1
|
Jang HJ, Min HY, Kang YP, Boo HJ, Kim J, Ahn JH, Oh SH, Jung JH, Park CS, Park JS, Kim SY, Lee HY. Tobacco-induced hyperglycemia promotes lung cancer progression via cancer cell-macrophage interaction through paracrine IGF2/IR/NPM1-driven PD-L1 expression. Nat Commun 2024; 15:4909. [PMID: 38851766 PMCID: PMC11162468 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49199-9] [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: 07/15/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Tobacco smoking (TS) is implicated in lung cancer (LC) progression through the development of metabolic syndrome. However, direct evidence linking metabolic syndrome to TS-mediated LC progression remains to be established. Our findings demonstrate that 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone and benzo[a]pyrene (NNK and BaP; NB), components of tobacco smoke, induce metabolic syndrome characteristics, particularly hyperglycemia, promoting lung cancer progression in male C57BL/6 J mice. NB enhances glucose uptake in tumor-associated macrophages by increasing the expression and surface localization of glucose transporter (GLUT) 1 and 3, thereby leading to transcriptional upregulation of insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF2), which subsequently activates insulin receptor (IR) in LC cells in a paracrine manner, promoting its nuclear import. Nuclear IR binds to nucleophosmin (NPM1), resulting in IR/NPM1-mediated activation of the CD274 promoter and expression of programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1). Restricting glycolysis, depleting macrophages, or blocking PD-L1 inhibits NB-mediated LC progression. Analysis of patient tissues and public databases reveals elevated levels of IGF2 and GLUT1 in tumor-associated macrophages, as well as tumoral PD-L1 and phosphorylated insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor/insulin receptor (pIGF-1R/IR) expression, suggesting potential poor prognostic biomarkers for LC patients. Our data indicate that paracrine IGF2/IR/NPM1/PD-L1 signaling, facilitated by NB-induced dysregulation of glucose levels and metabolic reprogramming of macrophages, contributes to TS-mediated LC progression.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hyun-Ji Jang
- Creative Research Initiative Center for concurrent control of emphysema and lung cancer, College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Hye-Young Min
- Creative Research Initiative Center for concurrent control of emphysema and lung cancer, College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
- Natural Products Research Institute, College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Yun Pyo Kang
- College of Pharmacy and Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Hye-Jin Boo
- Creative Research Initiative Center for concurrent control of emphysema and lung cancer, College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
- Department of Histology, College of Medicine, Jeju National University, Jeju, 63243, Republic of Korea
| | - Jisung Kim
- Creative Research Initiative Center for concurrent control of emphysema and lung cancer, College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Jee Hwan Ahn
- Creative Research Initiative Center for concurrent control of emphysema and lung cancer, College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Biopharmaceutical Sciences, Graduate School of Convergence Science and Technology and College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Seung Ho Oh
- College of Pharmacy and Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Jin Hwa Jung
- PET core, Convergence Medicine Research Center, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, 05505, Republic of Korea
| | - Choon-Sik Park
- Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital, Bucheon-si, Gyeonggi-do, 14584, Republic of Korea
| | - Jong-Sook Park
- Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital, Bucheon-si, Gyeonggi-do, 14584, Republic of Korea
| | - Seog-Young Kim
- PET core, Convergence Medicine Research Center, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, 05505, Republic of Korea
- Department of Convergence Medicine, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, 05505, Republic of Korea
| | - Ho-Young Lee
- Creative Research Initiative Center for concurrent control of emphysema and lung cancer, College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea.
- Natural Products Research Institute, College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea.
- College of Pharmacy and Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Boo HJ, Min HY, Hwang SJ, Lee HJ, Lee JW, Oh SR, Park CS, Park JS, Lee YM, Lee HY. The tobacco-specific carcinogen NNK induces pulmonary tumorigenesis via nAChR/Src/STAT3-mediated activation of the renin-angiotensin system and IGF-1R signaling. Exp Mol Med 2023; 55:1131-1144. [PMID: 37258578 PMCID: PMC10317988 DOI: 10.1038/s12276-023-00994-2] [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: 07/07/2022] [Revised: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 06/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The renin-angiotensin (RA) system has been implicated in lung tumorigenesis without detailed mechanistic elucidation. Here, we demonstrate that exposure to the representative tobacco-specific carcinogen nitrosamine 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) promotes lung tumorigenesis through deregulation of the pulmonary RA system. Mechanistically, NNK binding to the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) induces Src-mediated signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) activation, resulting in transcriptional upregulation of angiotensinogen (AGT) and subsequent induction of the angiotensin II (AngII) receptor type 1 (AGTR1) signaling pathway. In parallel, NNK concurrently increases insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF2) production and activation of IGF-1R/insulin receptor (IR) signaling via a two-step pathway involving transcriptional upregulation of IGF2 through STAT3 activation and enhanced secretion from intracellular storage through AngII/AGTR1/PLC-intervened calcium release. NNK-mediated crosstalk between IGF-1R/IR and AGTR1 signaling promoted tumorigenic activity in lung epithelial and stromal cells. Lung tumorigenesis caused by NNK exposure or alveolar type 2 cell-specific Src activation was suppressed by heterozygous Agt knockout or clinically available inhibitors of the nAChR/Src or AngII/AGTR1 pathways. These results demonstrate that NNK-induced stimulation of the lung RA system leads to IGF2-mediated IGF-1R/IR signaling activation in lung epithelial and stromal cells, resulting in lung tumorigenesis in smokers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hye-Jin Boo
- College of Pharmacy and Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
- Department of Histology, College of Medicine, Jeju National University, Jeju, 63243, Republic of Korea
| | - Hye-Young Min
- College of Pharmacy and Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Su Jung Hwang
- School of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyo-Jong Lee
- School of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Jae-Won Lee
- Natural Medicine Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Cheongju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do, 28116, Republic of Korea
| | - Sei-Ryang Oh
- Natural Medicine Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Cheongju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do, 28116, Republic of Korea
| | - Choon-Sik Park
- Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital, Bucheon, Gyeonggi-do, 14584, Republic of Korea
| | - Jong-Sook Park
- Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital, Bucheon, Gyeonggi-do, 14584, Republic of Korea
| | - You Mie Lee
- Vessel-Organ Interaction Research Center (VOICE, MRC), College of Pharmacy, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, 41566, Republic of Korea
| | - Ho-Young Lee
- College of Pharmacy and Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
An Integrated Genomic Strategy to Identify CHRNB4 as a Diagnostic/Prognostic Biomarker for Targeted Therapy in Head and Neck Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12051324. [PMID: 32455963 PMCID: PMC7281299 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12051324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2020] [Accepted: 05/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Although many studies have shown the association between smoking and the increased incidence and adverse prognosis of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), the mechanisms and pharmaceutical targets involved remain unclear. Here, we integrated gene expression signatures, genetic alterations, and survival analyses to identify prognostic indicators and therapeutic targets for smoking HNSCC patients, and we discovered that the FDA-approved drug varenicline inhibits the target for cancer cell migration/invasion. We first identified 18 smoking-related and prognostic genes for HNSCC by using RNA-Seq and clinical follow-up data. One of these genes, CHRNB4 (neuronal acetylcholine receptor subunit beta-4), increased the risk of death by approximately threefold in CHRNB4-high expression smokers compared to CHRNB4-low expression smokers (log rank, p = 0.00042; hazard ratio, 2.82; 95% CI, 1.55–5.14), former smokers, and non-smokers. Furthermore, we examined the functional enrichment of co-regulated genes of CHRNB4 and its 246 frequently occurring copy number alterations (CNAs). We found that these genes were involved in promoting angiogenesis, resisting cell death, and sustaining proliferation, and contributed to much worse outcomes for CHRNB4-high patients. Finally, we performed CHRNB4 gene editing and drug inhibition assays, and the results validate these observations. In summary, our study suggests that CHRNB4 is a prognostic indicator for smoking HNSCC patients and provides a potential new therapeutic drug to prevent recurrence or distant metastasis.
Collapse
|
4
|
Cao Y, Liu H, Gao L, Lu L, Du L, Bai H, Li J, Said S, Wang XJ, Song J, Serkova N, Wei M, Xiao J, Lu SL. Cooperation Between Pten and Smad4 in Murine Salivary Gland Tumor Formation and Progression. Neoplasia 2018; 20:764-774. [PMID: 29958137 PMCID: PMC6031150 DOI: 10.1016/j.neo.2018.05.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2018] [Revised: 05/23/2018] [Accepted: 05/30/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Salivary gland tumor (SGT) is a rare tumor type, which exhibits broad-spectrum phenotypic, biological, and clinical heterogeneity. Currently, the molecular mechanisms that cause SGT pathogenesis remain poorly understood. A lack of animal models that faithfully recapitulate the naturally occurring process of human SGTs has hampered research progress on this field. In this report, we developed an inducible keratin 5-driven conditional knockout mouse model to delete gene(s) of interest in murine salivary gland upon local RU486 delivery. We have deleted two major tumor suppressors, Pten, a negative regulator of the PI3K pathway, and Smad4, the central signaling mediator of TGFβ pathway, in the murine salivary gland. Our results have shown that deletion of either Pten or Smad4 in murine salivary gland resulted in pleomorphic adenomas, the most common tumor in human SGT patients. Deletion of both Pten and Smad4 in murine salivary gland developed several malignancies, with salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma (SACC) being the most frequently seen. Molecular characterization showed that SACC exhibited mTOR activation and TGFβ1 overexpression. Examination of human SGT clinical samples revealed that loss of Pten and Smad4 is common in human SACC samples, particularly in the most aggressive solid form, and is correlated with survival of SACC patients, highlighting the human relevance of the murine models. In summary, our results offer significant insight into synergistic role of Pten and Smad4 in SGT, providing a rationale for targeting mTOR and/or TGFβ signaling to control SGT formation and progression.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yu Cao
- Laboratory of Precision Oncology, School of Pharmacy, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China; Department of Otolaryngology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Han Liu
- Department of Oral Pathology, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, China
| | - Liwei Gao
- Department of Radiation Oncology, China Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Ling Lu
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Li Du
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA; Department of Otolaryngology, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Han Bai
- Department of Oral Pathology, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, China
| | - Jiang Li
- Department of Oral Pathology, 9th People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Shanghai, China
| | - Sherif Said
- Department of Pathology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Xiao-Jing Wang
- Department of Pathology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - John Song
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Natalie Serkova
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Minjie Wei
- Laboratory of Precision Oncology, School of Pharmacy, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Jing Xiao
- Department of Oral Pathology, Dental School, China Medial University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China; Department of Oral Pathology, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, China.
| | - Shi-Long Lu
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA; Laboratory of Precision Oncology, School of Pharmacy, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China; Department of Pathology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA; Department of Dermatology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Du J, Zhang L. Analysis of salivary microRNA expression profiles and identification of novel biomarkers in esophageal cancer. Oncol Lett 2017; 14:1387-1394. [PMID: 28789354 PMCID: PMC5529882 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2017.6328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2015] [Accepted: 04/04/2017] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs/miRs) regulate the expression of target genes and are considered to be associated with human cancer. The aim of the present study was to screen novel miRNA biomarkers in esophageal cancer (EC). The miRNA expression profile GSE41268 was extracted from Gene Expression Omnibus database, and differentially expressed miRNAs between whole saliva samples from patients with EC and healthy controls were identified using the Linear Models for Microarray Data package. Then, the targets of these miRNAs were screened using the miRecords database and used to construct the regulatory network. Gene ontology and pathway enrichment analyses were performed for the target genes of differentially expressed miRNAs to predict their potential functions. A total of 18 differentially expressed miRNAs were identified in saliva samples from patients with EC, and 43 validated target genes corresponding to 7 upregulated miRNAs were identified. Then, 6 miRNAs (miR-144, miR-451, miR-98, miR-10b, miR-486-5p and miR-363) and their target genes were used to construct a regulatory network. Within the network, miR-144 may target Notch homolog 1, fibrinogen α chain and fibrinogen β chain; miR-451 may regulate murine thymoma viral oncogene homolog 1, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)9 and MMP2; miR-98 may directly target E2F transcription factor (E2F) 1, E2F2 and v-myc avian myelocytomatosis viral oncogene homolog (MYC); miR-10b may modulate peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α and Kruppel-like factor 4; miR-485-5p and miR-363 may regulate TNF receptor superfamily member 5 and cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1A. In addition, E2F1, E2F2 and MYC were associated with the cell cycle, which was the most significantly enriched function and pathway in EC. The results of the present study suggested that miR-144, miR-451, miR-98, miR-10b and miR-363 may be involved in EC by regulating their target genes, and may be used as biomarkers for EC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jiang Du
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Chinese Medical University Affiliated No. 1 Hospital, Shenyang, Liaoning 110001, P.R. China
| | - Lin Zhang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Chinese Medical University Affiliated No. 1 Hospital, Shenyang, Liaoning 110001, P.R. China
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Zhao Y, Fu D, Xu C, Yang J, Wang Z. Identification of genes associated with tongue cancer in patients with a history of tobacco and/or alcohol use. Oncol Lett 2017; 13:629-638. [PMID: 28356939 PMCID: PMC5351039 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2016.5497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2015] [Accepted: 10/14/2016] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The present study aimed to identify genes associated with tongue cancer in patients with a history of tobacco and/or alcohol use. Microarray dataset GSE42023, including 10 tissue samples of tongue cancer from patients with a history of tobacco and/or alcohol use (habit group) and 11 tissue samples of non-habit-associated tongue cancer (non-habit group), were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus database. Differentially-expressed genes (DEGs) between the habit and non-habit groups were identified using the Linear Models for Microarray Data software package. The enrichment functions and pathways of these genes were subsequently predicted using Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analysis. Transcription factors (TFs) and tumor-associated genes (TAGs) were selected from the DEGs using the Encyclopedia of DNA Elements database and the TAG database, respectively. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks for DEGs were constructed using Cytoscape. In addition, functional module analysis was performed using BioNet. This analysis identified 642 DEGs between the habit and non-habit groups, including 200 upregulated and 442 downregulated genes. The majority of upregulated DEGs were functionally enriched in the regulation of apoptosis and the calcium signaling pathway. The majority of downregulated DEGs were functionally enriched in fat cell differentiation and the adipocytokine signaling pathway. In addition, 31 TFs and 42 TAGs were identified from the DEGs. Furthermore, this analysis demonstrated that certain DEGs, including AKT serine/threonine kinase 1 (AKT1), E1A binding protein p300 (EP300), erb-b2 receptor tyrosine kinase 2 (ERBB2) and epiregulin (EREG), had high connectivity degrees in the PPI networks and/or functional modules. Overall, DEGs in a functional module, such as AKT1, EP300, ERBB2 and EREG, may serve important roles in the development of tongue cancer in patients with a history of tobacco and/or alcohol use. These DEGs are potential therapeutic targets for the treatment of tongue cancer in these groups.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yin Zhao
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130041, P.R. China
| | - Dongna Fu
- Department of Otolaryngology, Changchun People's Hospital, Changchun, Jilin 130041, P.R. China
| | - Chengbi Xu
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130041, P.R. China
| | - Jingpu Yang
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130041, P.R. China
| | - Zonggui Wang
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130041, P.R. China
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
The tobacco-specific carcinogen-operated calcium channel promotes lung tumorigenesis via IGF2 exocytosis in lung epithelial cells. Nat Commun 2016; 7:12961. [PMID: 27666821 PMCID: PMC5052689 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms12961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2016] [Accepted: 08/19/2016] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) binding to the tobacco-specific carcinogen 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) induces Ca2+ signalling, a mechanism that is implicated in various human cancers. In this study, we investigated the role of NNK-mediated Ca2+ signalling in lung cancer formation. We show significant overexpression of insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) in association with IGF-1R activation in human preneoplastic lung lesions in smokers. NNK induces voltage-dependent calcium channel (VDCC)-intervened calcium influx in airway epithelial cells, resulting in a rapid IGF2 secretion via the regulated pathway and thus IGF-1R activation. Silencing nAChR, α1 subunit of L-type VDCC, or various vesicular trafficking curators, including synaptotagmins and Rabs, or blockade of nAChR/VDCC-mediated Ca2+ influx significantly suppresses NNK-induced IGF2 exocytosis, transformation and tumorigenesis of lung epithelial cells. Publicly available database reveals inverse correlation between use of calcium channel blockers and lung cancer diagnosis. Our data indicate that NNK disrupts the regulated pathway of IGF2 exocytosis and promotes lung tumorigenesis. The binding of tobacco-specific carcinogen 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) to nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) induces calcium signalling. Here the authors show that NKK-induced calcium influx in airway epithelial cells triggers IGF2 secretion and tumourigenesis.
Collapse
|
8
|
Du L, Chen X, Cao Y, Lu L, Zhang F, Bornstein S, Li Y, Owens P, Malkoski S, Said S, Jin F, Kulesz-Martin M, Gross N, Wang XJ, Lu SL. Overexpression of PIK3CA in murine head and neck epithelium drives tumor invasion and metastasis through PDK1 and enhanced TGFβ signaling. Oncogene 2016; 35:4641-52. [PMID: 26876212 PMCID: PMC4985507 DOI: 10.1038/onc.2016.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2015] [Revised: 12/15/2015] [Accepted: 12/18/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients have a poor prognosis, with invasion and metastasis as major causes of mortality. The phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) pathway regulates a wide range of cellular processes crucial for tumorigenesis, and PIK3CA amplification and mutation are among the most common genetic alterations in human HNSCC. Compared to the well-documented roles of the PI3K pathway in cell growth and survival, the roles of the PI3K pathway in tumor invasion and metastasis have not been well delineated. We generated a PIK3CA-genetically engineered mouse model (PIK3CA-GEMM) in which wildtype PIK3CA is overexpressed in head and neck epithelium. Although PIK3CA overexpression alone was not sufficient to initiate HNSCC formation, it significantly increased tumor susceptibility in an oral-carcinogenesis mouse model. PIK3CA overexpression in mouse oral epithelium increased tumor invasiveness and metastasis by increasing epithelial-mesenchymal transition and by enriching a cancer stem cell phenotype in tumor epithelial cells. In addition to these epithelial alterations, we also observed marked inflammation in tumor stroma. AKT is a central signaling mediator of the PI3K pathway. However, molecular analysis suggested that progression of PIK3CA-driven HNSCC is facilitated by PDK1 and enhanced TGFβ signaling rather than by AKT. Examination of human HNSCC clinical samples revealed that both PIK3CA and PDK1 protein levels correlated with tumor progression, highlighting the significance of this pathway. In summary, our results offer significant insight into how PIK3CA-overexpression drives HNSCC invasion and metastasis, providing a rationale for targeting PI3K/PDK1 and TGFβ signaling in advanced HNSCC patients with PIK3CA amplification.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- L Du
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA.,Department of Otolaryngology, Fourth University Hospital of China Medical University, Shengyang, China
| | - X Chen
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Y Cao
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA.,Department of Surgical Oncology, The First University Hospital of China Medical University, Shengyang, Liaoning, China
| | - L Lu
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - F Zhang
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - S Bornstein
- Department of Otolaryngology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Y Li
- Department of Otolaryngology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - P Owens
- Department of Otolaryngology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - S Malkoski
- Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - S Said
- Department of Pathology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - F Jin
- Department of Surgical Oncology, The First University Hospital of China Medical University, Shengyang, Liaoning, China
| | - M Kulesz-Martin
- Department of Dermatology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - N Gross
- Department of Otolaryngology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - X-J Wang
- Department of Pathology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - S-L Lu
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA.,Department of Pathology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA.,Department of Dermatology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Role of phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase pathway in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. JOURNAL OF ONCOLOGY 2012; 2012:450179. [PMID: 22666248 PMCID: PMC3362130 DOI: 10.1155/2012/450179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2012] [Accepted: 03/14/2012] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Activation of the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K) pathway is one of the most frequently observed molecular alterations in many human malignancies, including head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). A growing body of evidence demonstrates the prime importance of the PI3K pathway at each stage of tumorigenesis, that is, tumor initiation, progression, recurrence, and metastasis. Expectedly, targeting the PI3K pathway yields some promising results in both preclinical studies and clinical trials for certain cancer patients. However, there are still many questions that need to be answered, given the complexity of this pathway and the existence of its multiple feedback loops and interactions with other signaling pathways. In this paper, we will summarize recent advances in the understanding of the PI3K pathway role in human malignancies, with an emphasis on HNSCC, and discuss the clinical applications and future direction of this field.
Collapse
|