1
|
Greer YE, Gilbert SF, Gril B, Narwal R, Peacock Brooks DL, Tice DA, Steeg PS, Lipkowitz S. MEDI3039, a novel highly potent tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) receptor 2 agonist, causes regression of orthotopic tumors and inhibits outgrowth of metastatic triple-negative breast cancer. Breast Cancer Res 2019; 21:27. [PMID: 30777098 PMCID: PMC6380056 DOI: 10.1186/s13058-019-1116-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [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: 04/11/2018] [Accepted: 02/06/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) receptor agonists are attractive anti-tumor agents because of their capability to induce apoptosis in cancer cells by activating death receptors (DR) 4 and 5 with little toxicity against normal cells. Despite an attractive mechanism of action, previous clinical efforts to use TRAIL receptor agonists have been unsuccessful. In this study, we examined MEDI3039, a highly potent multivalent DR5 agonist, in breast cancer cell lines and in vivo models. Methods As in vitro model systems, we used 19 breast cancer cell lines that are categorized into four subtypes: ER+, HER2 amplified, basal A (triple-negative breast cancer) TNBC, and basal B TNBC. Cell viability was analyzed by MTS and RealTime live/dead assays. As in vivo model systems, MDA-MB231T orthotopic primary tumor growth in the mammary fat pad (MFP) and two experimental lung metastasis models were used. The effect of MEDI3039 on MFP tumors was assessed with immunohistochemical analysis. Lung metastases were analyzed with Bouin’s and H&E staining. Results MEDI3039 killed multiple breast cancer cell lines, but the sensitivity varied among different subtypes. Sensitivity was basal B TNBC >> basal A TNBC > HER2 amplified > ER+ (average IC50 = 1.4, 203, 314, 403 pM, respectively). While the pattern of relative sensitivity was similar to GST-TRAIL in most cell lines, MEDI3039 was at least two orders of magnitude more potent compared with GST-TRAIL. In the MFP model, weekly treatment with 0.1 or 0.3 mg/kg MEDI3039 for 5 weeks inhibited tumor growth by 99.05% or 100% (median), respectively, compared with the control group, and extended animal survival (p = 0.08 or p = 0.0032 at 0.1 or 0.3 mg/kg, respectively). MEDI3039-induced caspase activation was confirmed in tumors grown in MFP (p < 0.05). In an experimental pulmonary metastasis model, MEDI3039 significantly suppressed outgrowth of surface (p < 0.0001) and microscopic metastases (p < 0.05). In an established lung metastasis model, MEDI3039 significantly inhibited growth of metastases (p < 0.01 in surface [> 4 mm], p < 0.01 in tumor percentage) and extended animal survival (p < 0.0001). Conclusion MEDI3039 is a potent DR5 agonist in breast cancer cells in vitro and in vivo and has potential as a cancer drug in breast cancer patients, especially those with basal B TNBC. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13058-019-1116-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yoshimi Endo Greer
- Women's Malignancies Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Building 10, Room 4B54, Bethesda, MD, 20892-1361, USA
| | - Samuel F Gilbert
- Women's Malignancies Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Building 10, Room 4B54, Bethesda, MD, 20892-1361, USA
| | - Brunilde Gril
- Women's Malignancies Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Building 10, Room 4B54, Bethesda, MD, 20892-1361, USA
| | | | - Danielle L Peacock Brooks
- Women's Malignancies Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Building 10, Room 4B54, Bethesda, MD, 20892-1361, USA
| | | | - Patricia S Steeg
- Women's Malignancies Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Building 10, Room 4B54, Bethesda, MD, 20892-1361, USA
| | - Stanley Lipkowitz
- Women's Malignancies Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Building 10, Room 4B54, Bethesda, MD, 20892-1361, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Brooks DLP, Schwab LP, Krutilina R, Parke DN, Sethuraman A, Hoogewijs D, Schörg A, Gotwald L, Fan M, Wenger RH, Seagroves TN. ITGA6 is directly regulated by hypoxia-inducible factors and enriches for cancer stem cell activity and invasion in metastatic breast cancer models. Mol Cancer 2016; 15:26. [PMID: 27001172 PMCID: PMC4802728 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-016-0510-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 128] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [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: 07/10/2015] [Accepted: 03/11/2016] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs) are well-established mediators of tumor growth, the epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) and metastasis. In several types of solid tumors, including breast cancers, the HIFs play a critical role in maintaining cancer stem cell (CSC) activity. Thus, we hypothesized that HIFs may also regulate transcription of markers of breast CSC activity. One approach to enrich for breast cells with stem-like phenotypes is FACS sorting, in which sub-populations of live cells are gated based on the expression of cell surface antigens, including various integrin subunits. Integrin alpha 6 (ITGA6; CD49f) is routinely used in combination with other integrin subunits to enrich for breast stem cells by FACS. Integrins not only mediate interactions with the extracellular matrix (ECM), but also drive intracellular signaling events that communicate from the tumor microenvironment to inside of the tumor cell to alter phenotypes including migration and invasion. Methods We used two models of metastatic breast cancer (MBC), polyoma middle T (MMTV-PyMT) and MDA-MB-231 cells, to compare the expression of ITGA6 in wild type and knockout (KO) or knockdown cells. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) and luciferase reporter assays verified that ITGA6 is a direct HIF transcriptional target. We also used FACS sorting to enrich for CD49f + cells to compare tumorsphere formation, tumor initiating cell activity, invasion and HIF activity relative to CD49fneg or low cells. Knockdown of ITGA6 significantly reduced invasion, whereas re-expression of ITGA6 in the context of HIF knockdown partially rescued invasion. A search of public databases also revealed that ITGA6 expression is an independent prognostic factor of survival in breast cancer patients. Results We report that ITGA6 is a HIF-dependent target gene and that high ITGA6 expression enhances invasion and tumor-initiating cell activities in models of MBC. Moreover, cells that express high levels of ITGA6 are enriched for HIF-1α expression and the expression of HIF-dependent target genes. Conclusions Our data suggest that HIF-dependent regulation of ITGA6 is one mechanism by which sorting for CD49f + cells enhances CSC and metastatic phenotypes in breast cancers. Our results are particularly relevant to basal-like breast cancers which express higher levels of the HIFα subunits, core HIF-dependent target genes and ITGA6 relative to other molecular subtypes. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12943-016-0510-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Danielle L Peacock Brooks
- Center for Cancer Research and the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, 38163, USA.,Present address: National Cancer Institute, Center for Cancer Research, Women's Malignancies Branch, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Luciana P Schwab
- Center for Cancer Research and the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, 38163, USA
| | - Raisa Krutilina
- Center for Cancer Research and the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, 38163, USA
| | - Deanna N Parke
- Center for Cancer Research and the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, 38163, USA
| | - Aarti Sethuraman
- Center for Cancer Research and the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, 38163, USA
| | - David Hoogewijs
- Institute of Physiology and Zürich Center for Integrative Human Physiology, University of Zürich, CH-8057, Zürich, Switzerland.,Present address: Institute of Physiology, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45122, Essen, Germany
| | - Alexandra Schörg
- Institute of Physiology and Zürich Center for Integrative Human Physiology, University of Zürich, CH-8057, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Lauren Gotwald
- Center for Cancer Research and the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, 38163, USA
| | - Meiyun Fan
- Center for Cancer Research and the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, 38163, USA
| | - Roland H Wenger
- Institute of Physiology and Zürich Center for Integrative Human Physiology, University of Zürich, CH-8057, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Tiffany N Seagroves
- Center for Cancer Research and the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, 38163, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Slominski A, Kim TK, Brożyna AA, Janjetovic Z, Brooks DLP, Schwab LP, Skobowiat C, Jóźwicki W, Seagroves TN. The role of melanogenesis in regulation of melanoma behavior: melanogenesis leads to stimulation of HIF-1α expression and HIF-dependent attendant pathways. Arch Biochem Biophys 2014; 563:79-93. [PMID: 24997364 PMCID: PMC4221528 DOI: 10.1016/j.abb.2014.06.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 162] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.2] [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: 03/14/2014] [Revised: 05/30/2014] [Accepted: 06/24/2014] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
To study the effect of melanogenesis on HIF-1α expression and attendant pathways, we used stable human and hamster melanoma cell lines in which the amelanotic vs. melanotic phenotypes are dependent upon the concentration of melanogenesis precursors in the culture media. The induction of melanin pigmentation led to significant up-regulation of HIF-1α, but not HIF-2α, protein in melanized cells for both lines. Similar upregulation of nuclear HIF-1α was observed in excisions of advanced melanotic vs. amelanotic melanomas. In cultured cells, melanogenesis also significantly stimulated expression of classical HIF-1-dependent target genes involved in angiogenesis and cellular metabolism, including glucose metabolism and stimulation of activity of key enzymes in the glycolytic pathway. Several other stress related genes containing putative HRE consensus sites were also upregulated by melanogenesis, concurrently with modulation of expression of HIF-1-independent genes encoding for steroidogenic enzymes, cytokines and growth factors. Immunohistochemical studies using a large panel of pigmented lesions revealed that higher levels of HIF-1α and GLUT-1 were detected in advanced melanomas in comparison to melanocytic nevi or thin melanomas localized to the skin. However, the effects on overall or disease free survival in melanoma patients were modest or absent for GLUT-1 or for HIF-1α, respectively. In conclusion, induction of the melanogenic pathway leads to robust upregulation of HIF-1-dependent and independent pathways in cultured melanoma cells, suggesting a key role for melanogenesis in regulation of cellular metabolism.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- A Slominski
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Tennessee HSC, Memphis, TN, USA; Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, University of Tennessee HSC, Memphis, TN, USA; Center for Cancer Research, University of Tennessee HSC, Memphis, TN, USA.
| | - T-K Kim
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Tennessee HSC, Memphis, TN, USA; Center for Cancer Research, University of Tennessee HSC, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - A A Brożyna
- Department of Tumor Pathology and Pathomorphology, Oncology Centre - Prof. Franciszek Łukaszczyk Memorial Hospital, The Ludwik Rydygier Collegium Medicum, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Bydgoszcz, Poland
| | - Z Janjetovic
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Tennessee HSC, Memphis, TN, USA; Center for Cancer Research, University of Tennessee HSC, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - D L P Brooks
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Tennessee HSC, Memphis, TN, USA; Center for Cancer Research, University of Tennessee HSC, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - L P Schwab
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Tennessee HSC, Memphis, TN, USA; Center for Cancer Research, University of Tennessee HSC, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - C Skobowiat
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Tennessee HSC, Memphis, TN, USA; Center for Cancer Research, University of Tennessee HSC, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - W Jóźwicki
- Department of Tumor Pathology and Pathomorphology, Oncology Centre - Prof. Franciszek Łukaszczyk Memorial Hospital, The Ludwik Rydygier Collegium Medicum, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Bydgoszcz, Poland
| | - T N Seagroves
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Tennessee HSC, Memphis, TN, USA; Center for Cancer Research, University of Tennessee HSC, Memphis, TN, USA
| |
Collapse
|