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Zhang Y, Dong X, Bai L, Shang X, Zeng Y. MUC1-induced immunosuppression in colon cancer can be reversed by blocking the PD1/PDL1 signaling pathway. Oncol Lett 2020; 20:317. [PMID: 33133253 PMCID: PMC7590440 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2020.12180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [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: 03/10/2020] [Accepted: 08/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Mucin1 (MUC1) upregulation in colon cancer has been linked to poor patient outcomes and advanced stage at diagnosis. This is partially due to MUC1-mediated inhibition of T-cell proliferation affecting efficient lysis by cytotoxic lymphocytes, which contributes to escape from immune surveillance. In the present study, human colorectal cancer tissues were collected, and MUC1-positive and MUC1-negative colon cancer mouse models were prepared; subsequently, the number and function of immune cells in tumor tissues were measured using flow cytometry. The present study revealed that MUC1, as a tumor-associated antigen, can recruit more tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes into the tumor microenvironment compared with MUC1-negative colon cancer, but that these cells could not serve antitumor roles. Conversely, the present study demonstrated that MUC1-positive colon cancer attracted more regulatory T cells (Treg cells), myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) and tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) to the tumor site than MUC1-negative colon cancer. Furthermore, the data suggested that programmed death protein 1 (PD1)-programmed death ligand 1 (PDL1) expression is greater in MUC1-positive colon cancer. Blocking the PD1-PDL1 signaling pathway reduced the percentage of Treg cells, MDSCs and TAMs in the tumor microenvironment, enhanced T-cell cytotoxicity and inhibited tumor growth, prolonging the survival time of MUC1-positive tumor-bearing mice. Therefore, the present study elucidated the role of MUC1 in tumor immune escape and provides a foundation for the application of PDL1 inhibitors to MUC1-positive colon cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yinghui Zhang
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan 650021, P.R. China
| | - Xiangqian Dong
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Yunnan Institute of Digestive Diseases, Kunming, Yunnan 650032, P.R. China
| | - Liping Bai
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan 650021, P.R. China
| | - Xueqin Shang
- Department of Medical Oncology, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan 650021, P.R. China
| | - Yujian Zeng
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan 650032, P.R. China
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Bobustuc GC, Kassam AB, Rovin RA, Jeudy S, Smith JS, Isley B, Singh M, Paranjpe A, Srivenugopal KS, Konduri SD. MGMT inhibition in ER positive breast cancer leads to CDC2, TOP2A, AURKB, CDC20, KIF20A, Cyclin A2, Cyclin B2, Cyclin D1, ERα and Survivin inhibition and enhances response to temozolomide. Oncotarget 2018; 9:29727-29742. [PMID: 30038716 PMCID: PMC6049872 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.25696] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [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: 09/04/2017] [Accepted: 06/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The DNA damage repair enzyme, O6-methylguanine DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) is overexpressed in breast cancer, correlating directly with estrogen receptor (ER) expression and function. In ER negative breast cancer the MGMT promoter is frequently methylated. In ER positive breast cancer MGMT is upregulated and modulates ER function. Here, we evaluate MGMT's role in control of other clinically relevant targets involved in cell cycle regulation during breast cancer oncogenesis. We show that O6-benzylguanine (BG), an MGMT inhibitor decreases CDC2, CDC20, TOP2A, AURKB, KIF20A, cyclin B2, A2, D1, ERα and survivin and induces c-PARP and p21 and sensitizes ER positive breast cancer to temozolomide (TMZ). Further, siRNA inhibition of MGMT inhibits CDC2, TOP2A, AURKB, KIF20A, Cyclin B2, A2 and survivin and induces p21. Combination of BG+TMZ decreases CDC2, CDC20, TOP2A, AURKB, KIF20A, Cyclin A2, B2, D1, ERα and survivin. Temozolomide alone inhibits MGMT expression in a dose and time dependent manner and increases p21 and cytochrome c. Temozolomide inhibits transcription of TOP2A, AURKB, KIF20A and does not have any effect on CDC2 and CDC20 and induces p21. BG+/-TMZ inhibits breast cancer growth. In our orthotopic ER positive breast cancer xenografts, BG+/-TMZ decreases ki-67, CDC2, CDC20, TOP2A, AURKB and induces p21 expression. In the same model, BG+TMZ combination inhibits breast tumor growth in vivo compared to single agent (TMZ or BG) or control. Our results show that MGMT inhibition is relevant for inhibition of multiple downstream targets involved in tumorigenesis. We also show that MGMT inhibition increases ER positive breast cancer sensitivity to alkylator based chemotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- George C. Bobustuc
- Aurora Research Institute, Milwaukee, WI, USA
- Aurora Neurosciences Innovation Institute, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - Amin B. Kassam
- Aurora Research Institute, Milwaukee, WI, USA
- Aurora Neurosciences Innovation Institute, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - Richard A. Rovin
- Aurora Research Institute, Milwaukee, WI, USA
- Aurora Neurosciences Innovation Institute, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | | | | | | | - Maharaj Singh
- Aurora Research Institute, Milwaukee, WI, USA
- Aurora Neurosciences Innovation Institute, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - Ameya Paranjpe
- Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Amarillo, TX, USA
| | | | - Santhi D. Konduri
- Aurora Research Institute, Milwaukee, WI, USA
- Aurora Neurosciences Innovation Institute, Milwaukee, WI, USA
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Garbar C, Mascaux C, Curé H, Bensussan A. Muc1/Cd227 immunohistochemistry in routine practice is a useful biomarker in breast cancers. J Immunoassay Immunochem 2013; 34:232-45. [PMID: 23656244 DOI: 10.1080/15321819.2012.699491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Over-expression of MUC1/CD227 is observed in 90% of breast tumors. Classical morphologic description and semi-quantitative digital measurement of MUC1 were performed from immunohistochemical stained slides of 123 routine histological samples. Measures of MUC1 expression showed statistical differences between non tumoral (NT) breast tissue and Ductal Carcinoma In Situ (DCIS) or infiltrating carcinoma (IC), p < 0.0001. Loss of MUC1 was correlated with high Ki67 index (p = 0.001) and loss of hormonal receptors (p = 0.03), whereas no correlations were found with HER2 expression. High-grade DCIS or IC showed increasing loss of apical polarised and cytoplasmic expression of MUC1.
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Bobustuc GC, Smith JS, Maddipatla S, Jeudy S, Limaye A, Isley B, Caparas MLM, Constantino SM, Shah N, Baker CH, Srivenugopal KS, Baidas S, Konduri SD. MGMT inhibition restores ERα functional sensitivity to antiestrogen therapy. Mol Med 2012; 18:913-29. [PMID: 22549111 DOI: 10.2119/molmed.2012.00010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2012] [Accepted: 04/26/2012] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Antiestrogen therapy resistance remains a huge stumbling block in the treatment of breast cancer. We have found significant elevation of O(6) methylguanine DNA methyl transferase (MGMT) expression in a small sample of consecutive patients who have failed tamoxifen treatment. Here, we show that tamoxifen resistance is accompanied by upregulation of MGMT. Further we show that administration of the MGMT inhibitor, O(6)-benzylguanine (BG), at nontoxic doses, leads to restoration of a favorable estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) phosphorylation phenotype (high p-ERα Ser167/low p-ERα Ser118), which has been reported to correlate with sensitivity to endocrine therapy and improved survival. We also show BG to be a dual inhibitor of MGMT and ERα. In tamoxifen-resistant breast cancer cells, BG alone or in combination with antiestrogen (tamoxifen [TAM]/ICI 182,780 [fulvestrant, Faslodex]) therapy enhances p53 upregulated modulator of apoptosis (PUMA) expression, cytochrome C release and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) cleavage, all indicative of apoptosis. In addition, BG increases the expression of p21(cip1/waf1). We also show that BG, alone or in combination therapy, curtails the growth of tamoxifen-resistant breast cancer in vitro and in vivo. In tamoxifen-resistant MCF7 breast cancer xenografts, BG alone or in combination treatment causes significant delay in tumor growth. Immunohistochemistry confirms that BG increases p21(cip1/waf1) and p-ERα Ser167 expression and inhibits MGMT, ERα, p-ERα Ser118 and ki-67 expression. Collectively, our results suggest that MGMT inhibition leads to growth inhibition of tamoxifen-resistant breast cancer in vitro and in vivo and resensitizes tamoxifen-resistant breast cancer cells to antiestrogen therapy. These findings suggest that MGMT inhibition may provide a novel therapeutic strategy for overcoming antiestrogen resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- George C Bobustuc
- MD Anderson Cancer Center Orlando, Orlando, Florida 32827, United States of America.
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