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Kubler K, Nardone A, Anand S, Gorvich D, Droog M, Hermida-Prado F, Akshi T, Feit AS, Cohen G, Dackus G, Pun M, Kuang Y, Cha J, Miller M, Gibson WJ, Paweletz CP, Van Allen EM, van Leeuwen FE, Nederlof P, Hollema H, Nguyen QD, Mourits MJE, Leshchiner I, Stewart C, Matulonis UA, Zwart W, Maruvka YE, Getz G, Jeselsohn R. Abstract GS2-09: Tamoxifen instigates uterine cancer development by activating PI3K signaling and supersedes PIK3CA driver mutations. Cancer Res 2022. [DOI: 10.1158/1538-7445.sabcs21-gs2-09] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Tamoxifen is widely used in the adjuvant treatment of estrogen receptor–positive (ER+) breast cancer and is an important drug for pre-menopausal women and post-menopausal patients who cannot tolerate aromatase inhibitors. Despite the clear clinical benefit in improving relapse-free and overall survival in these patients, an adverse effect of tamoxifen is a 2- to 7-fold increased risk of uterine cancer (UC) after 2-5 years of treatment. To date, the mechanism of tamoxifen-driven tumorigenesis is not well understood, and preventive approaches are lacking. Here, to molecularly characterize tamoxifen-associated uterine cancers (TA-UCs) and gain insights into their unique evolution, we performed whole-exome sequencing of 21 TA-UCs (discovery cohort) and droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) of an additional 40 TA-UCs (validation cohort) obtained from the ‘Tamoxifen Associated Malignancies: Aspects of Risk’ (TAMARISK) study. In addition, we used in vivo mouse models to: (i) further investigate tamoxifen-activated molecular pathways that may be involved in TA-UC tumorigenesis; and (ii) offer mechanistic insights. Overall, we discovered that TA-UCs were genomically similar to non–TA-UCs from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) project, with one profound exception: TA-UCs are characterized by a lower-than-expected frequency of mutations in two highly prevalent UC driver genes in the PI3K pathway: PIK3CA (14% [3/21] vs 48% [265/554] in non–TA-UC; P=0.003, Fisher’s exact test; Q=0.02, Benjamini-Hochberg FDR) and PIK3R1 (0%, [0/21] vs 31% [174/554]; P=0.001; Q=0.01). We used ddPCR in the independent TA-UC validation cohort and confirmed the low frequency of mutations in PIK3CA (7.5% [3/40] vs 21% [144/685] in control UCs from the Dana-Farber contribution to the AACR GENIE project; P=0.04). We next performed mouse in vivo studies and demonstrated that tamoxifen activated the PI3K pathway and increased cell proliferation in normal mouse uterine tissue through paracrine and autocrine effects, both of which were abrogated by the PI3K inhibitor alpelisib. Taken together, we describe a distinct and novel pathway of carcinogenesis in which tamoxifen acts as a driver event in the uterus and promotes tumor development in a mutation-independent manner. Indeed, tamoxifen may increase the risk of UC by activating the PI3K pathway, which can substitute for the early acquisition of oncogenic PIK3CA or PIK3R1 mutations observed in non–TA-UC tumors. Furthermore, the ability of a PI3K inhibitor to reduce cell proliferation in our mouse model raises the possibility that downregulating the PI3K pathway may prevent or significantly reduce TA-UC development, offering a potential future therapeutic and prevention strategy for specific high-risk patients undergoing tamoxifen therapy.
Citation Format: Kirsten Kubler, Agostina Nardone, Shankara Anand, Daniel Gorvich, Marjolein Droog, Francisco Hermida-Prado, Tara Akshi, Avery S Feit, Gabriella Cohen, Gwen Dackus, Matthew Pun, Yanan Kuang, Justin Cha, Mendy Miller, William J Gibson, Cloud P Paweletz, Eliezer M Van Allen, Flora E van Leeuwen, Petra Nederlof, Harry Hollema, Quang-Dé Nguyen, Marian JE Mourits, Ignaty Leshchiner, Chip Stewart, Ursula A Matulonis, Wilbert Zwart, Yosef E Maruvka, Gad Getz, Rinath Jeselsohn. Tamoxifen instigates uterine cancer development by activating PI3K signaling and supersedes PIK3CA driver mutations [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2021 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2021 Dec 7-10; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2022;82(4 Suppl):Abstract nr GS2-09.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Tara Akshi
- Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA
| | | | | | - Gwen Dackus
- Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Wilbert Zwart
- Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
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2
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Molenaar B, Timmer LT, Droog M, Perini I, Versteeg D, Kooijman L, Monshouwer-Kloots J, de Ruiter H, Gladka MM, van Rooij E. Single-cell transcriptomics following ischemic injury identifies a role for B2M in cardiac repair. Commun Biol 2021; 4:146. [PMID: 33514846 PMCID: PMC7846780 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-020-01636-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [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: 03/20/2020] [Accepted: 12/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The efficiency of the repair process following ischemic cardiac injury is a crucial determinant for the progression into heart failure and is controlled by both intra- and intercellular signaling within the heart. An enhanced understanding of this complex interplay will enable better exploitation of these mechanisms for therapeutic use. We used single-cell transcriptomics to collect gene expression data of all main cardiac cell types at different time-points after ischemic injury. These data unveiled cellular and transcriptional heterogeneity and changes in cellular function during cardiac remodeling. Furthermore, we established potential intercellular communication networks after ischemic injury. Follow up experiments confirmed that cardiomyocytes express and secrete elevated levels of beta-2 microglobulin in response to ischemic damage, which can activate fibroblasts in a paracrine manner. Collectively, our data indicate phase-specific changes in cellular heterogeneity during different stages of cardiac remodeling and allow for the identification of therapeutic targets relevant for cardiac repair.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bas Molenaar
- Hubrecht Institute, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) and University Medical Centre, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Louk T Timmer
- Hubrecht Institute, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) and University Medical Centre, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Marjolein Droog
- Hubrecht Institute, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) and University Medical Centre, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Ilaria Perini
- Hubrecht Institute, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) and University Medical Centre, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Danielle Versteeg
- Hubrecht Institute, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) and University Medical Centre, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Department of Cardiology, University Medical Centre, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Lieneke Kooijman
- Hubrecht Institute, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) and University Medical Centre, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Jantine Monshouwer-Kloots
- Hubrecht Institute, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) and University Medical Centre, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Hesther de Ruiter
- Hubrecht Institute, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) and University Medical Centre, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Monika M Gladka
- Hubrecht Institute, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) and University Medical Centre, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Eva van Rooij
- Hubrecht Institute, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) and University Medical Centre, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
- Department of Cardiology, University Medical Centre, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
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3
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Singh AA, Schuurman K, Nevedomskaya E, Stelloo S, Linder S, Droog M, Kim Y, Sanders J, van der Poel H, Bergman AM, Wessels LF, Zwart W. Optimized ChIP-seq method facilitates transcription factor profiling in human tumors. Life Sci Alliance 2018; 2:e201800115. [PMID: 30620009 PMCID: PMC6311467 DOI: 10.26508/lsa.201800115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2018] [Revised: 12/18/2018] [Accepted: 12/18/2018] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
This study presents an optimized ChIP-seq protocol to enhance transcription factor profiling in human tumours, enabling the analysis of highly challenging samples, including core needle biopsies. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP)-seq analyses of transcription factors in clinical specimens are challenging due to the technical limitations and low quantities of starting material, often resulting in low enrichments and poor signal-to-noise ratio. Here, we present an optimized protocol for transcription factor ChIP-seq analyses in human tissue, yielding an ∼100% success rate for all transcription factors analyzed. As proof of concept and to illustrate general applicability of the approach, human tissue from the breast, prostate, and endometrial cancers were analyzed. In addition to standard formaldehyde fixation, disuccinimidyl glutarate was included in the procedure, greatly increasing data quality. To illustrate the sensitivity of the optimized protocol, we provide high-quality ChIP-seq data for three independent factors (AR, FOXA1, and H3K27ac) from a single core needle prostate cancer biopsy specimen. In summary, double-cross-linking strongly improved transcription factor ChIP-seq quality on human tumor samples, further facilitating and enhancing translational research on limited amounts of tissue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abhishek A Singh
- Divisions of Oncogenomics, Oncode Institute, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.,Molecular Carcinogenesis, Oncode Institute, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Karianne Schuurman
- Divisions of Oncogenomics, Oncode Institute, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Ekaterina Nevedomskaya
- Divisions of Oncogenomics, Oncode Institute, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.,Molecular Carcinogenesis, Oncode Institute, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Suzan Stelloo
- Divisions of Oncogenomics, Oncode Institute, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Simon Linder
- Divisions of Oncogenomics, Oncode Institute, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Marjolein Droog
- Divisions of Oncogenomics, Oncode Institute, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Yongsoo Kim
- Divisions of Oncogenomics, Oncode Institute, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Joyce Sanders
- Department of Pathology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Henk van der Poel
- Department of Urology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Andries M Bergman
- Division of Oncogenomics, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.,Division of Medical Oncology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Lodewyk Fa Wessels
- Molecular Carcinogenesis, Oncode Institute, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.,Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics, and Computer Science, Delft University of Technology, Delft, the Netherlands
| | - Wilbert Zwart
- Divisions of Oncogenomics, Oncode Institute, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.,Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, the Netherlands
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4
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Schrijver W, Schuurman K, van Rossum A, Droog M, Jeronimo C, Salta S, Henrique R, Wesseling J, Moelans C, Linn SC, van den Heuvel M, van Diest P, Zwart W. FOXA1 levels are decreased in pleural breast cancer metastases after adjuvant endocrine therapy, and this is associated with poor outcome. Mol Oncol 2018; 12:1884-1894. [PMID: 29972720 PMCID: PMC6210032 DOI: 10.1002/1878-0261.12353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2018] [Revised: 06/04/2018] [Accepted: 06/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Estrogen receptor-alpha (ERα)-positive breast cancer is often treated with antihormonal regimens. However, resistance to treatment is common, leading to metastatic disease. ERα activity requires the functional involvement of pioneer factors FOXA1 and GATA3, which enable ERα-chromatin binding and are crucial for ERα-driven cell proliferation. FOXA1 was found increased in metastatic breast cancers in relation to the primary tumor, but a comprehensive clinical assessment thereof, in relation to different metastatic sites and endocrine therapy usage, is currently lacking. Prior cell line-based reports, however, have revealed that FOXA1 is required for tamoxifen-resistant tumor cell proliferation. We studied expression levels of ERα, GATA3, and FOXA1 by immunohistochemistry in samples from both primary tumors and various metastatic sites. For all factors, expression levels varied between the metastatic sites. For pleural metastases, strong variation was found in FOXA1 and GATA3 levels. Although GATA3 levels remained unaltered between primary breast cancer and pleural metastases, FOXA1 levels were reduced exclusively in metastases of patients who received endocrine therapies in the adjuvant setting, even though ERα was still expressed. Importantly, decreased FOXA1 levels in pleural metastases correlated with hormone irresponsiveness in the palliative setting, while no such correlation was found for GATA3. With this, we show divergent clinical correlations of the two ERα pioneer factors FOXA1 and GATA3 in metastatic breast cancer, where endocrine therapy resistance was associated with decreased FOXA1 levels in pleural metastases.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Karianne Schuurman
- Division of OncogenomicsOncode InstituteThe Netherlands Cancer InstituteAmsterdamThe Netherlands
| | - Annelot van Rossum
- Division of Molecular PathologyThe Netherlands Cancer InstituteAmsterdamThe Netherlands
| | - Marjolein Droog
- Division of OncogenomicsOncode InstituteThe Netherlands Cancer InstituteAmsterdamThe Netherlands
| | - Carmen Jeronimo
- Cancer Biology and Epigenetics GroupResearch Center (CI‐IPOP)Portuguese Oncology Institute of PortoPortugal
| | - Sofia Salta
- Cancer Biology and Epigenetics GroupResearch Center (CI‐IPOP)Portuguese Oncology Institute of PortoPortugal
| | - Rui Henrique
- Department of PathologyPortuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto)Portugal
| | - Jelle Wesseling
- Division of PathologyThe Netherlands Cancer InstituteAmsterdamThe Netherlands
| | - Cathy Moelans
- Department of PathologyUniversity Medical Center UtrechtThe Netherlands
| | - Sabine C. Linn
- Department of PathologyUniversity Medical Center UtrechtThe Netherlands
- Division of Molecular PathologyThe Netherlands Cancer InstituteAmsterdamThe Netherlands
- Division of Medical OncologyThe Netherlands Cancer InstituteAmsterdamThe Netherlands
| | - Michel van den Heuvel
- Division of Thoracic OncologyThe Netherlands Cancer InstituteAmsterdamThe Netherlands
| | - Paul van Diest
- Department of PathologyUniversity Medical Center UtrechtThe Netherlands
| | - Wilbert Zwart
- Division of OncogenomicsOncode InstituteThe Netherlands Cancer InstituteAmsterdamThe Netherlands
- Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Institute for Complex Molecular SystemsDepartment of Biomedical EngineeringEindhoven University of TechnologyThe Netherlands
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5
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Droog M, de Ruiter H, Gladka M, Molenaar B, van der Elst S, Versteeg D, van Rooij E. Single cell sequencing to identify temporal and cellular changes in gene expression post ischemic injury. J Mol Cell Cardiol 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.yjmcc.2018.05.137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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6
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Severson TM, Nevedomskaya E, Peeters J, Kuilman T, Krijgsman O, van Rossum A, Droog M, Kim Y, Koornstra R, Beumer I, Glas AM, Peeper D, Wesseling J, Simon IM, Wessels L, Linn SC, Zwart W. Neoadjuvant tamoxifen synchronizes ERα binding and gene expression profiles related to outcome and proliferation. Oncotarget 2017; 7:33901-18. [PMID: 27129152 PMCID: PMC5085127 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.8983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [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: 04/07/2016] [Accepted: 04/13/2016] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Estrogen receptor alpha (ERα)-positive breast cancers are frequently treated with tamoxifen, but resistance is common. It remains elusive how tamoxifen resistance occurs and predictive biomarkers for treatment outcome are needed. Because most biomarker discovery studies are performed using pre-treatment surgical resections, the effects of tamoxifen therapy directly on the tumor cell in vivo remain unexamined. In this study, we assessed DNA copy number, gene expression profiles and ERα/chromatin binding landscapes on breast tumor specimens, both before and after neoadjuvant tamoxifen treatment. We observed neoadjuvant tamoxifen treatment synchronized ERα/chromatin interactions and downstream gene expression, indicating that hormonal therapy reduces inter-tumor molecular variability. ERα-synchronized sites are associated with dynamic FOXA1 action at these sites, which is under control of growth factor signaling. Genes associated with tamoxifen-synchronized sites are capable of differentiating patients for tamoxifen benefit. Due to the direct effects of therapeutics on ERα behavior and transcriptional output, our study highlights the added value of biomarker discovery studies after neoadjuvant drug exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tesa M Severson
- Division of Molecular Pathology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, CX, The Netherlands
| | - Ekaterina Nevedomskaya
- Division of Molecular Pathology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, CX, The Netherlands.,Division of Molecular Carcinogenesis, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, CX, The Netherlands
| | | | - Thomas Kuilman
- Division of Molecular Oncology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, CX, The Netherlands
| | - Oscar Krijgsman
- Division of Molecular Oncology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, CX, The Netherlands
| | - Annelot van Rossum
- Division of Molecular Pathology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, CX, The Netherlands
| | - Marjolein Droog
- Division of Molecular Pathology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, CX, The Netherlands
| | - Yongsoo Kim
- Division of Molecular Pathology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, CX, The Netherlands.,Division of Molecular Carcinogenesis, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, CX, The Netherlands
| | - Rutger Koornstra
- Department of Medical Oncology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, GA, The Netherlands
| | | | | | - Daniel Peeper
- Division of Molecular Oncology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, CX, The Netherlands
| | - Jelle Wesseling
- Division of Molecular Pathology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, CX, The Netherlands
| | | | - Lodewyk Wessels
- Division of Molecular Carcinogenesis, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, CX, The Netherlands
| | - Sabine C Linn
- Division of Molecular Pathology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, CX, The Netherlands.,Division of Medical Oncology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, CX, The Netherlands.,Department of Pathology, University Medical Center Utrecht, CX, The Netherlands
| | - Wilbert Zwart
- Division of Molecular Pathology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, CX, The Netherlands
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7
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Abstract
Although many tissues express estrogen receptor (ER)α, most studies focus on breast cancer where ERα occupies just a small fraction of its total repertoire of potential DNA-binding sites, based on sequence. This raises the question: Can ERα occupy these other potential binding sites in a different context? Ligands, splice variants, posttranslational modifications, and acquired mutations of ERα affect its conformation, which may alter chromatin interactions. To date, literature describes the DNA-binding sites of ERα (the ERα cistrome) in breast, endometrium, liver, and bone, in which the receptor mainly binds to enhancers. Chromosomal boundaries provide distinct areas for dynamic gene regulation between tissues, where the usage of enhancers deviates. Interactions of ERα with enhancers and its transcriptional complex depend on the proteome, which differs per cell type. This review discusses the biological variables that influence ERα cistromics, using reports from human specimens, cell lines, and mouse tissues, to assess whether ERα genomics in breast cancer can be translated to other tissue types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marjolein Droog
- Division of Molecular Pathology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, 1066 CX Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Mark Mensink
- Division of Molecular Pathology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, 1066 CX Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Wilbert Zwart
- Division of Molecular Pathology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, 1066 CX Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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8
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Droog M, Nevedomskaya E, Kim Y, Severson T, Flach KD, Opdam M, Schuurman K, Gradowska P, Hauptmann M, Dackus G, Hollema H, Mourits M, Nederlof P, van Boven H, Linn SC, Wessels L, van Leeuwen FE, Zwart W. Comparative Cistromics Reveals Genomic Cross-talk between FOXA1 and ERα in Tamoxifen-Associated Endometrial Carcinomas. Cancer Res 2016; 76:3773-84. [PMID: 27197147 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-14-1813] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2014] [Accepted: 04/13/2016] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Tamoxifen, a small-molecule antagonist of the transcription factor estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) used to treat breast cancer, increases risks of endometrial cancer. However, no parallels of ERα transcriptional action in breast and endometrial tumors have been found that might explain this effect. In this study, we addressed this issue with a genome-wide assessment of ERα-chromatin interactions in surgical specimens obtained from patients with tamoxifen-associated endometrial cancer. ERα was found at active enhancers in endometrial cancer cells as marked by the presence of RNA polymerase II and the histone marker H3K27Ac. These ERα binding sites were highly conserved between breast and endometrial cancer and enriched in binding motifs for the transcription factor FOXA1, which displayed substantial overlap with ERα binding sites proximal to genes involved in classical ERα target genes. Multifactorial ChIP-seq data integration from the endometrial cancer cell line Ishikawa illustrated a functional genomic network involving ERα and FOXA1 together with the enhancer-enriched transcriptional regulators p300, FOXM1, TEAD4, FNFIC, CEBP8, and TCF12. Immunohistochemical analysis of 230 primary endometrial tumor specimens showed that lack of FOXA1 and ERα expression was associated with a longer interval between breast cancer and the emergence of endometrial cancer, exclusively in tamoxifen-treated patients. Our results define conserved sites for a genomic interplay between FOXA1 and ERα in breast cancer and tamoxifen-associated endometrial cancer. In addition, FOXA1 and ERα are associated with the interval time between breast cancer and endometrial cancer only in tamoxifen-treated breast cancer patients. Cancer Res; 76(13); 3773-84. ©2016 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marjolein Droog
- Department of Molecular Pathology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Ekaterina Nevedomskaya
- Department of Molecular Pathology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Department of Molecular Carcinogenesis, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Yongsoo Kim
- Department of Molecular Pathology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Department of Molecular Carcinogenesis, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Tesa Severson
- Department of Molecular Pathology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Koen D Flach
- Department of Molecular Pathology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Mark Opdam
- Department of Molecular Pathology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Karianne Schuurman
- Department of Molecular Pathology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Patrycja Gradowska
- Department of Epidemiology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Michael Hauptmann
- Department of Epidemiology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Gwen Dackus
- Department of Molecular Pathology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Harry Hollema
- Department of Pathology, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Marian Mourits
- Department of Gynecological Oncology, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Petra Nederlof
- Department of Pathology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Hester van Boven
- Department of Pathology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Sabine C Linn
- Department of Molecular Pathology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Department of Medical Oncology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Lodewyk Wessels
- Department of Molecular Carcinogenesis, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Faculty of EEMCS, Delft University of Technology, Delft, the Netherlands
| | - Flora E van Leeuwen
- Department of Epidemiology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Wilbert Zwart
- Department of Molecular Pathology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
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9
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Zwart W, Flach KD, Rudraraju B, Abdel-Fatah TMA, Gojis O, Canisius S, Moore D, Nevedomskaya E, Opdam M, Droog M, Hofland I, Chan S, Shaw J, Ellis IO, Coombes RC, Carroll JS, Ali S, Palmieri C. SRC3 Phosphorylation at Serine 543 Is a Positive Independent Prognostic Factor in ER-Positive Breast Cancer. Clin Cancer Res 2016; 22:479-91. [PMID: 26369632 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-14-3277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2014] [Accepted: 08/18/2015] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE The steroid receptor coactivator SRC3 is essential for the transcriptional activity of estrogen receptor α (ERα). SRC3 is sufficient to cause mammary tumorigenesis, and has also been implicated in endocrine resistance. SRC3 is posttranslationally modified by phosphorylation, but these events have not been investigated with regard to functionality or disease association. Here, we investigate the spatial selectivity of SRC3-pS543/DNA binding over the human genome and its expression in primary human breast cancer in relation with outcome. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN Chromatin immunoprecipitation, coupled with sequencing, was used to determine the chromatin binding patterns of SRC3-pS543 in the breast cancer cell line MCF7 and two untreated primary breast cancers. IHC was used to assess the expression of SRC3 and SRC3-pS543 in 1,650 primary breast cancers. The relationship between the expression of SRC3 and SRC3-pS543, disease-free survival (DFS), and breast cancer specific survival (BCSS) was assessed. RESULTS Although total SRC3 is selectively found at enhancer regions, SRC3-pS543 is recruited to promoters of ERα responsive genes, both in the MCF7 cell line and primary breast tumor specimens. SRC3-pS543 was associated with both improved DFS (P = 0.003) and BCSS (P = 0.001) in tamoxifen untreated high-risk patients, such a correlation was not seen in tamoxifen-treated cases, the interaction was statistically significant (P = 0.001). Multivariate analysis showed SRC3-pS543 to be an independent prognostic factor. CONCLUSIONS Phosphorylation of SRC3 at S543 affects its genomic interactions on a genome-wide level, where SRC3-pS543 is selectively recruited to promoters of ERα-responsive genes. SRC3-pS543 is a prognostic marker, and a predictive marker of response to endocrine therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wilbert Zwart
- Department of Molecular Pathology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
| | - Koen D Flach
- Department of Molecular Pathology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Bharath Rudraraju
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, Institute of Translational Medicine, The University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Tarek M A Abdel-Fatah
- Clinical Oncology Department, Nottingham University City Hospital NHS Trust, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Ondrej Gojis
- Cancer Research UK Laboratories, Imperial Centre for Translational and Experimental Medicine, Division of Cancer, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Sander Canisius
- Department of Molecular Pathology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - David Moore
- Department of Cancer Studies and Molecular Medicine, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom
| | - Ekaterina Nevedomskaya
- Department of Molecular Pathology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Mark Opdam
- Department of Molecular Pathology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Marjolein Droog
- Department of Molecular Pathology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Ingrid Hofland
- Department of Molecular Pathology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Steve Chan
- Cancer Research UK Laboratories, Imperial Centre for Translational and Experimental Medicine, Division of Cancer, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jacqui Shaw
- Department of Cancer Studies and Molecular Medicine, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom
| | - Ian O Ellis
- Division of Pathology, School of Molecular Medical Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - R Charles Coombes
- Clinical Oncology Department, Nottingham University City Hospital NHS Trust, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Jason S Carroll
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Simak Ali
- Clinical Oncology Department, Nottingham University City Hospital NHS Trust, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Carlo Palmieri
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, Institute of Translational Medicine, The University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom. Liverpool and Merseyside Academic Breast Unit, The Linda McCartney Centre, Royal Liverpool University Hospital, Liverpool, United Kingdom. Academic Department of Medical Oncology, Clatterbridge Cancer Centre NHS Foundation Trust, Wirral, United Kingdom.
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Rudraraju B, Droog M, Abdel-Fatah TMA, Zwart W, Giannoudis A, Malki MI, Moore D, Patel H, Shaw J, Ellis IO, Chan S, Brooke GN, Nevedomskaya E, Lo Nigro C, Carroll J, Coombes RC, Bevan C, Ali S, Palmieri C. Phosphorylation of activating transcription factor-2 (ATF-2) within the activation domain is a key determinant of sensitivity to tamoxifen in breast cancer. Breast Cancer Res Treat 2014; 147:295-309. [PMID: 25141981 DOI: 10.1007/s10549-014-3098-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2014] [Accepted: 08/07/2014] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Activating transcription factor-2 (ATF-2) has been implicated as a tumour suppressor in breast cancer (BC). c-JUN N-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38 MAPK phosphorylate ATF-2 within the activation domain (AD), which is required for its transcriptional activity. To date, the role of ATF-2 in determining response to endocrine therapy has not been explored. Effects of ATF-2 loss in the oestrogen receptor (ER)-positive luminal BC cell line MCF7 were explored, as well as its role in response to tamoxifen treatment. Genome-wide chromatin binding patterns of ATF-2 when phosphorylated within the AD in MCF-7 cells were determined using ChIP-seq. The expression of ATF-2 and phosphorylated ATF-2 (pATF-2-Thr71) was determined in a series of 1,650 BC patients and correlated with clinico-pathological features and clinical outcome. Loss of ATF-2 diminished the growth-inhibitory effects of tamoxifen, while tamoxifen treatment induced ATF-2 phosphorylation within the AD, to regulate the expression of a set of 227 genes for proximal phospho-ATF-2 binding, involved in cell development, assembly and survival. Low expression of both ATF-2 and pATF-2-Thr71 was significantly associated with aggressive pathological features. Furthermore, pATF-2 was associated with both p-p38 and pJNK1/2 (< 0.0001). While expression of ATF-2 is not associated with outcome, pATF-2 is associated with longer disease-free (p = 0.002) and BC-specific survival in patients exposed to tamoxifen (p = 0.01). Furthermore, multivariate analysis confirmed pATF-2-Thr71 as an independent prognostic factor. ATF-2 is important for modulating the effect of tamoxifen and phosphorylation of ATF-2 within the AD at Thr71 predicts for improved outcome for ER-positive BC receiving tamoxifen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bharath Rudraraju
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, Institute of Translational Medicine, University of Liverpool, The Duncan Building, Daulby Street, Liverpool, L69 3GA, UK
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11
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Jansen MPHM, Knijnenburg T, Reijm EA, Simon I, Kerkhoven R, Droog M, Velds A, van Laere S, Dirix L, Alexi X, Foekens JA, Wessels L, Linn SC, Berns EMJJ, Zwart W. Hallmarks of aromatase inhibitor drug resistance revealed by epigenetic profiling in breast cancer. Cancer Res 2014; 73:6632-41. [PMID: 24242068 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-13-0704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Aromatase inhibitors are the major first-line treatment of estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer, but resistance to treatment is common. To date, no biomarkers have been validated clinically to guide subsequent therapy in these patients. In this study, we mapped the genome-wide chromatin-binding profiles of estrogen receptor α (ERα), along with the epigenetic modifications H3K4me3 and H3K27me3, that are responsible for determining gene transcription (n = 12). Differential binding patterns of ERα, H3K4me3, and H3K27me3 were enriched between patients with good or poor outcomes after aromatase inhibition. ERα and H3K27me3 patterns were validated in an additional independent set of breast cancer cases (n = 10). We coupled these patterns to array-based proximal gene expression and progression-free survival data derived from a further independent cohort of 72 aromatase inhibitor-treated patients. Through this approach, we determined that the ERα and H3K27me3 profiles predicted the treatment outcomes for first-line aromatase inhibitors. In contrast, the H3K4me3 pattern identified was not similarly informative. The classification potential of these genes was only partially preserved in a cohort of 101 patients who received first-line tamoxifen treatment, suggesting some treatment selectivity in patient classification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maurice P H M Jansen
- Authors' Affiliations: Department of Medical Oncology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Cancer Institute, Rotterdam; Departments of Molecular Carcinogenesis and Molecular Pathology, Central Genomic Facility, the Netherlands Cancer Institute; Agendia NV, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; and Translational Cancer Research Unit, Laboratory of Pathology, Antwerp University/Oncology Centre, GZA Hospitals St-Augustinus, Antwerp, Belgium
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12
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Droog M, Beelen K, Linn S, Zwart W. Tamoxifen resistance: from bench to bedside. Eur J Pharmacol 2013; 717:47-57. [PMID: 23545365 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2012.11.071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [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: 07/01/2012] [Revised: 11/20/2012] [Accepted: 11/23/2012] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Although tamoxifen is a classical example of a targeted drug, a substantial proportion of estrogen receptor alpha positive breast cancer patients does not benefit from the drug. Over the last few decades, many potential biomarkers have been discovered in cell biological studies that may aid in the prediction of tamoxifen sensitivity and guide in treatment selection. Nonetheless, the transition of such a biomarker from the scientific community towards a diagnostic test that can be used in daily clinical practice has been far from ideal, and such markers seldom face clinical introduction. From a large number of potential predictive biomarkers as described in cell biological literature, the clinical (translational) scientist has to make a decision which of these biomarkers should be tested in clinical material to determine their clinical validity. This problem is not trivial, since patient samples with clinical follow-up are a valuable asset that should therefore be cherished. In this review, we will describe a number of 'cell biological biomarkers' for tamoxifen resistance and their possible clinical implications. This may guide the clinical scientist in choosing what potential biomarkers to test on tumour samples, which may catalyse the translation of scientific discoveries into daily clinical practice of breast cancer medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marjolein Droog
- Department of Molecular Pathology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066 CX Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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de Morrée A, Droog M, Grand Moursel L, Bisschop IJM, Impagliazzo A, Frants RR, Klooster R, van der Maarel SM. Self-regulated alternative splicing at the AHNAK locus. FASEB J 2011; 26:93-103. [PMID: 21940993 DOI: 10.1096/fj.11-187971] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
AHNAK is a 700-kDa protein involved in cytoarchitecture and calcium signaling. It is secondarily reduced in muscle of dysferlinopathy patients and accumulates in muscle of calpainopathy patients, both affected by a muscular dystrophy. AHNAK directly interacts with dysferlin. This interaction is lost on cleavage of AHNAK by the protease calpain 3, explaining the molecular observations in patients. Currently, little is known of AHNAK regulation. We describe the self-regulation of multiple mRNA transcripts emanating from the AHNAK locus in muscle cells. We show that the AHNAK gene consists of a 17-kb exon flanked by multiple small exons. This genetic structure is shared by AHNAK2 and Periaxin, which share a common ancestor. Two major AHNAK transcripts are differentially expressed during muscle differentiation that encode for a small (17-kDa) and a large (700-kDa) protein isoform. These proteins interact in the cytoplasm, but the small AHNAK is also present in the nucleus. During muscle differentiation the small AHNAK is strongly increased, thereby establishing a positive feedback loop to regulate mRNA splicing of its own locus. A small 17-kDa isoform of Periaxin similarly traffics between the cytoplasm and the nucleus to regulate mRNA splicing. Thus, AHNAK constitutes a novel mechanism in post-transcriptional control of gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antoine de Morrée
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
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