1
|
Berlato C, Khan MN, Schioppa T, Thompson R, Maniati E, Montfort A, Jangani M, Canosa M, Kulbe H, Hagemann UB, Duncan AR, Fletcher L, Wilkinson RW, Powles T, Quezada SA, Balkwill FR. A CCR4 antagonist reverses the tumor-promoting microenvironment of renal cancer. J Clin Invest 2017; 127:801-813. [PMID: 28134623 PMCID: PMC5330727 DOI: 10.1172/jci82976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [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: 06/08/2015] [Accepted: 12/01/2016] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Elevated expression of the chemokine receptor CCR4 in tumors is associated with poor prognosis in several cancers. Here, we have determined that CCR4 was highly expressed in human renal cell carcinoma (RCC) biopsies and observed abnormal levels of CCR4 ligands in RCC patient plasma. An antagonistic anti-CCR4 antibody had antitumor activity in the RENCA mouse model of RCC. CCR4 inhibition did not reduce the proportion of infiltrating leukocytes in the tumor microenvironment but altered the phenotype of myeloid cells, increased NK cell and Th1 cytokine levels, and reduced immature myeloid cell infiltrate and blood chemokine levels. In spite of prominent changes in the myeloid compartment, the anti-CCR4 antibody did not affect RENCA tumors in T cell-deficient mice, and treatment with an anti-class II MHC antibody abrogated its antitumor activity. We concluded that the effects of the anti-CCR4 antibody required the adaptive immune system and CD4+ T cells. Moreover, CCL17-induced IFN-γ production was reduced when Th1-polarized normal CD4+ T cells were exposed to the CCR4 ligand, evidencing the involvement of CCR4 in Th1/Th2 regulation. The anti-CCR4 antibody, alone or in combination with other immune modulators, is a potential treatment approach to human solid cancers with high levels of CCR4-expressing tumor-infiltrating leukocytes and abnormal plasma CCR4 ligand levels.
Collapse
MESH Headings
- Animals
- Antibodies, Neoplasm/immunology
- Antibodies, Neoplasm/pharmacology
- Carcinoma, Renal Cell/drug therapy
- Carcinoma, Renal Cell/genetics
- Carcinoma, Renal Cell/immunology
- Chemokine CCL17/genetics
- Chemokine CCL17/immunology
- Chemokine CCL17/pharmacology
- Female
- Humans
- Interferon-gamma/genetics
- Interferon-gamma/immunology
- Kidney Neoplasms
- Killer Cells, Natural/immunology
- Male
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred BALB C
- Neoplasm Proteins/antagonists & inhibitors
- Neoplasm Proteins/genetics
- Neoplasm Proteins/immunology
- Neoplasms, Experimental/drug therapy
- Neoplasms, Experimental/genetics
- Neoplasms, Experimental/immunology
- Receptors, CCR4/antagonists & inhibitors
- Receptors, CCR4/genetics
- Receptors, CCR4/immunology
- Th1 Cells/immunology
- Tumor Microenvironment/drug effects
- Tumor Microenvironment/genetics
- Tumor Microenvironment/immunology
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Berlato
- Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Moddasar N. Khan
- Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Tiziana Schioppa
- Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Richard Thompson
- Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Eleni Maniati
- Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Anne Montfort
- Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Maryam Jangani
- Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Monica Canosa
- Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Hagen Kulbe
- Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Gynecology, Charité Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany
| | | | | | | | | | - Thomas Powles
- Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Sergio A. Quezada
- Cancer Immunology Unit, Research Department of Haematology, UCL Cancer Institute, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Frances R. Balkwill
- Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Kulbe H, Iorio F, Chakravarty P, Milagre CS, Moore R, Thompson RG, Everitt G, Canosa M, Montoya A, Drygin D, Braicu I, Sehouli J, Saez-Rodriguez J, Cutillas PR, Balkwill FR. Integrated transcriptomic and proteomic analysis identifies protein kinase CK2 as a key signaling node in an inflammatory cytokine network in ovarian cancer cells. Oncotarget 2016; 7:15648-61. [PMID: 26871292 PMCID: PMC4941267 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.7255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [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: 12/14/2015] [Accepted: 01/26/2016] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
We previously showed how key pathways in cancer-related inflammation and Notch signaling are part of an autocrine malignant cell network in ovarian cancer. This network, which we named the "TNF network", has paracrine actions within the tumor microenvironment, influencing angiogenesis and the immune cell infiltrate.The aim of this study was to identify critical regulators in the signaling pathways of the TNF network in ovarian cancer cells that might be therapeutic targets. To achieve our aim, we used a systems biology approach, combining data from phospho-proteomic mass spectrometry and gene expression array analysis. Among the potential therapeutic kinase targets identified was the protein kinase Casein kinase II (CK2).Knockdown of CK2 expression in malignant cells by siRNA or treatment with the specific CK2 inhibitor CX-4945 significantly decreased Notch signaling and reduced constitutive cytokine release in ovarian cancer cell lines that expressed the TNF network as well as malignant cells isolated from high grade serous ovarian cancer ascites. The expression of the same cytokines was also inhibited after treatment with CX-4945 in a 3D organotypic model. CK2 inhibition was associated with concomitant inhibition of proliferative activity, reduced angiogenesis and experimental peritoneal ovarian tumor growth.In conclusion, we have identified kinases, particularly CK2, associated with the TNF network that may play a central role in sustaining the cytokine network and/or mediating its effects in ovarian cancer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hagen Kulbe
- Centre for Cancer and Inflammation, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
- Department of Gynecology, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Francesco Iorio
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory – European Bioinformatics Institute, EMBL-EBI, Cambridge, UK
- Cancer Genome Project, Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Carla S. Milagre
- Centre for Cancer and Inflammation, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Robert Moore
- Centre for Cancer and Inflammation, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Richard G. Thompson
- Centre for Cancer and Inflammation, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Gemma Everitt
- Centre for Cancer and Inflammation, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Monica Canosa
- Centre for Cancer and Inflammation, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Alexander Montoya
- Centre for Haemato-Oncology, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | | | - Ioana Braicu
- Tumorbank Ovarian Cancer Network, Department of Gynecology, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Department of Gynecology, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jalid Sehouli
- Tumorbank Ovarian Cancer Network, Department of Gynecology, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Department of Gynecology, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Julio Saez-Rodriguez
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory – European Bioinformatics Institute, EMBL-EBI, Cambridge, UK
| | - Pedro R. Cutillas
- Centre for Haemato-Oncology, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Frances R. Balkwill
- Centre for Cancer and Inflammation, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Berlato C, Kahn MN, Schioppa T, Thompson R, Maniati E, Canosa M, Kulbe H, Sheldon C, Wreggett K, Hagemann U, Duncan A, Fletcher L, Wilkinson RW, Powles T, Quezada S, Balkwill F. Abstract 1076: Antagonists of the chemokine receptor CCR4 reverse the tumor-promoting microenvironment of renal cancer. Tumour Biol 2014. [DOI: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2014-1076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
|
4
|
Abstract
The cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21cip/CDKN1A is induced to promote growth arrest in response to a variety of stimuli in normal cells and loss of correct regulation of this gene is frequently observed in cancer. In particular, the upregulation of CDKN1A by p53 is considered to be a central mechanism of tumour suppression. Other transcription factors with tumour suppressor activity can also regulate CDKN1A, including the developmentally regulated factor, TFAP2A. Here we identify a novel AP-2 binding site within the proximal promoter of the CDKN1A gene and show this is required for optimal, p53-independent expression of p21cip/CDKN1A. We further describe a non-tumourgenic breast epithelial cell line model to study the role of endogenous TFAP2A and p53 in the control of drug-induced p21cip expression using ChIP. Maximal expression of CDKN1A requires TFAP2A which binds to two regions of the promoter: the proximal region where the AP-2 site lies and upstream near the major p53 binding site. The pattern of binding alters with time post-induction, with the proximal, p53-independent site becoming more important at later stages of p21cip induction. This pattern of promoter interaction by TFAP2A is distinct from that seen for the TFAP2C family member which represses CDKN1A expression.
Collapse
|
5
|
Berlato C, Chan KV, Price AM, Canosa M, Scibetta AG, Hurst HC. Alternative TFAP2A isoforms have distinct activities in breast cancer. Breast Cancer Res 2011; 13:R23. [PMID: 21375726 PMCID: PMC3219183 DOI: 10.1186/bcr2838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [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: 12/07/2010] [Revised: 02/09/2011] [Accepted: 03/04/2011] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction AP-2α is a transcription factor implicated in the regulation of differentiation and proliferation in certain tissues, including the mammary gland. In breast tumours, continued expression of AP-2α has been correlated with a better prognosis, but this is hard to reconcile with a reported role in the upregulation of the ERBB2 oncogene. The existence of TFAP2A isoforms, deriving from alternative first exons and differing in their N-terminal sequence, has been described in some mammals, but their relative abundance and activity has not been investigated in the human breast. Methods Expression levels of four TFAP2A isoforms were assayed at the level of RNA and protein (via the generation of isoform-specific antibodies) in a panel of breast tumour cell lines and in tissue from normal breast and primary tumour samples. Expression constructs for each isoform were used in reporter assays with synthetic and natural promoters (cyclin D3 and ERBB2) to compare the activation and repression activity of the isoforms. Results We demonstrate that the two isoforms AP-2α 1b and AP-2α 1c, in addition to the originally cloned, AP-2α 1a, are conserved throughout evolution in vertebrates. Moreover, we show that isoform 1c in particular is expressed at levels at least on a par with the 1a isoform in breast epithelial lines and tissues and may be more highly expressed in tamoxifen resistant tumours. The isoforms share a similar transactivation mechanism involving the recruitment of the adaptors CITED2 or 4 and the transactivators p300 or CBP. However, isoform 1b and 1c are stronger transactivators of the ERBB2 promoter than isoform 1a. In contrast, AP-2α 1a is the only isoform able to act as a repressor, an activity that requires an intact sumoylation motif present within the N-terminus of the protein, and which the other two isoforms lack. Conclusions Our findings suggest that TFAP2A isoforms may be differentially regulated during breast tumourigenesis and this, coupled with differences in their transcriptional activity, may impact on tumour responses to tamoxifen therapy. These data also have implications for the interpretation of tumour studies that seek to correlate outcomes with TFAP2A expression level.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Berlato
- Centre for Tumour Biology, Bart's Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, Charterhouse Square, London EC1M 6BQ, UK
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
6
|
Scibetta AG, Canosa M, Hurst HC. Transcriptional regulation of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1A (P21) by the transcription factor AP-2γ. Breast Cancer Res 2010. [PMCID: PMC2875582 DOI: 10.1186/bcr2517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
|
7
|
Williams CMJ, Scibetta AG, Friedrich JK, Canosa M, Berlato C, Moss CH, Hurst HC. AP-2gamma promotes proliferation in breast tumour cells by direct repression of the CDKN1A gene. EMBO J 2009; 28:3591-601. [PMID: 19798054 DOI: 10.1038/emboj.2009.290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2009] [Accepted: 08/28/2009] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Overexpression of the activator protein (AP)-2gamma transcription factor in breast tumours has been identified as an independent predictor of poor outcome and failure of hormone therapy. To understand further the function of AP-2gamma in breast carcinoma, we have used an RNA interference and gene expression profiling strategy with the MCF-7 cell line as a model. Gene expression changes between control and silenced cells implicate AP-2gamma in the control of cell cycle progression and developmental signalling. A function for AP-2gamma in cell cycle control was verified using flow cytometry: AP-2gamma silencing led to a partial G1/S arrest and induction of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor, p21cip/CDKN1A. Reporter and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays demonstrated a direct, functional interaction by AP-2gamma at the CDKN1A proximal promoter. AP-2gamma silencing coincided with acquisition of an active chromatin conformation at the CDKN1A locus and increased gene expression. These data provide a mechanism whereby AP-2gamma overexpression can promote breast epithelial proliferation and, coupled with previously published data, suggest how loss of oestrogen regulation of AP-2gamma may contribute to the failure of hormone therapy in patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christopher M J Williams
- Barts & The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, Centre for Tumour Biology, Institute of Cancer, Charterhouse Square, London, UK
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|