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Upadhyay P, Nair S, Kaur E, Aich J, Dani P, Sethunath V, Gardi N, Chandrani P, Godbole M, Sonawane K, Prasad R, Kannan S, Agarwal B, Kane S, Gupta S, Dutt S, Dutt A. Notch pathway activation is essential for maintenance of stem-like cells in early tongue cancer. Oncotarget 2016; 7:50437-50449. [PMID: 27391340 PMCID: PMC5226594 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.10419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [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: 01/25/2016] [Accepted: 06/07/2016] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Notch pathway plays a complex role depending on cellular contexts: promotes stem cell maintenance or induces terminal differentiation in potential cancer-initiating cells; acts as an oncogene in lymphocytes and mammary tissue or plays a growth-suppressive role in leukemia, liver, skin, and head and neck cancer. Here, we present a novel clinical and functional significance of NOTCH1 alterations in early stage tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC). PATIENTS AND METHODS We analyzed the Notch signaling pathway in 68 early stage TSCC primary tumor samples by whole exome and transcriptome sequencing, real-time PCR based copy number, expression, immuno-histochemical, followed by cell based biochemical and functional assays. RESULTS We show, unlike TCGA HNSCC data set, NOTCH1 harbors significantly lower frequency of inactivating mutations (4%); is somatically amplified; and, overexpressed in 31% and 37% of early stage TSCC patients, respectively. HNSCC cell lines over expressing NOTCH1, when plated in the absence of attachment, are enriched in stem cell markers and form spheroids. Furthermore, we show that inhibition of NOTCH activation by gamma secretase inhibitor or shRNA mediated knockdown of NOTCH1 inhibits spheroid forming capacity, transformation, survival and migration of the HNSCC cells suggesting an oncogenic role of NOTCH1 in TSCC. Clinically, Notch pathway activation is higher in tumors of non-smokers compared to smokers (50% Vs 18%, respectively, P=0.026) and is also associated with greater nodal positivity compared to its non-activation (93% Vs 64%, respectively, P=0.029). CONCLUSION We anticipate that these results could form the basis for therapeutic targeting of NOTCH1 in tongue cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pawan Upadhyay
- 1 Integrated Genomics Laboratory, Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research and Education In Cancer, Tata Memorial Centre, Navi Mumbai- 410210, India
| | - Sudhir Nair
- 2 Division of Head and Neck Oncology, Department of Surgical Oncology, Tata Memorial Hospital, Tata Memorial Centre,Mumbai- 4100012, India
| | - Ekjot Kaur
- 3 Shilpee Laboratory, Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research and Education In Cancer, Tata Memorial Centre, Navi Mumbai- 410210, India
| | - Jyotirmoi Aich
- 1 Integrated Genomics Laboratory, Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research and Education In Cancer, Tata Memorial Centre, Navi Mumbai- 410210, India
| | - Prachi Dani
- 1 Integrated Genomics Laboratory, Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research and Education In Cancer, Tata Memorial Centre, Navi Mumbai- 410210, India
| | - Vidyalakshmi Sethunath
- 1 Integrated Genomics Laboratory, Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research and Education In Cancer, Tata Memorial Centre, Navi Mumbai- 410210, India
| | - Nilesh Gardi
- 1 Integrated Genomics Laboratory, Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research and Education In Cancer, Tata Memorial Centre, Navi Mumbai- 410210, India
| | - Pratik Chandrani
- 1 Integrated Genomics Laboratory, Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research and Education In Cancer, Tata Memorial Centre, Navi Mumbai- 410210, India
| | - Mukul Godbole
- 1 Integrated Genomics Laboratory, Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research and Education In Cancer, Tata Memorial Centre, Navi Mumbai- 410210, India
| | - Kavita Sonawane
- 2 Division of Head and Neck Oncology, Department of Surgical Oncology, Tata Memorial Hospital, Tata Memorial Centre,Mumbai- 4100012, India
| | - Ratnam Prasad
- 1 Integrated Genomics Laboratory, Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research and Education In Cancer, Tata Memorial Centre, Navi Mumbai- 410210, India
| | - Sadhana Kannan
- 4 Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research and Education In Cancer, Tata Memorial Centre, Navi Mumbai- 410210, India
| | - Beamon Agarwal
- 5 Department of Pathology, Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research and Education In Cancer, Tata Memorial Centre, Navi Mumbai- 410210, India
| | - Shubhada Kane
- 6 Department of Pathology, Tata Memorial Hospital, Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai- 400012, India
| | - Sudeep Gupta
- 7 Department of Medical Oncology, Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research and Education In Cancer, Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai- 400012, India
| | - Shilpee Dutt
- 3 Shilpee Laboratory, Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research and Education In Cancer, Tata Memorial Centre, Navi Mumbai- 410210, India
| | - Amit Dutt
- 1 Integrated Genomics Laboratory, Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research and Education In Cancer, Tata Memorial Centre, Navi Mumbai- 410210, India
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