75.0% of Grade 3 cases, proven statistically significant (p = 0.021). However, an association between T&N Stage and tumour budding lacked significance. WDSCC notably had more mature stroma than MDSCC and PDSCC, whereas MDSCC showed higher rates of intermediate and immature stroma (p < 0.001). Comparatively, no significant correlation existed between fibrotic stroma and tumour budding (p = 0.076). Also, fibrotic stroma was compared with tumour budding, however, no significant correlation was found (p = 0.076) CONCLUSION: This study reveals a significant link between tumour budding, cancer stroma, and WHO tumour grade. Thus, evaluating these factors in HNSCC cases can serve as valuable histological prognostic indicators, aiding in treatment planning and prognosis assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madhu Mitha
- Department of Pathology, Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi, India
| | - Durre Aden
- Department of Pathology, Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi, India
| | - Sufian Zaheer
- Department of Pathology, Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi, India.
| | - Yasir Alvi
- Department of Community Medicine, Hamdard Institute of Medical Sciences and Research New Delhi, India
| | - Chintamani
- Department of Surgery, Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi, India
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Hu C, Zhang Y, Wu C, Huang Q. Heterogeneity of cancer-associated fibroblasts in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: opportunities and challenges. Cell Death Discov 2023; 9:124. [PMID: 37055382 PMCID: PMC10102018 DOI: 10.1038/s41420-023-01428-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2023] [Revised: 03/25/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 04/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is among the most severe and complex malignant diseases with a high level of heterogeneity and, as a result, a wide range of therapeutic responses, regardless of clinical stage. Tumor progression depends on ongoing co-evolution and cross-talk with the tumor microenvironment (TME). In particular, cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), embedded in the extracellular matrix (ECM), induce tumor growth and survival by interacting with tumor cells. Origin of CAFs is quite varied, and the activation patterns of CAFs are also heterogeneous. Crucially, the heterogeneity of CAFs appears to play a key role in ongoing tumor expansion, including facilitating proliferation, enhancing angiogenesis and invasion, and promoting therapy resistance, through the production of cytokines, chemokines, and other tumor-promotive molecules in the TME. This review describes the various origin and heterogeneous activation mechanisms of CAFs, and biological heterogeneity of CAFs in HNSCC is also included. Moreover, we have highlighted versatility of CAFs heterogeneity in HNSCC progression, and have discussed different tumor-promotive functions of CAFs respectively. In the future, it is a promising strategy for the therapy of HNSCC that specifically targeting tumor-promoting CAF subsets or the tumor-promoting functional targets of CAFs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Hu
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Beijing TongRen Hospital, Capital Medical University, 100730, Beijing, China
| | - Yifan Zhang
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Eye & ENT Hospital, Fudan University, 200031, Shanghai, China
| | - Chunping Wu
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Eye & ENT Hospital, Fudan University, 200031, Shanghai, China.
| | - Qiang Huang
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Eye & ENT Hospital, Fudan University, 200031, Shanghai, China.
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Kim JY, Moon S, Kim D. Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma-Derived ANGPTL3 Induces Cancer Associated Fibroblastic Phenotypes in Surrounding Fibroblasts. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev 2022; 23:4315-4322. [PMID: 36580015 PMCID: PMC9971477 DOI: 10.31557/apjcp.2022.23.12.4315] [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: 08/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Angiopoietin-like proteins (ANGPTLs) have emerged as both important regulator of lipid and glucose metabolism as well as insulin sensitivity. In particular, ANGPTL3 activity is one of the most important factors in cancer growth and invasion. Although ANGPTL3 have been studied in OSCC, but the role of ANGPTL3 between OSCC and CAFs has yet to be clearly defined. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the roles of ANGPTL3 in the differentiation of CAFs. METHODS For our study, we used hTERT-hNOFs to replace CAFs by coculturing them with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) cells. We did a microarray dataset analysis to investigate what factors secreted from OSCC cells can induce cancer associated fibroblastic phenotype in surrounding fibroblasts. The secreted factors were confirmed by RT-PCR, real-time PCR, and Western blot. RESULT ANGPTL3 has the most secreted factor derived from various oral cancer cells. To investigate the role of ANGPTL3 in CAFs, we treated rhANGPTL3 in hTERT-hNOFs. The fibroblasts showed an increase of tumor-promoting cytokines (IL-6 and IL-8) and myofibroblastic markers, such as α-SMA and FAP. CONCLUSION In conclusion, our study reports the first evidence that ANGPTL3 plays a crucial role in tumor microenvironments by inducing CAF. Therefore, targeting ANGPTL3 may be promising treatment strategy for CAF-targeted therapy in CAF-rich tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jue Young Kim
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, 06230, Republic of Korea.
| | - Sook Moon
- Department of Dental Hygiene, Daejeon health institute of technology, Daejeon, 34504, Republic of Korea.
| | - Dokyeong Kim
- Precision Medicine Research Center, Department of Biomedicine & Health Sciences, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 06591, Republic of Korea. ,For Correspondence:
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Zakaria MA, Kiew MC, Rajab NF, Chua EW, Masre SF. Rigid Tissue Increases Cytoplasmic pYAP Expression in Pre-Malignant Stage of Lung Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC) In Vivo. Curr Issues Mol Biol 2022; 44:4528-4539. [PMID: 36286025 PMCID: PMC9600365 DOI: 10.3390/cimb44100310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2022] [Revised: 09/24/2022] [Accepted: 09/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Increased tissue rigidity is able to activate the Hippo signaling pathway, leading to YAP inactivation by phosphorylation and translocation into the cytoplasm. Accumulating evidence suggests that cytoplasmic pYAP serves as a tumor suppressor and could be a prognostic biomarker for several solid cancers. However, the relationship between tissue rigidity and cytoplasmic pYAP expression in the early stage of lung squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) remains elusive; this was determined in this study by using a mouse model. Female BALB/c mice were assigned into two groups (n = 6; the vehicle (VC) and the pre-malignant (PM) group, which received 70% acetone and 0.04 M N-nitroso-tris-chloroethylurea (NTCU) for 15 weeks, respectively. In this study, the formation of hyperplasia and metaplasia lesions was found in the PM group, indicating the pre-malignant stage of lung SCC. The pre-malignant tissue appeared to be more rigid as characterized by significantly higher (p < 0.05) epithelium thickness, proliferative activity, and collagen content than the VC group. The PM group also had a significantly higher (p < 0.05) cytoplasmic pYAP protein expression than the VC group. In conclusion, increased tissue rigidity may contribute to the upregulation of cytoplasmic pYAP expression, which may act as a tumor suppressor in the early stage of lung SCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Asyaari Zakaria
- Centre for Toxicology and Health Risk Studies, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur 50300, Malaysia
| | - May Chee Kiew
- Centre for Toxicology and Health Risk Studies, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur 50300, Malaysia
| | - Nor Fadilah Rajab
- Centre for Healthy Ageing and Wellness, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur 50300, Malaysia
| | - Eng Wee Chua
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur 50300, Malaysia
| | - Siti Fathiah Masre
- Centre for Toxicology and Health Risk Studies, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur 50300, Malaysia
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +60-137442907
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Xia N, Yang N, Shan Q, Wang Z, Liu X, Chen Y, Lu J, Huang W, Wang Z. HNRNPC regulates RhoA to induce DNA damage repair and cancer-associated fibroblast activation causing radiation resistance in pancreatic cancer. J Cell Mol Med 2022; 26:2322-2336. [PMID: 35277915 PMCID: PMC8995438 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.17254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2021] [Revised: 01/29/2022] [Accepted: 02/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer (PC) is one of the most lethal types of cancer due to its asymptomatic nature in the early stages and consequent late diagnosis. Its mortality rate remains high despite advances in treatment strategies, which include a combination of surgical resection and adjuvant therapy. Although these approaches may have a positive effect on prognosis, the development of chemo- and radioresistance still poses a significant challenge for successful PC treatment. Heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein C1/C2 (HNRNPC) and RhoA have been implicated in the regulation of tumour cell proliferation and chemo- and radioresistance. Our study aims to investigate the mechanism for HNRNPC regulation of PC radiation resistance via the RhoA pathway. We found that HNRNPC and RhoA mRNA and protein expression levels were significantly higher in PC tissues compared to adjacent non-tumour tissue. Furthermore, high HNRNPC expression was associated with poor patient prognosis. Using HNRNPC overexpression and siRNA interference, we demonstrated that HNRNPC overexpression promoted radiation resistance in PC cells, while HNRNPC knockdown increased radiosensitivity. However, silencing of RhoA expression was shown to attenuate radiation resistance caused by HNRNPC overexpression. Next, we identified RhoA as a downstream target of HNRNPC and showed that inhibition of the RhoA/ROCK2-YAP/TAZ pathway led to a reduction in DNA damage repair and radiation resistance. Finally, using both in vitro assays and an in vivo subcutaneous tumour xenograft model, we demonstrated that RhoA inhibition can hinder the activity of cancer-related fibroblasts and weaken PC radiation resistance. Our study describes a role for HNRNPC and the RhoA/ROCK2-YAP/TAZ signalling pathways in mediating radiation resistance and provides a potential therapeutic target for improving the treatment of PC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ning Xia
- Department of RadiologyRuijin Hospital Luwan BranchShanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineShanghaiChina
| | - Nannan Yang
- Department of RadiologyRuijin Hospital Luwan BranchShanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineShanghaiChina
| | - Qungang Shan
- Department of Interventional RadiologyRuijin HospitalShanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineShanghaiChina
| | - Ziyin Wang
- Department of Interventional RadiologyRuijin HospitalShanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineShanghaiChina
| | - Xiaoyu Liu
- Department of Interventional RadiologyRuijin HospitalShanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineShanghaiChina
| | - Yingjie Chen
- Department of Interventional RadiologyRuijin HospitalShanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineShanghaiChina
| | - Jian Lu
- Department of RadiologyRuijin Hospital Luwan BranchShanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineShanghaiChina
| | - Wei Huang
- Department of Interventional RadiologyRuijin HospitalShanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineShanghaiChina
| | - Zhongmin Wang
- Department of RadiologyRuijin Hospital Luwan BranchShanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineShanghaiChina
- Department of Interventional RadiologyRuijin HospitalShanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineShanghaiChina
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The Hippo pathway in cancer: YAP/TAZ and TEAD as therapeutic targets in cancer. Clin Sci (Lond) 2022; 136:197-222. [PMID: 35119068 PMCID: PMC8819670 DOI: 10.1042/cs20201474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 40.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Revised: 01/05/2022] [Accepted: 01/18/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Tumorigenesis is a highly complex process, involving many interrelated and cross-acting signalling pathways. One such pathway that has garnered much attention in the field of cancer research over the last decade is the Hippo signalling pathway. Consisting of two antagonistic modules, the pathway plays an integral role in both tumour suppressive and oncogenic processes, generally via regulation of a diverse set of genes involved in a range of biological functions. This review discusses the history of the pathway within the context of cancer and explores some of the most recent discoveries as to how this critical transducer of cellular signalling can influence cancer progression. A special focus is on the various recent efforts to therapeutically target the key effectors of the pathway in both preclinical and clinical settings.
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Wu Y, Liu B, Lin W, Zhao R, Han W, Xie J. AAMP promotes colorectal cancer metastasis by suppressing SMURF2-mediated ubiquitination and degradation of RhoA. Mol Ther Oncolytics 2021; 23:515-530. [PMID: 34901393 PMCID: PMC8633529 DOI: 10.1016/j.omto.2021.11.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2021] [Revised: 10/27/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Metastasis is considered the leading cause of cancer death due to the limited possibilities to therapeutically target this process. How the ubiquitination machinery contributes to metastasis remains underexplored. Angio-associated migratory cell protein (AAMP), a ubiquitously expressed protein involved in cell migration, has been reported to play oncogenic roles in breast and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, the role of AAMP in colorectal cancer (CRC) has not been demonstrated. Here, we report that AAMP is aberrantly upregulated in metastatic CRC and that AAMP upregulation is correlated with the poor survival of CRC patients. AAMP knockdown significantly attenuated the migration and invasion of CRC cells, while AAMP overexpression led to the opposite effects. Mechanistically, we identified Ras homolog family member A (RhoA) as a target of AAMP. Smad ubiquitin regulatory factor (SMURF) 2 was previously found to be a CRC suppressor. Notably, we discovered here that SMURF2 acted as an E3 ubiquitin ligase to mediate the ubiquitination and degradation of RhoA. AAMP stabilized RhoA by binding to it and suppressing its SMURF2-mediated ubiquitination and degradation. Subsequently, the level of active RhoA was increased, thereby accelerating CRC cell migration and invasion. These findings indicate a new potential antitumor target for CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuhui Wu
- Department of Medical Oncology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310016, China
| | - Bofang Liu
- Department of Medical Oncology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310016, China
| | - Weiqiang Lin
- Laboratory of Cancer Biology, Institute of Clinical Science, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Yiwu, Zhejiang 322000, China
| | - Rongjie Zhao
- Department of Medical Oncology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310016, China
| | - Weidong Han
- Department of Medical Oncology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310016, China
- Corresponding author: Weidong Han, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, 3# East Qingchun Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310016, China.
| | - Jiansheng Xie
- Department of Medical Oncology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310016, China
- Laboratory of Cancer Biology, Institute of Clinical Science, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310016, China
- Corresponding author: Jiansheng Xie, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, 3# East Qingchun Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310016, China.
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Shetty SS, Padam KSR, Hunter KD, Kudva A, Radhakrishnan R. Biological implications of the immune factors in the tumour microenvironment of oral cancer. Arch Oral Biol 2021; 133:105294. [PMID: 34735925 DOI: 10.1016/j.archoralbio.2021.105294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2021] [Revised: 10/16/2021] [Accepted: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The objective of this review is to decipher the biological implications of the immune factors in the tumour microenvironment in oral cancer. The restoration of balance between tumour tolerance and tumour eradication by the host immune cells is critical to provide effective therapeutic strategies. DESIGN The specific role of the stromal and the immune components in oral cancer was reviewed with a tailored search strategy using relevant keywords. The articles were retrieved from bibliometric databases indexed in PubMed, Scopus, and Embase. An in silico analysis was performed to identify potential drug candidates for immunotherapy, by accessing the Drug-Gene Interactions Database (DGIdb) using the rDGIdb package. RESULTS There is compelling evidence for the role of the cellular and extracellular components of the tumour microenvironment in inducing immunosuppression and progression of oral cancer. The druggable candidates specifically targeting the immune system are a viable option in the treatment of oral cancer as they can regulate the tumour microenvironment. CONCLUSION A complex interaction between the tumour and the immunological microenvironment influences the disease outcome in oral cancer. Targeting specific components of the immune system might be relevant, as immunotherapy may become the new standard of care for oral cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Smitha Sammith Shetty
- Department of Oral Pathology, Faculty of Dentistry, Melaka Manipal Medical College, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal 576104, India
| | - Kanaka Sai Ram Padam
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Manipal School of Life Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal 576104, India
| | - Keith D Hunter
- Academic Unit of Oral and Maxillofacial Medicine and Pathology, School of Clinical Dentistry, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Adarsh Kudva
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Manipal, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal 576104, India
| | - Raghu Radhakrishnan
- Department of Oral Pathology, Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Manipal, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal 576104, India.
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Crosas-Molist E, Samain R, Kohlhammer L, Orgaz J, George S, Maiques O, Barcelo J, Sanz-Moreno V. RhoGTPase Signalling in Cancer Progression and Dissemination. Physiol Rev 2021; 102:455-510. [PMID: 34541899 DOI: 10.1152/physrev.00045.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Rho GTPases are a family of small G proteins that regulate a wide array of cellular processes related to their key roles controlling the cytoskeleton. On the other hand, cancer is a multi-step disease caused by the accumulation of genetic mutations and epigenetic alterations, from the initial stages of cancer development when cells in normal tissues undergo transformation, to the acquisition of invasive and metastatic traits, responsible for a large number of cancer related deaths. In this review, we discuss the role of Rho GTPase signalling in cancer in every step of disease progression. Rho GTPases contribute to tumour initiation and progression, by regulating proliferation and apoptosis, but also metabolism, senescence and cell stemness. Rho GTPases play a major role in cell migration, and in the metastatic process. They are also involved in interactions with the tumour microenvironment and regulate inflammation, contributing to cancer progression. After years of intensive research, we highlight the importance of relevant models in the Rho GTPase field, and we reflect on the therapeutic opportunities arising for cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Crosas-Molist
- Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Remi Samain
- Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Leonie Kohlhammer
- Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jose Orgaz
- Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom.,Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas 'Alberto Sols', CSIC-UAM, 28029, Madrid, Spain
| | - Samantha George
- Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Oscar Maiques
- Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jaume Barcelo
- Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
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Gibieža P, Petrikaitė V. The regulation of actin dynamics during cell division and malignancy. Am J Cancer Res 2021; 11:4050-4069. [PMID: 34659876 PMCID: PMC8493394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2021] [Accepted: 07/29/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Actin is the most abundant protein in almost all the eukaryotic cells. Actin amino acid sequences are highly conserved and have not changed a lot during the progress of evolution, varying by no more than 20% in the completely different species, such as humans and algae. The network of actin filaments plays a crucial role in regulating cells' cytoskeleton that needs to undergo dynamic tuning and structural changes in order for various functional processes, such as cell motility, migration, adhesion, polarity establishment, cell growth and cell division, to take place in live cells. Owing to its fundamental role in the cell, actin is a prominent regulator of cell division, a process, whose success directly depends on morphological changes of actin cytoskeleton and correct segregation of duplicated chromosomes. Disorganization of actin framework during the last stage of cell division, known as cytokinesis, can lead to multinucleation and formation of polyploidy in post-mitotic cells, eventually developing into cancer. In this review, we will cover the principles of actin regulation during cell division and discuss how the control of actin dynamics is altered during the state of malignancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paulius Gibieža
- Laboratory of Drug Targets Histopathology, Institute of Cardiology, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences Kaunas, LT-50162, Lithuania
| | - Vilma Petrikaitė
- Laboratory of Drug Targets Histopathology, Institute of Cardiology, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences Kaunas, LT-50162, Lithuania
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Cao H, Qiang L, Chen J, Johnson KM, McNiven MA, Razidlo GL. Synergistic metalloproteinase-based remodeling of matrix by pancreatic tumor and stromal cells. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0248111. [PMID: 33740019 PMCID: PMC7978280 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0248111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2020] [Accepted: 02/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The process by which tumor cells mechanically invade through the surrounding stroma into peripheral tissues is an essential component of metastatic dissemination. Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-mediated extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation plays an important role in this invasive process. Defining the contribution and interaction between these MMPs during invasion remains a key interest in the development of targeted anti-metastatic therapies. In this study we have utilized multiple different stromal fibroblasts and tumor cells to define the relative contributions between cancer cells and stromal cells during MMP-dependent matrix remodeling and pancreatic (PDAC) tumor cell invasion. We find that tumor cells co-cultured with the conditioned medium from stromal fibroblasts exhibited a substantial increase in invadopodial-based matrix degradation and transwell invasion. This increase is dependent on pro-MMP2 expressed and secreted by stromal fibroblasts. Further, the pro-MMP2 from the stromal fibroblasts is activated by MT1-MMP expressed on the tumor cells. Depletion of MT1-MMP, the known activator of MMP2, in tumor cells largely blocked matrix remodeling, even in the presence of stromal cell medium. In summary, these findings implicate an important interplay between MT1-MMP from tumor cells and MMP2 from fibroblasts as a key component for ECM remodeling and invasion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong Cao
- Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States of America
| | - Li Qiang
- Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States of America
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States of America
| | - Jing Chen
- Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States of America
| | - Katherine M. Johnson
- Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States of America
| | - Mark A. McNiven
- Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States of America
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States of America
- * E-mail: (GLR); (MAM)
| | - Gina L. Razidlo
- Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States of America
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States of America
- * E-mail: (GLR); (MAM)
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Dao NV, Ercole F, Urquhart MC, Kaminskas LM, Nowell CJ, Davis TP, Sloan EK, Whittaker MR, Quinn JF. Trisulfide linked cholesteryl PEG conjugate attenuates intracellular ROS and collagen-1 production in a breast cancer co-culture model. Biomater Sci 2021; 9:835-846. [PMID: 33231231 DOI: 10.1039/d0bm01544j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The progression of cancer has been closely-linked with augmentation of cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and ROS-associated changes in the tumour microenvironment (TME), including alterations to the extracellular matrix and associated low drug uptake. Herein we report the application of a co-culture model to simulate the ROS based cell-cell interactions in the TME using fibroblasts and breast cancer cells, and describe how novel reactive polymers can be used to modulate those interactions. Under the co-culture conditions, both cell types exhibited modifications in behaviour, including significant overproduction of ROS in the cancer cells, and elevation of the collagen-1 secretion and stained actin filament intensity in the fibroblasts. To examine the potential of using reactive antioxidant polymers to intercept ROS communication and thereby manipulate the TME, we employed H2S-releasing macromolecular conjugates which have been previously demonstrated to mitigate ROS production in HEK cells. The specific conjugate used, mPEG-SSS-cholesteryl (T), significantly reduced ROS levels in co-cultured cancer cells by approximately 50%. This reduction was significantly greater than that observed with the other positive antioxidant controls. Exposure to T was also found to downregulate levels of collagen-1 in the co-cultured fibroblasts, while exhibiting less impact on cells in mono-culture. This would suggest a possible downstream effect of ROS-mitigation by T on stromal-tumour cell signalling. Since fibroblast-derived collagens modulate crucial steps in tumorigenesis, this ROS-associated effect could potentially be harnessed to slow cancer progression. The model may also be beneficial for interrogating the impact of antioxidants on naturally enhanced ROS levels, rather than relying on the application of exogenous oxidants to simulate elevated ROS levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nam V Dao
- Australian Research Council - Centre of Excellence in Convergent Bio-Nano Science and Technology, Drug Delivery, Disposition and Dynamics Theme, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia. and Department of Physical Chemistry and Physics, Hanoi University of Pharmacy, Hanoi 10000, Vietnam
| | - Francesca Ercole
- Australian Research Council - Centre of Excellence in Convergent Bio-Nano Science and Technology, Drug Delivery, Disposition and Dynamics Theme, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia.
| | - Matthew C Urquhart
- Australian Research Council - Centre of Excellence in Convergent Bio-Nano Science and Technology, Drug Delivery, Disposition and Dynamics Theme, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia.
| | - Lisa M Kaminskas
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Cameron J Nowell
- Drug Discovery Biology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Thomas P Davis
- Australian Research Council - Centre of Excellence in Convergent Bio-Nano Science and Technology, Drug Delivery, Disposition and Dynamics Theme, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia. and Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Erica K Sloan
- Drug Discovery Biology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia and Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Division of Surgery, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia
| | - Michael R Whittaker
- Australian Research Council - Centre of Excellence in Convergent Bio-Nano Science and Technology, Drug Delivery, Disposition and Dynamics Theme, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia.
| | - John F Quinn
- Australian Research Council - Centre of Excellence in Convergent Bio-Nano Science and Technology, Drug Delivery, Disposition and Dynamics Theme, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia. and Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Monash University, Wellington Road, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
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13
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Mechanism of tumour microenvironment in the progression and development of oral cancer. Mol Biol Rep 2021; 48:1773-1786. [PMID: 33492572 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-020-06054-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2020] [Accepted: 12/01/2020] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Oral cancer has been a major problem all across the globe, majorly in the developing countries. With a growing emphasis in the field of cancer research, the contribution of the tumour microenvironment has been gaining a lot of importance in identifying the role of components other than the tumour cells that cause the development of cancer, thus changing the outlook. The review will shed light on the studies that describe the role of microenvironment, its components as well as summarize the studies related to their mechanism in the progression of oral cancer. The literature for the review was derived mainly from Google Scholar and PubMed, in particular concentrating on the most recent papers published in 2019 and 2020, by using the keywords "Cancer, Oral Cancer, Metastasis, OSCC, Tumour microenvironment, CAFs, ECM, Cytokines, Hypoxia, Therapeutics targeting the microenvironment". The study provides insight into the world of micro-environmental regulation of oral cancer, the mechanism by which they interact and how to exploit it as a potential therapeutic haven for treating the disease. The components Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts (CAFs), Tumour-associated Macrophages (TAMs), Tumour-associated neutrophils (TANs), Hypoxic environment, myeloid-derived stem cells (MDSCs) and T regulatory (Tregs) cells and underlying mechanisms that control them will be the targets of study to understand the microenvironment.
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14
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Jaeschke A, Jacobi A, Lawrence M, Risbridger G, Frydenberg M, Williams E, Vela I, Hutmacher D, Bray L, Taubenberger A. Cancer-associated fibroblasts of the prostate promote a compliant and more invasive phenotype in benign prostate epithelial cells. Mater Today Bio 2020; 8:100073. [PMID: 32984808 PMCID: PMC7498830 DOI: 10.1016/j.mtbio.2020.100073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2020] [Revised: 07/30/2020] [Accepted: 08/07/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Reciprocal interactions between prostate epithelial cells and their adjacent stromal microenvironment not only are essential for tissue homeostasis but also play a key role in tumor development and progression. Malignant transformation is associated with the formation of a reactive stroma where cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) induce matrix remodeling and thereby provide atypical biochemical and biomechanical signals to epithelial cells. Previous work has been focused on the cellular and molecular phenotype as well as on matrix stiffness and remodeling, providing potential targets for cancer therapeutics. So far, biomechanical changes in CAFs and adjacent epithelial cells of the prostate have not been explored. Here, we compared the mechanical properties of primary prostatic CAFs and patient-matched non-malignant prostate tissue fibroblasts (NPFs) using atomic force microscopy (AFM) and real-time deformability cytometry (RT-FDC). It was found that CAFs exhibit an increased apparent Young's modulus, coinciding with an altered architecture of the cytoskeleton compared with NPFs. In contrast, co-cultures of benign prostate epithelial (BPH-1) cells with CAFs resulted in a decreased stiffness of the epithelial cells, as well as an elongated morphological phenotype, when compared with co-cultures with NPFs. Moreover, the presence of CAFs increased proliferation and invasion of epithelial cells, features typically associated with tumor progression. Altogether, this study provides novel insights into the mechanical interactions between epithelial cells with the malignant prostate microenvironment, which could potentially be explored for new diagnostic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- A. Jaeschke
- Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Kelvin Grove, Australia
- School of Mechanical, Medical and Process Engineering, Science and Engineering Faculty, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, Australia
| | - A. Jacobi
- Biotechnology Center, Technische Universität Dresden, Germany
- Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light & Max-Planck-Zentrum für Physik und Medizin, Erlangen, Germany
| | - M.G. Lawrence
- Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute Cancer Program, Prostate Cancer Research Group, Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
- Cancer Research Division, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - G.P. Risbridger
- Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute Cancer Program, Prostate Cancer Research Group, Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
- Cancer Research Division, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - M. Frydenberg
- Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute Cancer Program, Prostate Cancer Research Group, Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
- Australian Urology Associates, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Urology, Cabrini Health, Malvern, Victoria, Australia
| | - E.D. Williams
- Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Kelvin Grove, Australia
- Australian Prostate Cancer Research Centre-Queensland, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Kelvin Grove, Australia
- Translational Research Institute, Woolloongabba, Australia
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, Australia
| | - I. Vela
- Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Kelvin Grove, Australia
- Australian Prostate Cancer Research Centre-Queensland, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Kelvin Grove, Australia
- Translational Research Institute, Woolloongabba, Australia
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, Australia
- Department of Urology, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Woolloongabba, Australia
| | - D.W. Hutmacher
- Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Kelvin Grove, Australia
- School of Mechanical, Medical and Process Engineering, Science and Engineering Faculty, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, Australia
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, Australia
| | - L.J. Bray
- Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Kelvin Grove, Australia
- School of Mechanical, Medical and Process Engineering, Science and Engineering Faculty, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, Australia
| | - A. Taubenberger
- Biotechnology Center, Technische Universität Dresden, Germany
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15
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Liu S, Wu X, Yu Y, Wen X, Yu Z, Feng XQ, Zhao H. Geometric Confinement Guides the Expression of Cancer Stem Cell Molecular Markers CD44 via Cell Traction Forces. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2020; 6:4623-4630. [PMID: 33455169 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.0c00366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Cancer stem cells (CSCs) play a critical role in the cancer metastasis and account for tumor heterogeneity. Growing evidence indicates that the CSC phenotypes are related to the tumor microenvironment. In this study, we report that the gradient of mechanical stresses guides the spatial patterning of the expression of CD44 and Yes-associated protein (YAP) in the geometrically confined multicellular sheets. Our study shows that the cytoskeletal contraction regulates the expression of CD44 through the translocation of YAP into the nucleus. The results demonstrate that geometric confinement and mechanical stresses are the regulators in the spatial patterning of CSC. It may help to understand the relationship between the tumor microenvironment and oncogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sisi Liu
- Institute of Biomechanics and Medical Engineering, Department of Engineering Mechanics, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, P. R. China
| | - Xiaoan Wu
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida 33136, United States
| | - Yang Yu
- Institute of Biomechanics and Medical Engineering, Department of Engineering Mechanics, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, P. R. China
| | - Xiongwei Wen
- National Engineering Laboratory of Neuromodulation, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, P. R. China
| | - Zhang Yu
- Institute of Biomechanics and Medical Engineering, Department of Engineering Mechanics, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, P. R. China
| | - Xi-Qiao Feng
- Institute of Biomechanics and Medical Engineering, Department of Engineering Mechanics, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, P. R. China
| | - Hucheng Zhao
- Institute of Biomechanics and Medical Engineering, Department of Engineering Mechanics, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, P. R. China
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16
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Malvi P, Janostiak R, Nagarajan A, Cai G, Wajapeyee N. Loss of thymidine kinase 1 inhibits lung cancer growth and metastatic attributes by reducing GDF15 expression. PLoS Genet 2019; 15:e1008439. [PMID: 31589613 PMCID: PMC6797230 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1008439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2019] [Revised: 10/17/2019] [Accepted: 09/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Metabolic alterations that are critical for cancer cell growth and metastasis are one of the key hallmarks of cancer. Here, we show that thymidine kinase 1 (TK1) is significantly overexpressed in tumor samples from lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) patients relative to normal controls, and this TK1 overexpression is associated with significantly reduced overall survival and cancer recurrence. Genetic knockdown of TK1 with short hairpin RNAs (shRNAs) inhibits both the growth and metastatic attributes of LUAD cells in culture and in mice. We further show that transcriptional overexpression of TK1 in LUAD cells is driven, in part, by MAP kinase pathway in a transcription factor MAZ dependent manner. Using targeted and gene expression profiling-based approaches, we then show that loss of TK1 in LUAD cells results in reduced Rho GTPase activity and reduced expression of growth and differentiation factor 15 (GDF15). Furthermore, ectopic expression of GDF15 can partially rescue TK1 knockdown-induced LUAD growth and metastasis inhibition, confirming its important role as a downstream mediator of TK1 function in LUAD. Collectively, our findings demonstrate that TK1 facilitates LUAD tumor and metastatic growth and represents a target for LUAD therapy. Thymidine kinase 1 (TK1) is overexpressed and associated with poor prognosis in a number of different cancers. However, despite these data suggesting an important role for TK1 in cancer pathogenesis, no study thus far has analyzed the functional effect of TK1 inhibition on tumor growth and metastasis. In this study, we performed TK1 knockdown and found that this protein is necessary for lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) tumor growth and metastasis. Notably, inhibition of another nucleotide kinase, deoxycytidine kinase (DCK), had no effect on LUAD tumor growth and metastatic attributes. We therefore performed experiments to determine if the TK1 mechanism of action in cancer is distinct from its previously reported role in DNA damage, DNA replication, and DNA repair. We found that TK1 can promote LUAD tumor growth and metastasis in a non-canonical manner by activating Rho GTPase activity and growth and differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) expression. Taken together, our data suggest that TK1 may represent a potential target for development of LUAD therapy, due to its critical role in maintaining lung tumor growth and metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Parmanand Malvi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, United States of America
| | - Radoslav Janostiak
- Department of Pathology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Arvindhan Nagarajan
- Department of Pathology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Guoping Cai
- Department of Pathology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Narendra Wajapeyee
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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