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Dagostino R, Gottlieb A. Tissue-specific atlas of trans-models for gene regulation elucidates complex regulation patterns. BMC Genomics 2024; 25:377. [PMID: 38632500 PMCID: PMC11022497 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-024-10317-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Deciphering gene regulation is essential for understanding the underlying mechanisms of healthy and disease states. While the regulatory networks formed by transcription factors (TFs) and their target genes has been mostly studied with relation to cis effects such as in TF binding sites, we focused on trans effects of TFs on the expression of their transcribed genes and their potential mechanisms. RESULTS We provide a comprehensive tissue-specific atlas, spanning 49 tissues of TF variations affecting gene expression through computational models considering two potential mechanisms, including combinatorial regulation by the expression of the TFs, and by genetic variants within the TF. We demonstrate that similarity between tissues based on our discovered genes corresponds to other types of tissue similarity. The genes affected by complex TF regulation, and their modelled TFs, were highly enriched for pharmacogenomic functions, while the TFs themselves were also enriched in several cancer and metabolic pathways. Additionally, genes that appear in multiple clusters are enriched for regulation of immune system while tissue clusters include cluster-specific genes that are enriched for biological functions and diseases previously associated with the tissues forming the cluster. Finally, our atlas exposes multilevel regulation across multiple tissues, where TFs regulate other TFs through the two tested mechanisms. CONCLUSIONS Our tissue-specific atlas provides hierarchical tissue-specific trans genetic regulations that can be further studied for association with human phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Dagostino
- McWilliams School of Biomedical Informatics, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Assaf Gottlieb
- McWilliams School of Biomedical Informatics, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA.
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2
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Cao LB, Ruan ZL, Yang YL, Zhang NC, Gao C, Cai C, Zhang J, Hu MM, Shu HB. Estrogen receptor α-mediated signaling inhibits type I interferon response to promote breast carcinogenesis. J Mol Cell Biol 2024; 15:mjad047. [PMID: 37442610 PMCID: PMC11066933 DOI: 10.1093/jmcb/mjad047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2022] [Revised: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Estrogen receptor α (ERα) is an important driver and therapeutic target in ∼70% of breast cancers. How ERα drives breast carcinogenesis is not fully understood. In this study, we show that ERα is a negative regulator of type I interferon (IFN) response. Activation of ERα by its natural ligand estradiol inhibits IFN-β-induced transcription of downstream IFN-stimulated genes (ISGs), whereas ERα deficiency or the stimulation with its antagonist fulvestrant has opposite effects. Mechanistically, ERα induces the expression of the histone 2A variant H2A.Z to restrict the engagement of the IFN-stimulated gene factor 3 (ISGF3) complex to the promoters of ISGs and also interacts with STAT2 to disrupt the assembly of the ISGF3 complex. These two events mutually lead to the inhibition of ISG transcription induced by type I IFNs. In a xenograft mouse model, fulvestrant enhances the ability of IFN-β to suppress ERα+ breast tumor growth. Consistently, clinical data analysis reveals that ERα+ breast cancer patients with higher levels of ISGs exhibit higher long-term survival rates. Taken together, our findings suggest that ERα inhibits type I IFN response via two distinct mechanisms to promote breast carcinogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li-Bo Cao
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Medical Research Institute, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
- Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Taikang Center for Life and Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
- Research Unit of Innate Immune and Inflammatory Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Zi-Lun Ruan
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Medical Research Institute, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
- Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Taikang Center for Life and Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
- Research Unit of Innate Immune and Inflammatory Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Yu-Lin Yang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Medical Research Institute, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
- Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Taikang Center for Life and Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
- Research Unit of Innate Immune and Inflammatory Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Nian-Chao Zhang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Medical Research Institute, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
- Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Taikang Center for Life and Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
- Research Unit of Innate Immune and Inflammatory Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Chuan Gao
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Medical Research Institute, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
- Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Taikang Center for Life and Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
- Research Unit of Innate Immune and Inflammatory Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Cheguo Cai
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Medical Research Institute, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
- Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Taikang Center for Life and Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
- Research Unit of Innate Immune and Inflammatory Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Jing Zhang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Medical Research Institute, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
- Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Taikang Center for Life and Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
- Research Unit of Innate Immune and Inflammatory Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Ming-Ming Hu
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Medical Research Institute, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
- Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Taikang Center for Life and Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
- Research Unit of Innate Immune and Inflammatory Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Hong-Bing Shu
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Medical Research Institute, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
- Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Taikang Center for Life and Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
- Research Unit of Innate Immune and Inflammatory Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China
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Wang T, Wagner RT, Hlady RA, Pan X, Zhao X, Kim S, Wang L, Lee J, Luo H, Castle EP, Lake DF, Ho TH, Robertson KD. SETD2 loss in renal epithelial cells drives epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in a TGF-β-independent manner. Mol Oncol 2024; 18:44-61. [PMID: 37418588 PMCID: PMC10766198 DOI: 10.1002/1878-0261.13487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2023] [Revised: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 07/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Histone-lysine N-methyltransferase SETD2 (SETD2), the sole histone methyltransferase that catalyzes trimethylation of lysine 36 on histone H3 (H3K36me3), is often mutated in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). SETD2 mutation and/or loss of H3K36me3 is linked to metastasis and poor outcome in ccRCC patients. Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a major pathway that drives invasion and metastasis in various cancer types. Here, using novel kidney epithelial cell lines isogenic for SETD2, we discovered that SETD2 inactivation drives EMT and promotes migration, invasion, and stemness in a transforming growth factor-beta-independent manner. This newly identified EMT program is triggered in part through secreted factors, including cytokines and growth factors, and through transcriptional reprogramming. RNA-seq and assay for transposase-accessible chromatin sequencing uncovered key transcription factors upregulated upon SETD2 loss, including SOX2, POU2F2 (OCT2), and PRRX1, that could individually drive EMT and stemness phenotypes in SETD2 wild-type (WT) cells. Public expression data from SETD2 WT/mutant ccRCC support the EMT transcriptional signatures derived from cell line models. In summary, our studies reveal that SETD2 is a key regulator of EMT phenotypes through cell-intrinsic and cell-extrinsic mechanisms that help explain the association between SETD2 loss and ccRCC metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianchu Wang
- Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics Graduate Program, Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical SciencesMayo ClinicRochesterMNUSA
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental TherapeuticsMayo ClinicRochesterMNUSA
| | - Ryan T. Wagner
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental TherapeuticsMayo ClinicRochesterMNUSA
| | - Ryan A. Hlady
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental TherapeuticsMayo ClinicRochesterMNUSA
| | - Xiaoyu Pan
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental TherapeuticsMayo ClinicRochesterMNUSA
| | - Xia Zhao
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental TherapeuticsMayo ClinicRochesterMNUSA
| | - Sungho Kim
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental TherapeuticsMayo ClinicRochesterMNUSA
| | - Liguo Wang
- Division of Biomedical Statistics and Informatics, Department of Health Science ResearchMayo ClinicRochesterMNUSA
| | - Jeong‐Heon Lee
- Epigenomics Development LaboratoryMayo ClinicRochesterMNUSA
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and PathologyMayo ClinicRochesterMNUSA
| | - Huijun Luo
- Division of Hematology and OncologyMayo Clinic ArizonaPhoenixAZUSA
| | | | | | - Thai H. Ho
- Division of Hematology and OncologyMayo Clinic ArizonaPhoenixAZUSA
| | - Keith D. Robertson
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental TherapeuticsMayo ClinicRochesterMNUSA
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4
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Oliver MA, Peterson KD, Bhandari S, Payton RR, Edwards JL, Mathew DJ. Progesterone-stimulated endometrial cell conditioned media increases in vitro produced bovine embryo blastocyst formation. Anim Reprod Sci 2023; 254:107264. [PMID: 37285656 DOI: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2023.107264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2023] [Revised: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 05/21/2023] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The early bovine embryo is supported by histotroph molecules secreted by endometrial epithelial (EPI) and stroma fibroblast (SF) cells in response to luteal progesterone (P4). We hypothesized that specific histotroph molecule transcript abundance depends on cell type and P4 concentration and that endometrial cell conditioned media (CM) could improve in vitro produced (IVP) embryo development in culture. Primary bovine EPI and SF cells from seven uteri were incubated for 12 h with RPMI medium containing 0 (Control), 1, 15, or 50 ng of P4. RPMI was also incubated without cells (N-CM) and CM from EPI or SF cultures (EPI- or SF-CM) or a combination of the two (1:1; EPI/SF-CM) was used to culture IVP embryos from days 4-8 of development (n = 117). There was an effect of cell type (SLC1A1, SLC5A6, SLC7A1, FGF-2, FGF-7, CTGF, PRSS23 and NID2) and/or P4 concentration (FGF-7 and NID2) on endometrial cell histotroph molecule mRNA (P < 0.05). Compared to N-CM, blastocyst development on day 7 was greater in the EPI or SF-CM (P ≤ 0.05) and tended to be greater in the EPI/SF-CM (P = 0.07). On day 8, blastocyst development was greater only in the EPI-CM (P < 0.05). Further, culturing embryos with endometrial cell CM reduced day 8 blastocyst transcript abundance of cell adhesion molecule LGALS1 (P < 0.01). In conclusion, endometrial cell CM or histotroph molecules may be used to improve IVP embryo development in cattle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary A Oliver
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA; School of Animal Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Katie D Peterson
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA
| | - Sadikshya Bhandari
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA
| | - Rebecca R Payton
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA
| | - J Lannett Edwards
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA
| | - Daniel J Mathew
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA.
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5
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Cheon H, Wang Y, Wightman SM, Jackson MW, Stark GR. How cancer cells make and respond to interferon-I. Trends Cancer 2023; 9:83-92. [PMID: 36216730 PMCID: PMC9797472 DOI: 10.1016/j.trecan.2022.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2022] [Revised: 09/06/2022] [Accepted: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Acute exposure of cancer cells to high concentrations of type I interferon (IFN-I) drives growth arrest and apoptosis, whereas chronic exposure to low concentrations provides important prosurvival advantages. Tyrosine-phosphorylated IFN-stimulated gene (ISG) factor 3 (ISGF3) drives acute deleterious responses to IFN-I, whereas unphosphorylated (U-)ISGF3, lacking tyrosine phosphorylation, drives essential constitutive prosurvival mechanisms. Surprisingly, programmed cell death-ligand 1 (PD-L1), often expressed on the surfaces of tumor cells and well recognized for its importance in inactivating cytotoxic T cells, also has important cell-intrinsic protumor activities, including dampening acute responses to cytotoxic high levels of IFN-I and sustaining the expression of the low levels that benefit tumors. More thorough understanding of the newly recognized complex roles of IFN-I in cancer may lead to the identification of novel therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- HyeonJoo Cheon
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Yuxin Wang
- Department of Cancer Biology, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Samantha M. Wightman
- Department of Cancer Biology, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Mark W. Jackson
- Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - George R. Stark
- Department of Cancer Biology, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA,Correspondence: (G.R. Stark)
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6
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Canar J, Darling K, Dadey R, Gamero AM. The duality of STAT2 mediated type I interferon signaling in the tumor microenvironment and chemoresistance. Cytokine 2023; 161:156081. [PMID: 36327541 PMCID: PMC9720715 DOI: 10.1016/j.cyto.2022.156081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2022] [Revised: 10/07/2022] [Accepted: 10/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
The tumor microenvironment consists of tumor cells, extracellular matrix, blood vessels, and non-tumor cells such as fibroblasts and immune cells. Crosstalk among components of this cellular ecosystem can transform non-malignant cells and promote tumor invasion and metastasis. Evidence is accumulating that the transcription factor STAT2, a downstream effector of type I interferon (IFN-I) signaling, can either inhibit or promote tumorigenesis depending on the unique environment presented by each type of cancer. STAT2 has long been associated with the canonical JAK/STAT pathway involved in various biological processes including reshaping of the tumor microenvironment and in antitumor immunity. This dichotomous tendency of STAT2 to both inhibit and worsen tumor formation makes the protein a curious, and yet relatively ill-defined player in many cancer pathways involving IFN-I. In this review, we discuss the role of STAT2 in contributing to either a tumorigenic or anti-tumorigenic microenvironment as well as chemoresistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorge Canar
- Department of Medical Genetics and Molecular Biochemistry, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Kennedy Darling
- Department of Medical Genetics and Molecular Biochemistry, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Ryan Dadey
- Department of Medical Genetics and Molecular Biochemistry, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Ana M Gamero
- Department of Medical Genetics and Molecular Biochemistry, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States.
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7
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Hong J, Lee JH, Zhang Z, Wu Y, Yang M, Liao Y, de la Rosa R, Scheirer J, Pechacek D, Zhang N, Xu Z, Curiel T, Tan X, Huang THM, Xu K. PRC2-Mediated Epigenetic Suppression of Type I IFN-STAT2 Signaling Impairs Antitumor Immunity in Luminal Breast Cancer. Cancer Res 2022; 82:4624-4640. [PMID: 36222718 PMCID: PMC9772098 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-22-0736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2022] [Revised: 09/03/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
The immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment in some cancer types, such as luminal breast cancer, supports tumor growth and limits therapeutic efficacy. Identifying approaches to induce an immunostimulatory environment could help improve cancer treatment. Here, we demonstrate that inhibition of cancer-intrinsic EZH2 promotes antitumor immunity in estrogen receptor α-positive (ERα+) breast cancer. EZH2 is a component of the polycomb-repressive complex 2 (PRC2) complex, which catalyzes trimethylation of histone H3 at lysine 27 (H3K27me3). A 53-gene PRC2 activity signature was closely associated with the immune responses of ERα+ breast cancer cells. The stimulatory effects of EZH2 inhibition on immune surveillance required specific activation of type I IFN signaling. Integrative analysis of PRC2-repressed genes and genome-wide H3K27me3 landscape revealed that type I IFN ligands are epigenetically silenced by H3K27me3. Notably, the transcription factor STAT2, but not STAT1, mediated the immunostimulatory functions of type I IFN signaling. Following EZH2 inhibition, STAT2 was recruited to the promoters of IFN-stimulated genes even in the absence of the cytokines, suggesting the formation of an autocrine IFN-STAT2 axis. In patients with luminal breast cancer, high levels of EZH2 and low levels of STAT2 were associated with the worst antitumor immune responses. Collectively, this work paves the way for the development of an effective therapeutic strategy that may reverse immunosuppression in cancer. SIGNIFICANCE Inhibition of EZH2 activates a type I IFN-STAT2 signaling axis and provides a therapeutic strategy to stimulate antitumor immunity and therapy responsiveness in immunologically cold luminal breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juyeong Hong
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
| | - Ji Hoon Lee
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
| | - Zhao Zhang
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
| | - Yanming Wu
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
| | - Mei Yang
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
| | - Yiji Liao
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
| | - Richard de la Rosa
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
| | - Jessica Scheirer
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
| | - Douglas Pechacek
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
| | - Nu Zhang
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
| | - Zhenming Xu
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
| | - Tyler Curiel
- Department of Medicine, The Mays Cancer Center, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
| | - Xi Tan
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
| | - Tim H-M Huang
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
| | - Kexin Xu
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA,Corresponding author: Kexin Xu, Ph.D. Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229. Phone: 210-562-4148; Fax: 210-562-4161;
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8
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Wong GL, Manore SG, Doheny DL, Lo HW. STAT family of transcription factors in breast cancer: Pathogenesis and therapeutic opportunities and challenges. Semin Cancer Biol 2022; 86:84-106. [PMID: 35995341 PMCID: PMC9714692 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2022.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Revised: 08/08/2022] [Accepted: 08/10/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer and second-leading cause of cancer deaths in women. Breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs) promote metastasis and therapeutic resistance contributing to tumor relapse. Through activating genes important for BCSCs, transcription factors contribute to breast cancer metastasis and therapeutic resistance, including the signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) family of transcription factors. The STAT family consists of six major isoforms, STAT1, STAT2, STAT3, STAT4, STAT5, and STAT6. Canonical STAT signaling is activated by the binding of an extracellular ligand to a cell-surface receptor followed by STAT phosphorylation, leading to STAT nuclear translocation and transactivation of target genes. It is important to note that STAT transcription factors exhibit diverse effects in breast cancer; some are either pro- or anti-tumorigenic while others maintain dual, context-dependent roles. Among the STAT transcription factors, STAT3 is the most widely studied STAT protein in breast cancer for its critical roles in promoting BCSCs, breast cancer cell proliferation, invasion, angiogenesis, metastasis, and immune evasion. Consequently, there have been substantial efforts in developing cancer therapeutics to target breast cancer with dysregulated STAT3 signaling. In this comprehensive review, we will summarize the diverse roles that each STAT family member plays in breast cancer pathobiology, as well as, the opportunities and challenges in pharmacologically targeting STAT proteins and their upstream activators in the context of breast cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grace L Wong
- Department of Cancer Biology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | - Sara G Manore
- Department of Cancer Biology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | - Daniel L Doheny
- Department of Cancer Biology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | - Hui-Wen Lo
- Department of Cancer Biology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA; Breast Cancer Center of Excellence, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA; Wake Forest Baptist Comprehensive Cancer Center, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA.
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9
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Ruoff F, Kersten N, Anderle N, Jerbi S, Stahl A, Koch A, Staebler A, Hartkopf A, Brucker SY, Hahn M, Schenke-Layland K, Schmees C, Templin MF. Protein Profiling of Breast Carcinomas Reveals Expression of Immune-Suppressive Factors and Signatures Relevant for Patient Outcome. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14184542. [PMID: 36139700 PMCID: PMC9496820 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14184542] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2022] [Revised: 09/09/2022] [Accepted: 09/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
In cancer, the complex interplay between tumor cells and the tumor microenvironment results in the modulation of signaling processes. By assessing the expression of a multitude of proteins and protein variants in cancer tissue, wide-ranging information on signaling pathway activation and the status of the immunological landscape is obtainable and may provide viable information on the treatment response. Archived breast cancer tissues from a cohort of 84 patients (no adjuvant therapy) were analyzed by high-throughput Western blotting, and the expression of 150 proteins covering central cancer pathways and immune cell markers was examined. By assessing CD8α, CD11c, CD16 and CD68 expression, immune cell infiltration was determined and revealed a strong correlation between event-free patient survival and the infiltration of immune cells. The presence of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes was linked to the pronounced activation of the Jak/Stat signaling pathway and apoptotic processes. The elevated phosphorylation of PPARγ (pS112) in non-immune-infiltrated tumors suggests a novel immune evasion mechanism in breast cancer characterized by increased PPARγ phosphorylation. Multiplexed immune cell marker assessment and the protein profiling of tumor tissue provide functional signaling data facilitating breast cancer patient stratification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felix Ruoff
- NMI Natural and Medical Sciences Institute at the University of Tuebingen, 72770 Reutlingen, Germany
| | - Nicolas Kersten
- FZI Research Center for Information Technology, Intelligent Systems and Production Engineering (ISPE), 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
- Interfaculty Institute for Biomedical Informatics (IBMI), University of Tuebingen, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Nicole Anderle
- NMI Natural and Medical Sciences Institute at the University of Tuebingen, 72770 Reutlingen, Germany
| | - Sandra Jerbi
- NMI Natural and Medical Sciences Institute at the University of Tuebingen, 72770 Reutlingen, Germany
| | - Aaron Stahl
- NMI Natural and Medical Sciences Institute at the University of Tuebingen, 72770 Reutlingen, Germany
| | - André Koch
- Department of Women’s Health, University of Tuebingen, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Annette Staebler
- Institute of Pathology and Neuropathology, University of Tuebingen, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Andreas Hartkopf
- Department of Women’s Health, University of Tuebingen, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany
- Department of Women’s Health, University of Ulm, 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Sara Y. Brucker
- Department of Women’s Health, University of Tuebingen, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence iFIT (EXC2180) “Image-Guided and Functionally Instructed Tumor Therapies”, University of Tuebingen, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Markus Hahn
- Department of Women’s Health, University of Tuebingen, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Katja Schenke-Layland
- NMI Natural and Medical Sciences Institute at the University of Tuebingen, 72770 Reutlingen, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence iFIT (EXC2180) “Image-Guided and Functionally Instructed Tumor Therapies”, University of Tuebingen, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Department for Medical Technologies and Regenerative Medicine, University of Tuebingen, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Christian Schmees
- NMI Natural and Medical Sciences Institute at the University of Tuebingen, 72770 Reutlingen, Germany
| | - Markus F. Templin
- NMI Natural and Medical Sciences Institute at the University of Tuebingen, 72770 Reutlingen, Germany
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +49-7121-51530-828
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Scabia V, Ayyanan A, De Martino F, Agnoletto A, Battista L, Laszlo C, Treboux A, Zaman K, Stravodimou A, Jallut D, Fiche M, Bucher P, Ambrosini G, Sflomos G, Brisken C. Estrogen receptor positive breast cancers have patient specific hormone sensitivities and rely on progesterone receptor. Nat Commun 2022; 13:3127. [PMID: 35668111 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-30898-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2022] [Accepted: 05/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Estrogen and progesterone receptor (ER, PR) signaling control breast development and impinge on breast carcinogenesis. ER is an established driver of ER + disease but the role of the PR, itself an ER target gene, is debated. We assess the issue in clinically relevant settings by a genetic approach and inject ER + breast cancer cell lines and patient-derived tumor cells to the milk ducts of immunocompromised mice. Such ER + xenografts were exposed to physiologically relevant levels of 17-β-estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P4). We find that independently both premenopausal E2 and P4 levels increase tumor growth and combined treatment enhances metastatic spread. The proliferative responses are patient-specific with MYC and androgen receptor (AR) signatures determining P4 response. PR is required for tumor growth in patient samples and sufficient to drive tumor growth and metastasis in ER signaling ablated tumor cells. Our findings suggest that endocrine therapy may need to be personalized, and that abrogating PR expression can be a therapeutic option.
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11
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Abstract
Cancer immunology is the most rapidly expanding field in cancer research, with the importance of immunity in cancer pathogenesis now well accepted including in the endocrine-related cancers. The immune system plays an essential role in the development of ductal and luminal epithelial differentiation in the mammary gland. Originally identified as evolutionarily conserved antipathogen cytokines, interferons (IFNs) have shown important immune-modulatory and antineoplastic properties when administered to patients with various types of cancer, including breast cancer. Recent studies have drawn attention to the role of tumor- and stromal-infiltrating lymphocytes in dictating therapy response and outcome of breast cancer patients, which, however, is highly dependent on the breast cancer subtype. The emerging role of tumor cell-inherent IFN signaling in the subtype-defined tumor microenvironment could influence therapy response with protumor activities in breast cancer. Here we review evidence with new insights into tumor cell-intrinsic and tumor microenvironment-derived IFN signaling, and the crosstalk of IFN signaling with key signaling pathways in estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancer. We also discuss clinical implications and opportunities exploiting IFN signaling to treat advanced ER+ breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyong Fu
- Lester and Sue Smith Breast Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
- Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Carmine De Angelis
- Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University of Naples Federico II, 80138 Naples, Italy
| | - Rachel Schiff
- Lester and Sue Smith Breast Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
- Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
- Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
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Escher TE, Dandawate P, Sayed A, Hagan CR, Anant S, Lewis-Wambi J. Enhanced IFNα Signaling Promotes Ligand-Independent Activation of ERα to Promote Aromatase Inhibitor Resistance in Breast Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:5130. [PMID: 34680281 PMCID: PMC8534010 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13205130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2021] [Revised: 10/06/2021] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Aromatase inhibitors (AIs) reduce estrogen levels up to 98% as the standard practice to treat postmenopausal women with estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancer. However, approximately 30% of ER+ breast cancers develop resistance to treatment. Enhanced interferon-alpha (IFNα) signaling is upregulated in breast cancers resistant to AIs, which drives expression of a key regulator of survival, interferon-induced transmembrane protein 1 (IFITM1). However, how upregulated IFNα signaling mediates AI resistance is unknown. In this study, we utilized MCF-7:5C cells, a breast cancer cell model of AI resistance, and demonstrate that these cells exhibit enhanced IFNα signaling and ligand-independent activation of the estrogen receptor (ERα). Experiments demonstrated that STAT1, the mediator of intracellular signaling for IFNα, can interact directly with ERα. Notably, inhibition of IFNα signaling significantly reduced ERα protein expression and ER-regulated genes. In addition, loss of ERα suppressed IFITM1 expression, which was associated with cell death. Notably, chromatin immunoprecipitation experiments validated that both ERα and STAT1 associate with ERE sequences in the IFITM1 promoter. Overall, hyperactivation of IFNα signaling enhances ligand-independent activation of ERα, which promotes ER-regulated, and interferon stimulated gene expression to promote survival in AI-resistant breast cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taylor E. Escher
- Department of Cancer Biology, University of Kansas Medical Center, 3901 Rainbow Boulevard, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA; (T.E.E.); (P.D.); (A.S.); (C.R.H.); (S.A.)
| | - Prasad Dandawate
- Department of Cancer Biology, University of Kansas Medical Center, 3901 Rainbow Boulevard, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA; (T.E.E.); (P.D.); (A.S.); (C.R.H.); (S.A.)
- The University of Kansas Cancer Center, 3901 Rainbow Boulevard, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA
| | - Afreen Sayed
- Department of Cancer Biology, University of Kansas Medical Center, 3901 Rainbow Boulevard, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA; (T.E.E.); (P.D.); (A.S.); (C.R.H.); (S.A.)
| | - Christy R. Hagan
- Department of Cancer Biology, University of Kansas Medical Center, 3901 Rainbow Boulevard, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA; (T.E.E.); (P.D.); (A.S.); (C.R.H.); (S.A.)
- The University of Kansas Cancer Center, 3901 Rainbow Boulevard, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Kansas Medical Center, 3901 Rainbow Boulevard, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA
| | - Shrikant Anant
- Department of Cancer Biology, University of Kansas Medical Center, 3901 Rainbow Boulevard, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA; (T.E.E.); (P.D.); (A.S.); (C.R.H.); (S.A.)
- The University of Kansas Cancer Center, 3901 Rainbow Boulevard, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA
| | - Joan Lewis-Wambi
- Department of Cancer Biology, University of Kansas Medical Center, 3901 Rainbow Boulevard, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA; (T.E.E.); (P.D.); (A.S.); (C.R.H.); (S.A.)
- The University of Kansas Cancer Center, 3901 Rainbow Boulevard, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA
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13
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Werner LR, Gibson KA, Goodman ML, Helm DE, Walter KR, Holloran SM, Trinca GM, Hastings RC, Yang HH, Hu Y, Wei J, Lei G, Yang XY, Madan R, Molinolo AA, Markiewicz MA, Chalise P, Axelrod ML, Balko JM, Hunter KW, Hartman ZC, Lange CA, Hagan CR. Progesterone promotes immunomodulation and tumor development in the murine mammary gland. J Immunother Cancer 2021; 9:jitc-2020-001710. [PMID: 33958486 PMCID: PMC8103939 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2020-001710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Clinical studies have linked usage of progestins (synthetic progesterone [P4]) to breast cancer risk. However, little is understood regarding the role of native P4, signaling through the progesterone receptor (PR), in breast tumor formation. Recently, we reported a link between PR and immune signaling pathways, showing that P4/PR can repress type I interferon signaling pathways. Given these findings, we sought to investigate whether P4/PR drive immunomodulation in the mammary gland and promote tumor formation. METHODS To determine the effect of P4 on immune cell populations in the murine mammary gland, mice were treated with P4 or placebo pellets for 21 days. Immune cell populations in the mammary gland, spleen, and inguinal lymph nodes were subsequently analyzed by flow cytometry. To assess the effect of PR overexpression on mammary gland tumor development as well as immune cell populations in the mammary gland, a transgenic mouse model was used in which PR was overexpressed throughout the entire mouse. Immune cell populations were assessed in the mammary glands, spleens, and inguinal lymph nodes of 6-month-old transgenic and control mice by flow cytometry. Transgenic mice were also monitored for mammary gland tumor development over a 2-year time span. Following development of mammary gland tumors, immune cell populations in the tumors and spleens of transgenic and control mice were analyzed by flow cytometry. RESULTS We found that mice treated with P4 exhibited changes in the mammary gland indicative of an inhibited immune response compared with placebo-treated mice. Furthermore, transgenic mice with PR overexpression demonstrated decreased numbers of immune cell populations in their mammary glands, lymph nodes, and spleens. On long-term monitoring, we determined that multiparous PR-overexpressing mice developed significantly more mammary gland tumors than control mice. Additionally, tumors from PR-overexpressing mice contained fewer infiltrating immune cells. Finally, RNA sequencing analysis of tumor samples revealed that immune-related gene signatures were lower in tumors from PR-overexpressing mice as compared with control mice. CONCLUSION Together, these findings offer a novel mechanism of P4-driven mammary gland tumor development and provide rationale in investigating the usage of antiprogestin therapies to promote immune-mediated elimination of mammary gland tumors.
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MESH Headings
- Adaptive Immunity/drug effects
- Animals
- Breast Neoplasms/chemically induced
- Breast Neoplasms/immunology
- Breast Neoplasms/metabolism
- Breast Neoplasms/pathology
- Cell Line, Tumor
- Cell Transformation, Neoplastic/chemically induced
- Cell Transformation, Neoplastic/immunology
- Cell Transformation, Neoplastic/metabolism
- Cell Transformation, Neoplastic/pathology
- Drug Implants
- Female
- Galectin 4/genetics
- Galectin 4/metabolism
- Immunity, Innate/drug effects
- Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating/drug effects
- Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating/immunology
- Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating/metabolism
- Mammary Glands, Animal/drug effects
- Mammary Glands, Animal/immunology
- Mammary Glands, Animal/metabolism
- Mammary Glands, Animal/pathology
- Mice, Transgenic
- Ovariectomy
- Progesterone/administration & dosage
- Receptors, Progesterone/agonists
- Receptors, Progesterone/genetics
- Receptors, Progesterone/metabolism
- Signal Transduction
- Time Factors
- Tumor Burden/drug effects
- Tumor Escape/drug effects
- Tumor Microenvironment/immunology
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauryn R Werner
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, USA
| | - Katelin A Gibson
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, USA
| | - Merit L Goodman
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, USA
| | - Dominika E Helm
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, USA
| | - Katherine R Walter
- Department of Cancer Biology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, USA
| | - Sean M Holloran
- Department of Cancer Biology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, USA
| | - Gloria M Trinca
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, USA
| | - Richard C Hastings
- Flow Cytometry Core Laboratory, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, USA
- Department of Microbiology, Molecular Genetics, and Immunology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, USA
| | - Howard H Yang
- Laboratory of Cancer Biology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Ying Hu
- Center for Biomedical Informatics and Information Technology, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Junping Wei
- Department of Surgery, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Gangjun Lei
- Department of Surgery, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Xiao-Yi Yang
- Department of Surgery, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Rashna Madan
- Division of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, USA
| | - Alfredo A Molinolo
- Department of Pathology, University of California San Diego Moores Cancer Center, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Mary A Markiewicz
- Department of Microbiology, Molecular Genetics, and Immunology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, USA
| | - Prabhakar Chalise
- Department of Biostatistics and Data Science, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, USA
| | - Margaret L Axelrod
- Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Justin M Balko
- Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
- Department of Pathology Microbiology and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Kent W Hunter
- Laboratory of Cancer Biology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | | | - Carol A Lange
- Department of Medicine (Hematology, Oncology, and Transplantation), University of Minnesota Cancer Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Minnesota Cancer Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Christy R Hagan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, USA
- Department of Cancer Biology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, USA
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