MEST induces epithelial-mesenchymal transition through IL-6/JAK/STAT3 signaling in breast cancers

AbstractThe loss of imprinting of MEST has been linked to certain types of cancer by promoter switching. However, MEST-mediated regulation of tumorigenicity and metastasis are yet to be understood. Herein, we reported that MEST is a key regulator of IL-6/JAK/STAT3/Twist-1 signal pathway-mediated tumor metastasis. Enhanced MEST expression is significantly associated with pathogenesis of breast cancer patients. Also, MEST induces metastatic potential of breast cancer through induction of the EMT-TFs-mediated EMT program. Moreover, MEST leads to Twist-1 induction by STAT3 activation and subsequently enables the induction of activation of the EMT program via the induction of STAT3 nuclear translocation. Furthermore, the c-terminal region of MEST was essential for STAT3 activation via the induction of JAK2/STAT3 complex formation. Finally, MEST significantly increases the breast cancer’s ability to metastasize from the mammary gland to the lung. These observations suggest that MEST is a promising target for intervention to prevent tumor metastasis.

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Dysregulated JAK2 expression by TrkC promotes metastasis potential, and EMT program of metastatic breast cancer

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/srep33899 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 6 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 20

Author(s):

Min Soo Kim ◽

Joon Jeong ◽

Jeongbeob Seo ◽

Hae-Suk Kim ◽

Seong-Jin Kim ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Metastatic Breast Cancer ◽

Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition ◽

Metastatic Breast ◽

Metastatic Potential ◽

Tumor Formation ◽

Breast Cancers ◽

Autocrine Loop ◽

Mesenchymal Transition ◽

Twist 1

Abstract Metastatic breast cancers are aggressive tumors associated with high levels of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers, activation of IL6/JAK2/STAT3 and PI3K/AKT pathways for cell growth, mobility, invasion, metastasis, and CSC status. We identified a new molecular and functional network present in metastasis that regulates and coordinates with TrkC. Inhibition of SOCS3-mediated JAK2 degradation by TrkC increases total JAK2/STAT3 expression, and then leads to upregulation of Twist-1 through activation of JAK2/STAT3 cascade. Also, TrkC increases secretion and expression of IL-6, suggesting that this autocrine loop generated by TrkC maintains the mesenchymal state by continued activation of the JAK2/STAT3 cascade and upregulation of Twist expression. Moreover, TrkC interacts with the c-Src/Jak2 complex, which increases Twist-1 and Twist-2 levels via regulation of JAK2/STAT3 activation and JAK2/STAT3 expression. Furthermore, TrkC enhances metastatic potential of breast cancer via induction of EMT by upregulating Twist-1 and Twist-2. Additionally, TrkC significantly enhances the ability of breast cancer cells to form pulmonary metastases and primary tumor formation. Unexpectedly, we found that TrkC expression and clinical breast tumor pathological phenotypes show significant correlation. These findings suggest that TrkC plays a central role in tumorigenicity, metastasis, and self-renewal traits of metastatic breast cancer.

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The temporal mutational and immune tumour microenvironment remodelling of HER2-negative primary breast cancers

npj Breast Cancer ◽

10.1038/s41523-021-00282-0 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Leticia De Mattos-Arruda ◽

Javier Cortes ◽

Juan Blanco-Heredia ◽

Daniel G. Tiezzi ◽

Guillermo Villacampa ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Gene Expression ◽

Neoadjuvant Therapy ◽

Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition ◽

Neoadjuvant Treatment ◽

Tumour Microenvironment ◽

Driver Mutations ◽

Breast Cancers ◽

Breast Cancer Patients ◽

Mesenchymal Transition

AbstractThe biology of breast cancer response to neoadjuvant therapy is underrepresented in the literature and provides a window-of-opportunity to explore the genomic and microenvironment modulation of tumours exposed to therapy. Here, we characterised the mutational, gene expression, pathway enrichment and tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) dynamics across different timepoints of 35 HER2-negative primary breast cancer patients receiving neoadjuvant eribulin therapy (SOLTI-1007 NEOERIBULIN-NCT01669252). Whole-exome data (N = 88 samples) generated mutational profiles and candidate neoantigens and were analysed along with RNA-Nanostring 545-gene expression (N = 96 samples) and stromal TILs (N = 105 samples). Tumour mutation burden varied across patients at baseline but not across the sampling timepoints for each patient. Mutational signatures were not always conserved across tumours. There was a trend towards higher odds of response and less hazard to relapse when the percentage of subclonal mutations was low, suggesting that more homogenous tumours might have better responses to neoadjuvant therapy. Few driver mutations (5.1%) generated putative neoantigens. Mutation and neoantigen load were positively correlated (R2 = 0.94, p = <0.001); neoantigen load was weakly correlated with stromal TILs (R2 = 0.16, p = 0.02). An enrichment in pathways linked to immune infiltration and reduced programmed cell death expression were seen after 12 weeks of eribulin in good responders. VEGF was downregulated over time in the good responder group and FABP5, an inductor of epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT), was upregulated in cases that recurred (p < 0.05). Mutational heterogeneity, subclonal architecture and the improvement of immune microenvironment along with remodelling of hypoxia and EMT may influence the response to neoadjuvant treatment.

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Determining Factors in the Therapeutic Success of Checkpoint Immunotherapies against PD-L1 in Breast Cancer: A Focus on Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition Activation

Journal of Immunology Research ◽

10.1155/2021/6668573 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 2021 ◽

pp. 1-18

Author(s):

Mariana Segovia-Mendoza ◽

Susana Romero-Garcia ◽

Cristina Lemini ◽

Heriberto Prado-Garcia

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition ◽

Checkpoint Inhibitors ◽

Death Receptor ◽

Breast Cancers ◽

Breast Cancer Patients ◽

Therapeutic Success ◽

Mesenchymal Transition ◽

Determining Factors ◽

Triple Negative Phenotype

Breast cancer is the most common neoplasm diagnosed in women around the world. Checkpoint inhibitors, targeting the programmed death receptor-1 or ligand-1 (PD-1/PD-L1) axis, have dramatically changed the outcome of cancer treatment. These therapies have been recently considered as alternatives for treatment of breast cancers, in particular those with the triple-negative phenotype (TNBC). A further understanding of the regulatory mechanisms of PD-L1 expression is required to increase the benefit of PD-L1/PD-1 checkpoint immunotherapy in breast cancer patients. In this review, we will compile the most recent studies evaluating PD-1/PD-L1 checkpoint inhibitors in breast cancer. We review factors that determine the therapeutic success of PD-1/PD-L1 immunotherapies in this pathology. In particular, we focus on pathways that interconnect the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) with regulation of PD-L1 expression. We also discuss the relationship between cellular metabolic pathways and PD-L1 expression that are involved in the promotion of resistance in TNBC.

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Activated Androgen Receptor Downregulates E-Cadherin Gene Expression and Promotes Tumor Metastasis

Molecular and Cellular Biology ◽

10.1128/mcb.00449-08 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 28 (23) ◽

pp. 7096-7108 ◽

Cited By ~ 75

Author(s):

Yan-Nian Liu ◽

Ying Liu ◽

Han-Jung Lee ◽

Yung-Hsiang Hsu ◽

Ji-Hshiung Chen

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Gene Expression ◽

Androgen Receptor ◽

Tumor Metastasis ◽

Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition ◽

Synergistic Effects ◽

Cell Junction ◽

Breast Cancer Patients ◽

Mesenchymal Transition ◽

E Cadherin

ABSTRACT The loss of E-cadherin gene expression can cause the dysfunction of the cell-cell junction to trigger tumor metastasis. Members of the Snail family of transcription factors are repressors of the expression of the E-cadherin gene. In this study, we showed that the activated androgen receptor (AR) is a novel repressor of E-cadherin gene expression and can promote metastasis. Our results demonstrated that the activated AR could bind to the E-cadherin promoter in vitro and in vivo. The activated AR and HDAC1 had synergistic effects in downregulating E-cadherin gene expression. Treating cells with the AR ligand, dihydrotestosterone (DHT), triggered the reduction of E-cadherin expression and induced changes in cell morphology from an epithelial-like to a mesenchymal-like appearance. When nonmetastatic breast cancer cells expressing cytoplasmic AR were transplanted into mice and the mice were treated with DHT, tumors were detected at metastatic sites, whereas no tumors were detected in transplanted mice without DHT treatment. Furthermore, clinical data from breast cancer patients with invasive ductal carcinomas showed high levels of AR expression in the nuclei and low levels of E-cadherin expression. These results suggest that, similarly to Snail and Twist, the activated AR can downregulate E-cadherin expression to promote the activation of epithelial-mesenchymal transition and tumor metastasis.

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Repositioning metformin and propranolol for colorectal and triple negative breast cancers treatment

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-87525-z ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

L. E. Anselmino ◽

M. V. Baglioni ◽

F. Malizia ◽

N. Cesatti Laluce ◽

C. Borini Etichetti ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Side Effects ◽

Triple Negative ◽

Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition ◽

Drug Repositioning ◽

Combined Treatment ◽

Alternative Therapy ◽

Breast Cancers ◽

Mesenchymal Transition ◽

Tumor Types

AbstractDrug repositioning refers to new uses for existing drugs outside the scope of the original medical indications. This approach fastens the process of drug development allowing finding effective drugs with reduced side effects and lower costs. Colorectal cancer (CRC) is often diagnosed at advanced stages, when the probability of chemotherapy resistance is higher. Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most aggressive type of breast cancer, highly metastatic and difficult to treat. For both tumor types, available treatments are generally associated to severe side effects. In our work, we explored the effect of combining metformin and propranolol, two repositioned drugs, in both tumor types. We demonstrate that treatment affects viability, epithelial-mesenchymal transition and migratory potential of CRC cells as we described before for TNBC. We show that combined treatment affects different steps leading to metastasis in TNBC. Moreover, combined treatment is also effective preventing the development of 5-FU resistant CRC. Our data suggest that combination of metformin and propranolol could be useful as a putative adjuvant treatment for both TNBC and CRC and an alternative for chemo-resistant CRC, providing a low-cost alternative therapy without associated toxicity.

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Twist-mediated PAR1 induction is required for breast cancer progression and metastasis by inhibiting Hippo pathway

Cell Death and Disease ◽

10.1038/s41419-020-2725-4 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 (7) ◽

Author(s):

Yifan Wang ◽

Ruocen Liao ◽

Xingyu Chen ◽

Xuhua Ying ◽

Guanping Chen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Cancer Cells ◽

Cancer Progression ◽

Invasive Breast Cancer ◽

Breast Cancer Cells ◽

Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition ◽

Hippo Pathway ◽

Breast Cancer Patients ◽

Mesenchymal Transition

Abstract Breast cancer is considered to be the most prevalent cancer in women worldwide, and metastasis is the primary cause of death. Protease-activated receptor 1 (PAR1) is a GPCR family member involved in the invasive and metastatic processes of cancer cells. However, the functions and underlying mechanisms of PAR1 in breast cancer remain unclear. In this study, we found that PAR1 is highly expressed in high invasive breast cancer cells, and predicts poor prognosis in ER-negative and high-grade breast cancer patients. Mechanistically, Twist transcriptionally induces PAR1 expression, leading to inhibition of Hippo pathway and activation of YAP/TAZ; Inhibition of PAR1 suppresses YAP/TAZ-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), invasion, migration, cancer stem cell (CSC)-like properties, tumor growth and metastasis of breast cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. These findings suggest that PAR1 acts as a direct transcriptionally target of Twist, can promote EMT, tumorigenicity and metastasis by controlling the Hippo pathway; this may lead to a potential therapeutic target for treating invasive breast cancer.

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Pathways to Breast Cancer Recurrence

ISRN Oncology ◽

10.1155/2013/290568 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 2013 ◽

pp. 1-16 ◽

Cited By ~ 27

Author(s):

Aamir Ahmad

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition ◽

Recurrent Disease ◽

Current Knowledge ◽

Cancer Recurrence ◽

Breast Cancer Recurrence ◽

Breast Cancer Patients ◽

Mesenchymal Transition ◽

Number Of Factors ◽

Prevention Of Breast Cancer

Breast cancer remains a deadly disease, even with all the recent technological advancements. Early intervention has made an impact, but an overwhelmingly large number of breast cancer patients still live under the fear of “recurrent” disease. Breast cancer recurrence is clinically a huge problem and one that is largely not well understood. Over the years, a number of factors have been studied with an overarching aim of being able to prognose recurrent disease. This paper attempts to provide an overview of our current knowledge of breast cancer recurrence and its associated challenges. Through a survey of the literature on cancer stem cells (CSCs), epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), various signaling pathways such as Notch/Wnt/hedgehog, and microRNAs (miRNAs), we also examine the hypotheses that are currently under investigation for the prevention of breast cancer recurrence.

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Counteracting Chemoresistance with Metformin in Breast Cancers: Targeting Cancer Stem Cells

Cancers ◽

10.3390/cancers12092482 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (9) ◽

pp. 2482

Author(s):

Samson Mathews Samuel ◽

Elizabeth Varghese ◽

Lenka Koklesová ◽

Alena Líšková ◽

Peter Kubatka ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Stem Cells ◽

Cancer Stem Cells ◽

Molecular Mechanisms ◽

Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition ◽

Acquired Resistance ◽

Breast Cancers ◽

Intrinsic Resistance ◽

Mesenchymal Transition ◽

Cancer Breast

Despite the leaps and bounds in achieving success in the management and treatment of breast cancers through surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy, breast cancer remains the most frequently occurring cancer in women and the most common cause of cancer-related deaths among women. Systemic therapeutic approaches, such as chemotherapy, although beneficial in treating and curing breast cancer subjects with localized breast tumors, tend to fail in metastatic cases of the disease due to (a) an acquired resistance to the chemotherapeutic drug and (b) the development of intrinsic resistance to therapy. The existence of cancer stem cells (CSCs) plays a crucial role in both acquired and intrinsic chemoresistance. CSCs are less abundant than terminally differentiated cancer cells and confer chemoresistance through a unique altered metabolism and capability to evade the immune response system. Furthermore, CSCs possess active DNA repair systems, transporters that support multidrug resistance (MDR), advanced detoxification processes, and the ability to self-renew and differentiate into tumor progenitor cells, thereby supporting cancer invasion, metastasis, and recurrence/relapse. Hence, current research is focusing on targeting CSCs to overcome resistance and improve the efficacy of the treatment and management of breast cancer. Studies revealed that metformin (1, 1-dimethylbiguanide), a widely used anti-hyperglycemic agent, sensitizes tumor response to various chemotherapeutic drugs. Metformin selectively targets CSCs and improves the hypoxic microenvironment, suppresses the tumor metastasis and inflammation, as well as regulates the metabolic programming, induces apoptosis, and reverses epithelial–mesenchymal transition and MDR. Here, we discuss cancer (breast cancer) and chemoresistance, the molecular mechanisms of chemoresistance in breast cancers, and metformin as a chemo-sensitizing/re-sensitizing agent, with a particular focus on breast CSCs as a critical contributing factor to acquired and intrinsic chemoresistance. The review outlines the prospects and directions for a better understanding and re-purposing of metformin as an anti-cancer/chemo-sensitizing drug in the treatment of breast cancer. It intends to provide a rationale for the use of metformin as a combinatory therapy in a clinical setting.

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TrkB-Induced Inhibition of R-SMAD/SMAD4 Activation is Essential for TGF-β-Mediated Tumor Suppressor Activity

Cancers ◽

10.3390/cancers12041048 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (4) ◽

pp. 1048

Author(s):

Min Soo Kim ◽

Wook Jin

Keyword(s):

Tumor Suppressor ◽

Signaling Pathway ◽

Tumor Suppression ◽

Nuclear Translocation ◽

Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition ◽

Metastatic Potential ◽

Suppressor Activity ◽

Mesenchymal Transition ◽

Stat3 Signaling Pathway ◽

Tumor Suppressor Activity

TrkB-mediated activation of the IL6/JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway is associated with the induction of the epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) program and the acquisition of metastatic potential by tumors. Conversely, the transforming of growth factor-β (TGF-β) is implicated in tumor suppression through the canonical SMAD-dependent signaling pathway. Hence, TrkB could play a role in disrupting the potent TGF-β-mediated growth inhibition, a concept that has not been fully explored. Here, we identified TrkB to be a crucial regulator of the TGF-β signaling pathway as it inhibits the TGF-β-mediated tumor suppression and the activation of TrkB kinase. We further show that the interactions between TrkB and SMADs inhibit TGF-β-mediated R-SMAD/SMAD4 complex formation and suppress TGF-β-induced nuclear translocation and target gene expression. Additionally, the knockdown of TrkB restored the tumor inhibitory activity of TGF-β signaling. These observations suggest that interactions between TrkB and SMADs are critical for the inhibition of TGF-β tumor suppressor activity in cancer cells.

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