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Pawar NR, Buzza MS, Duru N, Strong AA, Antalis TM. Matriptase drives dissemination of ovarian cancer spheroids by a PAR-2/PI3K/Akt/MMP9 signaling axis. J Cell Biol 2023; 222:e202209114. [PMID: 37737895 PMCID: PMC10515437 DOI: 10.1083/jcb.202209114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [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: 09/28/2022] [Revised: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The transmembrane serine protease matriptase is a key regulator of both barrier-disruptive and protective epithelial cell-cell interactions. Elevated matriptase is a consistent feature of epithelial ovarian cancers (OvCa), where multicellular spheroids shed from the primary tumor into the peritoneal cavity are critical drivers of metastasis. Dynamic cell-to-cell adhesive contacts are required for spheroid formation and maintenance. Here, we show that overactive matriptase, reflected in an increased ratio of matriptase to its inhibitor hepatocyte growth factor activator inhibitor 1 (HAI-1), disrupts cell-cell contacts to produce loose prometastatic spheroids that display increased mesothelial cell adhesion and submesothelial invasion. We show that these activities are dependent on the matriptase activation of a protease-activated receptor-2 (PAR-2) signaling pathway involving PI3K/Akt and MMP9-induced disruption of cell-cell adhesion by the release of the soluble E-cadherin ectodomain. These data reveal a novel pathological connection between matriptase activation of PAR-2 and disruption of cell-cell adhesion, and support the clinical investigation of this signaling axis as a therapeutic strategy for aggressive metastatic OvCa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nisha R. Pawar
- Center for Vascular and Inflammatory Diseases, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Physiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Marguerite S. Buzza
- Center for Vascular and Inflammatory Diseases, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Physiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Research and Development Service, VA Maryland Health Care System, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Nadire Duru
- Center for Vascular and Inflammatory Diseases, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Physiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Amando A. Strong
- Center for Vascular and Inflammatory Diseases, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Toni M. Antalis
- Center for Vascular and Inflammatory Diseases, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Physiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Research and Development Service, VA Maryland Health Care System, Baltimore, MD, USA
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2
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Anderson KG, Braun DA, Buqué A, Gitto SB, Guerriero JL, Horton B, Keenan BP, Kim TS, Overacre-Delgoffe A, Ruella M, Triplett TA, Veeranki O, Verma V, Zhang F. Leveraging immune resistance archetypes in solid cancer to inform next-generation anticancer therapies. J Immunother Cancer 2023; 11:e006533. [PMID: 37399356 PMCID: PMC10314654 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2022-006533] [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] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Anticancer immunotherapies, such as immune checkpoint inhibitors, bispecific antibodies, and chimeric antigen receptor T cells, have improved outcomes for patients with a variety of malignancies. However, most patients either do not initially respond or do not exhibit durable responses due to primary or adaptive/acquired immune resistance mechanisms of the tumor microenvironment. These suppressive programs are myriad, different between patients with ostensibly the same cancer type, and can harness multiple cell types to reinforce their stability. Consequently, the overall benefit of monotherapies remains limited. Cutting-edge technologies now allow for extensive tumor profiling, which can be used to define tumor cell intrinsic and extrinsic pathways of primary and/or acquired immune resistance, herein referred to as features or feature sets of immune resistance to current therapies. We propose that cancers can be characterized by immune resistance archetypes, comprised of five feature sets encompassing known immune resistance mechanisms. Archetypes of resistance may inform new therapeutic strategies that concurrently address multiple cell axes and/or suppressive mechanisms, and clinicians may consequently be able to prioritize targeted therapy combinations for individual patients to improve overall efficacy and outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristin G Anderson
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Cancer Biology, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Carter Center for Immunology Research, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
- University of Virginia Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - David A Braun
- Center of Molecular and Cellular Oncology, Yale University Yale Cancer Center, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Aitziber Buqué
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, USA
| | - Sarah B Gitto
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Jennifer L Guerriero
- Division of Breast Surgery, Department of Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Brendan Horton
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Bridget P Keenan
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Teresa S Kim
- Department of Surgery, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Abigail Overacre-Delgoffe
- Department of Immunology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
- Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Marco Ruella
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Todd A Triplett
- Department of Immunotherapeutics and Biotechnology, Jerry H. Hodge School of Pharmacy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Abilene, Texas, USA
| | - Omkara Veeranki
- Medical Affairs and Clinical Development, Caris Life Sciences Inc, Irving, Texas, USA
| | - Vivek Verma
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
- The Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota, Austin, Minnesota, USA
| | - Fan Zhang
- Department of Pharmaceutics, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
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3
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Ding L, Wang Q, Martincuks A, Kearns MJ, Jiang T, Lin Z, Cheng X, Qian C, Xie S, Kim HJ, Launonen IM, Färkkilä A, Roberts TM, Freeman GJ, Liu JF, Konstantinopoulos PA, Matulonis U, Yu H, Zhao JJ. STING agonism overcomes STAT3-mediated immunosuppression and adaptive resistance to PARP inhibition in ovarian cancer. J Immunother Cancer 2023; 11:e005627. [PMID: 36609487 PMCID: PMC9827255 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2022-005627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [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] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibition (PARPi) has demonstrated potent therapeutic efficacy in patients with BRCA-mutant ovarian cancer. However, acquired resistance to PARPi remains a major challenge in the clinic. METHODS PARPi-resistant ovarian cancer mouse models were generated by long-term treatment of olaparib in syngeneic Brca1-deficient ovarian tumors. Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3)-mediated immunosuppression was investigated in vitro by co-culture experiments and in vivo by analysis of immune cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME) of human and mouse PARPi-resistant tumors. Whole genome transcriptome analysis was performed to assess the antitumor immunomodulatory effect of STING (stimulator of interferon genes) agonists on myeloid cells in the TME of PARPi-resistant ovarian tumors. A STING agonist was used to overcome STAT3-mediated immunosuppression and acquired PARPi resistance in syngeneic and patient-derived xenografts models of ovarian cancer. RESULTS In this study, we uncover an adaptive resistance mechanism to PARP inhibition mediated by tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) in the TME. Markedly increased populations of protumor macrophages are found in BRCA-deficient ovarian tumors that rendered resistance to PARPi in both murine models and patients. Mechanistically, PARP inhibition elevates the STAT3 signaling pathway in tumor cells, which in turn promotes protumor polarization of TAMs. STAT3 ablation in tumor cells mitigates polarization of protumor macrophages and increases tumor-infiltrating T cells on PARP inhibition. These findings are corroborated in patient-derived, PARPi-resistant BRCA1-mutant ovarian tumors. Importantly, STING agonists reshape the immunosuppressive TME by reprogramming myeloid cells and overcome the TME-dependent adaptive resistance to PARPi in ovarian cancer. This effect is further enhanced by addition of the programmed cell death protein-1 blockade. CONCLUSIONS We elucidate an adaptive immunosuppression mechanism rendering resistance to PARPi in BRCA1-mutant ovarian tumors. This is mediated by enrichment of protumor TAMs propelled by PARPi-induced STAT3 activation in tumor cells. We also provide a new strategy to reshape the immunosuppressive TME with STING agonists and overcome PARPi resistance in ovarian cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liya Ding
- Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Biological Chemistry & Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Qiwei Wang
- Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Biological Chemistry & Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Antons Martincuks
- Immuno-Oncology, City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, Duarte, California, USA
| | - Michael J Kearns
- Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Tao Jiang
- Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Ziying Lin
- Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Xin Cheng
- Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Biological Chemistry & Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Changli Qian
- Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Shaozhen Xie
- Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Hye-Jung Kim
- Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | | | - Anniina Färkkilä
- Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Thomas M Roberts
- Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Biological Chemistry & Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Gordon J Freeman
- Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Joyce F Liu
- Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | | | - Ursula Matulonis
- Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Hua Yu
- Immuno-Oncology, City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, Duarte, California, USA
| | - Jean J Zhao
- Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Biological Chemistry & Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Harvard Program in Therapeutic Science, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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4
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Sasamoto N, Stewart PA, Wang T, Yoder SJ, Chellappan S, Hecht JL, Fridley BL, Terry KL, Tworoger SS. Lifetime ovulatory years and ovarian cancer gene expression profiles. J Ovarian Res 2022; 15:59. [PMID: 35562768 PMCID: PMC9102743 DOI: 10.1186/s13048-022-00995-1] [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: 03/11/2022] [Accepted: 05/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Greater ovulatory years is associated with increased ovarian cancer risk. Although ovulation leads to an acute pro-inflammatory local environment, how long-term exposure to ovulation impacts ovarian carcinogenesis is not fully understood. Thus, we examined the association between gene expression profiles of ovarian tumors and lifetime ovulatory years to enhance understanding of associated biological pathways. METHODS RNA sequencing data was generated on 234 invasive ovarian cancer tumors that were high-grade serous, poorly differentiated, or high-grade endometrioid from the Nurses' Health Study (NHS), NHSII, and the New England Case Control Study. We used linear regression to identify differentially expressed genes by estimated ovulatory years, adjusted for birth decade and cohort, overall and stratified by menopausal status at diagnosis. We used false discovery rates (FDR) to account for multiple testing. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) with Cancer Hallmarks, KEGG, and Reactome databases was used to identify biological pathways associated with ovulatory years. RESULTS No individual genes were significantly differentially expressed by ovulatory years (FDR > 0.19). However, GSEA identified several pathways that were significantly associated with ovulatory years, including downregulation of pathways related to inflammation and proliferation (FDR < 1.0 × 10-5). Greater ovulatory years were more strongly associated with downregulation of genes related to proliferation (e.g., E2F targets, FDR = 1.53 × 10-24; G2M checkpoints, FDR = 3.50 × 10-22) among premenopausal versus postmenopausal women at diagnosis. The association of greater ovulatory years with downregulation of genes involved in inflammatory response such as interferon gamma response pathways (FDR = 7.81 × 10-17) was stronger in postmenopausal women. CONCLUSIONS Our results provide novel insight into the biological pathways that link ovulatory years to ovarian carcinogenesis, which may lead to development of targeted prevention strategies for ovarian cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naoko Sasamoto
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 221 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
| | - Paul A Stewart
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Tianyi Wang
- Department of Cancer Epidemiology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Sean J Yoder
- Molecular Genomics Core, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Srikumar Chellappan
- Department of Tumor Biology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Jonathan L Hecht
- Department of Pathology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Brooke L Fridley
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Kathryn L Terry
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 221 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Shelley S Tworoger
- Department of Cancer Epidemiology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, USA
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5
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Bowers RR, Jones CM, Paz EA, Barrows JK, Armeson K, Long D, Delaney J. SWAN pathway-network identification of common aneuploidy-based oncogenic drivers. Nucleic Acids Res 2022; 50:3673-3692. [PMID: 35380699 PMCID: PMC9023287 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkac200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2021] [Revised: 02/26/2022] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Haploinsufficiency drives Darwinian evolution. Siblings, while alike in many aspects, differ due to monoallelic differences inherited from each parent. In cancer, solid tumors exhibit aneuploid genetics resulting in hundreds to thousands of monoallelic gene-level copy-number alterations (CNAs) in each tumor. Aneuploidy patterns are heterogeneous, posing a challenge to identify drivers in this high-noise genetic environment. Here, we developed Shifted Weighted Annotation Network (SWAN) analysis to assess biology impacted by cumulative monoallelic changes. SWAN enables an integrated pathway-network analysis of CNAs, RNA expression, and mutations via a simple web platform. SWAN is optimized to best prioritize known and novel tumor suppressors and oncogenes, thereby identifying drivers and potential druggable vulnerabilities within cancer CNAs. Protein homeostasis, phospholipid dephosphorylation, and ion transport pathways are commonly suppressed. An atlas of CNA pathways altered in each cancer type is released. These CNA network shifts highlight new, attractive targets to exploit in solid tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert R Bowers
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Christian M Jones
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Edwin A Paz
- Departments of Neurology, Neurobiology, and Cell Biology, and the Duke Center for Neurodegeneration & Neurotherapeutics, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - John K Barrows
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Kent E Armeson
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - David T Long
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Joe R Delaney
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
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6
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Abstract
Advanced stages of cancer are highly associated with short overall survival in patients due to the lack of long-term treatment options following the standard form of care. New options for cancer therapy are needed to improve the survival of cancer patients without disease recurrence. Auranofin is a clinically approved agent against rheumatoid arthritis that is currently enrolled in clinical trials for potential repurposing against cancer. Auranofin mainly targets the anti-oxidative system catalyzed by thioredoxin reductase (TrxR), which protects the cell from oxidative stress and death in the cytoplasm and the mitochondria. TrxR is over-expressed in many cancers as an adaptive mechanism for cancer cell proliferation, rendering it an attractive target for cancer therapy, and auranofin as a potential therapeutic agent for cancer. Inhibiting TrxR dysregulates the intracellular redox state causing increased intracellular reactive oxygen species levels, and stimulates cellular demise. An alternate mechanism of action of auranofin is to mimic proteasomal inhibition by blocking the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS), which is critically important in cancer cells to prevent cell death when compared to non-cancer cells, because of its role on cell cycle regulation, protein degradation, gene expression, and DNA repair. This article provides new perspectives on the potential mechanisms used by auranofin alone, in combination with diverse other compounds, or in combination with platinating agents and/or immune checkpoint inhibitors to combat cancer cells, while assessing the feasibility for its repurposing in the clinical setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farah H Abdalbari
- Experimental Pathology Unit, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Carlos M Telleria
- Experimental Pathology Unit, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
- Cancer Research Program, Research Institute, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada.
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7
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Liu C, Barger CJ, Karpf AR. FOXM1: A Multifunctional Oncoprotein and Emerging Therapeutic Target in Ovarian Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:3065. [PMID: 34205406 PMCID: PMC8235333 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13123065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [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: 05/25/2021] [Revised: 06/11/2021] [Accepted: 06/16/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Forkhead box M1 (FOXM1) is a member of the conserved forkhead box (FOX) transcription factor family. Over the last two decades, FOXM1 has emerged as a multifunctional oncoprotein and a robust biomarker of poor prognosis in many human malignancies. In this review article, we address the current knowledge regarding the mechanisms of regulation and oncogenic functions of FOXM1, particularly in the context of ovarian cancer. FOXM1 and its associated oncogenic transcriptional signature are enriched in >85% of ovarian cancer cases and FOXM1 expression and activity can be enhanced by a plethora of genomic, transcriptional, post-transcriptional, and post-translational mechanisms. As a master transcriptional regulator, FOXM1 promotes critical oncogenic phenotypes in ovarian cancer, including: (1) cell proliferation, (2) invasion and metastasis, (3) chemotherapy resistance, (4) cancer stem cell (CSC) properties, (5) genomic instability, and (6) altered cellular metabolism. We additionally discuss the evidence for FOXM1 as a cancer biomarker, describe the rationale for FOXM1 as a cancer therapeutic target, and provide an overview of therapeutic strategies used to target FOXM1 for cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Adam R. Karpf
- Eppley Institute and Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68918-6805, USA; (C.L.); (C.J.B.)
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8
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Barger CJ, Chee L, Albahrani M, Munoz-Trujillo C, Boghean L, Branick C, Odunsi K, Drapkin R, Zou L, Karpf AR. Co-regulation and function of FOXM1/ RHNO1 bidirectional genes in cancer. eLife 2021; 10:e55070. [PMID: 33890574 PMCID: PMC8104967 DOI: 10.7554/elife.55070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [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: 01/11/2020] [Accepted: 04/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The FOXM1 transcription factor is an oncoprotein and a top biomarker of poor prognosis in human cancer. Overexpression and activation of FOXM1 is frequent in high-grade serous carcinoma (HGSC), the most common and lethal form of human ovarian cancer, and is linked to copy number gains at chromosome 12p13.33. We show that FOXM1 is co-amplified and co-expressed with RHNO1, a gene involved in the ATR-Chk1 signaling pathway that functions in the DNA replication stress response. We demonstrate that FOXM1 and RHNO1 are head-to-head (i.e., bidirectional) genes (BDG) regulated by a bidirectional promoter (BDP) (named F/R-BDP). FOXM1 and RHNO1 each promote oncogenic phenotypes in HGSC cells, including clonogenic growth, DNA homologous recombination repair, and poly-ADP ribosylase inhibitor resistance. FOXM1 and RHNO1 are one of the first examples of oncogenic BDG, and therapeutic targeting of FOXM1/RHNO1 BDG is a potential therapeutic approach for ovarian and other cancers.
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MESH Headings
- Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated Proteins/genetics
- Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated Proteins/metabolism
- Carboplatin/pharmacology
- Carrier Proteins/genetics
- Carrier Proteins/metabolism
- Cell Line, Tumor
- Cell Proliferation
- Checkpoint Kinase 1/genetics
- Checkpoint Kinase 1/metabolism
- Databases, Genetic
- Drug Resistance, Neoplasm
- Female
- Forkhead Box Protein M1/genetics
- Forkhead Box Protein M1/metabolism
- Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
- Humans
- Neoplasms, Cystic, Mucinous, and Serous/drug therapy
- Neoplasms, Cystic, Mucinous, and Serous/genetics
- Neoplasms, Cystic, Mucinous, and Serous/metabolism
- Neoplasms, Cystic, Mucinous, and Serous/pathology
- Ovarian Neoplasms/drug therapy
- Ovarian Neoplasms/genetics
- Ovarian Neoplasms/metabolism
- Ovarian Neoplasms/pathology
- Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerase Inhibitors/pharmacology
- Promoter Regions, Genetic
- Recombinational DNA Repair
- Signal Transduction
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Affiliation(s)
- Carter J Barger
- Eppley Institute for Cancer Research and Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical CenterOmahaUnited States
| | - Linda Chee
- Eppley Institute for Cancer Research and Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical CenterOmahaUnited States
| | - Mustafa Albahrani
- Eppley Institute for Cancer Research and Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical CenterOmahaUnited States
| | - Catalina Munoz-Trujillo
- Eppley Institute for Cancer Research and Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical CenterOmahaUnited States
| | - Lidia Boghean
- Eppley Institute for Cancer Research and Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical CenterOmahaUnited States
| | - Connor Branick
- Eppley Institute for Cancer Research and Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical CenterOmahaUnited States
| | - Kunle Odunsi
- Departments of Gynecologic Oncology, Immunology, and Center for Immunotherapy, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer CenterBuffaloUnited States
| | - Ronny Drapkin
- Penn Ovarian Cancer Research Center, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of MedicinePhiladelphiaUnited States
| | - Lee Zou
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical SchoolCharlestownUnited States
| | - Adam R Karpf
- Eppley Institute for Cancer Research and Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical CenterOmahaUnited States
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9
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Fogg KC, Miller AE, Li Y, Flanigan W, Walker A, O'Shea A, Kendziorski C, Kreeger PK. Ovarian cancer cells direct monocyte differentiation through a non-canonical pathway. BMC Cancer 2020; 20:1008. [PMID: 33069212 PMCID: PMC7568422 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-020-07513-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [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: 07/25/2020] [Accepted: 10/08/2020] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Alternatively-activated macrophages (AAMs), an anti-inflammatory macrophage subpopulation, have been implicated in the progression of high grade serous ovarian carcinoma (HGSOC). Increased levels of AAMs are correlated with poor HGSOC survival rates, and AAMs increase the attachment and spread of HGSOC cells in vitro. However, the mechanism by which monocytes in the HGSOC tumor microenvironment are differentiated and polarized to AAMs remains unknown. METHODS Using an in vitro co-culture device, we cultured naïve, primary human monocytes with a panel of five HGSOC cell lines over the course of 7 days. An empirical Bayesian statistical method, EBSeq, was used to couple RNA-seq with observed monocyte-derived cell phenotype to explore which HGSOC-derived soluble factors supported differentiation to CD68+ macrophages and subsequent polarization towards CD163+ AAMs. Pathways of interest were interrogated using small molecule inhibitors, neutralizing antibodies, and CRISPR knockout cell lines. RESULTS HGSOC cell lines displayed a wide range of abilities to generate AAMs from naïve monocytes. Much of this variation appeared to result from differential ability to generate CD68+ macrophages, as most CD68+ cells were also CD163+. Differences in tumor cell potential to generate macrophages was not due to a MCSF-dependent mechanism, nor variance in established pro-AAM factors. TGFα was implicated as a potential signaling molecule produced by tumor cells that could induce macrophage differentiation, which was validated using a CRISPR knockout of TGFA in the OVCAR5 cell line. CONCLUSIONS HGSOC production of TGFα drives monocytes to differentiate into macrophages, representing a central arm of the mechanism by which AAMs are generated in the tumor microenvironment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaitlin C Fogg
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1111 Highland Ave, WIMR 4553, Madison, WI, 53705, USA
| | - Andrew E Miller
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1111 Highland Ave, WIMR 4553, Madison, WI, 53705, USA
| | - Ying Li
- Department of Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Will Flanigan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1111 Highland Ave, WIMR 4553, Madison, WI, 53705, USA
| | - Alyssa Walker
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1111 Highland Ave, WIMR 4553, Madison, WI, 53705, USA
| | - Andrea O'Shea
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Christina Kendziorski
- Department of Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Pamela K Kreeger
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1111 Highland Ave, WIMR 4553, Madison, WI, 53705, USA.
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA.
- Department of Cell and Regenerative Biology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA.
- University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA.
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10
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Raghavan S, Mehta P, Xie Y, Lei YL, Mehta G. Ovarian cancer stem cells and macrophages reciprocally interact through the WNT pathway to promote pro-tumoral and malignant phenotypes in 3D engineered microenvironments. J Immunother Cancer 2019; 7:190. [PMID: 31324218 PMCID: PMC6642605 DOI: 10.1186/s40425-019-0666-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 124] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2019] [Accepted: 07/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Innate immune cells such as macrophages are abundantly present within malignant ascites, where they share the microenvironment with ovarian cancer stem cells (CSC). METHODS To mimic this malignant ascites microenvironment, we created a hanging-drop hetero-spheroid model to bring CSCs and macrophages in close association. Within these hetero-spheroids, CD68+ macrophages (derived from U937 or peripheral blood monocytes) make up ~ 20% of the population, while the rest are ovarian cancer cells and ovarian cancer stem cells (derived from the high grade serous ovarian cancer cell line, OVCAR3). RESULTS Our results indicate that CSCs drive the upregulation of M2 macrophage marker CD206 within hetero-spheroids, compared to bulk ovarian cancer cells, implying an inherently more immuno-suppressive program. Moreover, an increased maintenance of elevated aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) activity is noted within hetero-spheroids that include pre-polarized CD206+ M2 macrophages, implying a reciprocal interaction that drives pro-tumoral activation as well as CSC self-renewal. Consistent with enriched CSCs, we also observe increased levels of pro-tumoral IL-10 and IL-6 cytokines in the CSC/M2-macrophage hetero-spheroids. CSC/M2-macrophage hetero-spheroids are also less sensitive to the chemotherapeutic agent carboplatin and are subsequently more invasive in transwell assays. Using inhibitors of WNT secretion in both CSCs and macrophages, we found that CSC-derived WNT ligands drove CD206+ M2 macrophage activation, and that, conversely, macrophage-derived WNT ligands enriched ALDH+ cells within the CSC compartment of hetero-spheroids. Upon examination of specific WNT ligand expression within the monocyte-derived macrophage system, we observed a significant elevation in gene expression for WNT5B. In CSCs co-cultured with macrophages within hetero-spheroids, increases in several WNT ligands were observed, and this increase was significantly inhibited when WNT5B was knocked down in macrophages. CONCLUSIONS Our data implies that macrophage- initiated WNT signaling could play a significant role in the maintenance of stemness, and the resulting phenotypes of chemoresistance and invasiveness. Our results indicate paracrine WNT activation during CSC/M2 macrophages interaction constitutes a positive feedback loop that likely contributes to the more aggressive phenotype, which makes the WNT pathway a potential target to reduce the CSC and M2 macrophage compartments in the tumor microenvironment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shreya Raghavan
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, 2800 Plymouth Rd, Building 28, Room 3044W, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Pooja Mehta
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, 2800 Plymouth Rd, Building 28, Room 3044W, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Yuying Xie
- Department of Computational Mathematics, Science, and Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48823, USA
| | - Yu L Lei
- Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine and Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Ann Arbor, USA
- Rogel Cancer Center, North Campus Research Complex, University of Michigan, 2800 Plymouth Rd, Building 28, Room 3044W, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Geeta Mehta
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, 2800 Plymouth Rd, Building 28, Room 3044W, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, 2800 Plymouth Rd, Building 28, Room 3044W, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.
- Department of Macromolecular Sciences and Engineering, 2800 Plymouth Rd, Building 28, Room 3044W, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.
- Rogel Cancer Center, North Campus Research Complex, University of Michigan, 2800 Plymouth Rd, Building 28, Room 3044W, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.
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11
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Bregenzer ME, Horst EN, Mehta P, Novak CM, Repetto T, Mehta G. The Role of Cancer Stem Cells and Mechanical Forces in Ovarian Cancer Metastasis. Cancers (Basel) 2019; 11:E1008. [PMID: 31323899 PMCID: PMC6679114 DOI: 10.3390/cancers11071008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [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: 06/10/2019] [Revised: 07/12/2019] [Accepted: 07/17/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Ovarian cancer is an extremely lethal gynecologic disease; with the high-grade serous subtype predominantly associated with poor survival rates. Lack of early diagnostic biomarkers and prevalence of post-treatment recurrence, present substantial challenges in treating ovarian cancers. These cancers are also characterized by a high degree of heterogeneity and protracted metastasis, further complicating treatment. Within the ovarian tumor microenvironment, cancer stem-like cells and mechanical stimuli are two underappreciated key elements that play a crucial role in facilitating these outcomes. In this review article, we highlight their roles in modulating ovarian cancer metastasis. Specifically, we outline the clinical relevance of cancer stem-like cells, and challenges associated with their identification and characterization and summarize the ways in which they modulate ovarian cancer metastasis. Further, we review the mechanical cues in the ovarian tumor microenvironment, including, tension, shear, compression and matrix stiffness, that influence (cancer stem-like cells and) metastasis in ovarian cancers. Lastly, we outline the challenges associated with probing these important modulators of ovarian cancer metastasis and provide suggestions for incorporating these cues in basic biology and translational research focused on metastasis. We conclude that future studies on ovarian cancer metastasis will benefit from the careful consideration of mechanical stimuli and cancer stem cells, ultimately allowing for the development of more effective therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael E Bregenzer
- Department of Biomedical Engineering; University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Eric N Horst
- Department of Biomedical Engineering; University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Pooja Mehta
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering; University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USAeering
| | - Caymen M Novak
- Department of Biomedical Engineering; University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Taylor Repetto
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering; University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USAeering
| | - Geeta Mehta
- Department of Biomedical Engineering; University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering; University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USAeering.
- Macromolecular Science and Engineering; University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
- Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
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