scholarly journals Mitotic kinases as drivers of the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and as therapeutic targets against breast cancers

2021 ◽  
pp. 153537022199109
Author(s):  
Stephanie Colón-Marrero ◽  
Shirley Jusino ◽  
Yainyrette Rivera-Rivera ◽  
Harold I Saavedra
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Epithelial To Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Hormone Receptors ◽  
Chromosome Instability ◽  
Therapeutic Interventions ◽  
Breast Cancers ◽  
Biological Therapies ◽  
Breast Cancer Patients ◽  
Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Mitotic Kinases

Biological therapies against breast cancer patients with tumors positive for the estrogen and progesterone hormone receptors and Her2 amplification have greatly improved their survival. However, to date, there are no effective biological therapies against breast cancers that lack these three receptors or triple-negative breast cancers (TNBC). TNBC correlates with poor survival, in part because they relapse following chemo- and radio-therapies. TNBC is intrinsically aggressive since they have high mitotic indexes and tend to metastasize to the central nervous system. TNBCs are more likely to display centrosome amplification, an abnormal phenotype that results in defective mitotic spindles and abnormal cytokinesis, which culminate in aneuploidy and chromosome instability (known causes of tumor initiation and chemo-resistance). Besides their known role in cell cycle control, mitotic kinases have been also studied in different types of cancer including breast, especially in the context of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). EMT is a cellular process characterized by the loss of cell polarity, reorganization of the cytoskeleton, and signaling reprogramming (upregulation of mesenchymal genes and downregulation of epithelial genes). Previously, we and others have shown the effects of mitotic kinases like Nek2 and Mps1 (TTK) on EMT. In this review, we focus on Aurora A, Aurora B, Bub1, and highly expressed in cancer (Hec1) as novel targets for therapeutic interventions in breast cancer and their effects on EMT. We highlight the established relationships and interactions of these and other mitotic kinases, clinical trial studies involving mitotic kinases, and the importance that represents to develop drugs against these proteins as potential targets in the primary care therapy for TNBC.

scholarly journals Proteomic Analysis of Zeb1 Interactome in Breast Carcinoma Cells

Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (11) ◽  
pp. 3143
Author(s):  
Sergey E. Parfenyev ◽  
Sergey V. Shabelnikov ◽  
Danila Y. Pozdnyakov ◽  
Olga O. Gnedina ◽  
Leonid S. Adonin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Cancer Cells ◽  
Epithelial To Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Malignant Neoplasm ◽  
Malignant Neoplasms ◽  
Breast Cancer Patients ◽  
Survival Prognosis ◽  
Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Wide Range

Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed malignant neoplasm and the second leading cause of cancer death among women. Epithelial-to-mesenchymal Transition (EMT) plays a critical role in the organism development, providing cell migration and tissue formation. However, its erroneous activation in malignancies can serve as the basis for the dissemination of cancer cells and metastasis. The Zeb1 transcription factor, which regulates the EMT activation, has been shown to play an essential role in malignant transformation. This factor is involved in many signaling pathways that influence a wide range of cellular functions via interacting with many proteins that affect its transcriptional functions. Importantly, the interactome of Zeb1 depends on the cellular context. Here, using the inducible expression of Zeb1 in epithelial breast cancer cells, we identified a substantial list of novel potential Zeb1 interaction partners, including proteins involved in the formation of malignant neoplasms, such as ATP-dependent RNA helicase DDX17and a component of the NURD repressor complex, CTBP2. We confirmed the presence of the selected interactors by immunoblotting with specific antibodies. Further, we demonstrated that co-expression of Zeb1 and CTBP2 in breast cancer patients correlated with the poor survival prognosis, thus signifying the functionality of the Zeb1–CTBP2 interaction.

scholarly journals DPYSL3 modulates mitosis, migration, and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in claudin-low breast cancer

2018 ◽  
Vol 115 (51) ◽  
pp. E11978-E11987 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryoichi Matsunuma ◽  
Doug W. Chan ◽  
Beom-Jun Kim ◽  
Purba Singh ◽  
Airi Han ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Negative Feedback ◽  
Epithelial To Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Triple Negative ◽  
Breast Cancers ◽  
Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Multinucleated Cells ◽  
P21 Activated Kinase ◽  
Emt Markers ◽  
Mitotic Defect

A Clinical Proteomic Tumor Analysis Consortium (CPTAC) proteogenomic analysis prioritized dihydropyrimidinase-like-3 (DPYSL3) as a multilevel (RNA/protein/phosphoprotein) expression outlier specific to the claudin-low (CLOW) subset of triple-negative breast cancers. A PubMed informatics tool indicated a paucity of data in the context of breast cancer, which further prioritized DPYSL3 for study. DPYSL3 knockdown in DPYSL3-positive (DPYSL3+) CLOW cell lines demonstrated reduced proliferation, yet enhanced motility and increased expression of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers, suggesting that DPYSL3 is a multifunctional signaling modulator. Slower proliferation in DPYSL3-negative (DPYSL3−) CLOW cells was associated with accumulation of multinucleated cells, indicating a mitotic defect that was associated with a collapse of the vimentin microfilament network and increased vimentin phosphorylation. DPYSL3 also suppressed the expression of EMT regulators SNAIL and TWIST and opposed p21 activated kinase 2 (PAK2)-dependent migration. However, these EMT regulators in turn induce DPYSL3 expression, suggesting that DPYSL3 participates in negative feedback on EMT. In conclusion, DPYSL3 expression identifies CLOW tumors that will be sensitive to approaches that promote vimentin phosphorylation during mitosis and inhibitors of PAK signaling during migration and EMT.

Stage at breast cancer diagnosis is more advanced in BRCA1 carriers but not in BRCA2 carriers

2007 ◽  
Vol 25 (18_suppl) ◽  
pp. 10540-10540
Author(s):  
B. Kaufman ◽  
A. Lahad ◽  
M. Krieger ◽  
M. Gal ◽  
E. Friedman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Hormone Receptors ◽  
Medullary Carcinoma ◽  
Breast Cancer Diagnosis ◽  
Age At Diagnosis ◽  
Stage At Diagnosis ◽  
Breast Cancers ◽  
Pathological Features ◽  
Breast Cancer Patients ◽  
Brca1 Carriers

10540 Background: BRCA1-associated tumors are known to have less favorable pathological characteristics, but there is little information on whether this is also reflected in the stage at diagnosis. Methods: Clinical and pathological information was collected on 1,122 consecutive Ashkenazi Jewish breast cancer patients who were tested post-diagnosis for the BRCA1/2 mutations common in this population. Results: Of 1,122 patients, 70 (6.2%) were BRCA1 and 50 (4.5%) were BRCA2 carriers. Mean age at diagnosis was 49.9 yrs. in BRCA1 carriers (p=.0001 vs. non-carriers (NC)) vs. 52.0 yrs. in BRCA2 carriers (p=.02 vs. NC) and 56.0 yrs. in NC. Pure DCIS was less common in BRCA1 carriers (3%) than in BRCA2 carriers (8.2%) and NC (11.8%) (p=.03). Medullary carcinoma was more common in BRCA1 (9.8%) and BRCA2 carriers (6.7%) than in NC (1.5%) (p<.001). Invasive lobular carcinomas were rarer in BRCA1 (1.6%) and BRCA2 (2.2%) compared to NC (8.8%) (p=.012). Hormone receptors (HR) negative was more common in BRCA1 (62%) compared to BRCA2 carriers (21%) (p=.00006) and NC (17%) (p<0.0001). Triple negative tumors (HR and HER2 negative) were more common in BRCA1 carriers (60%) than in BRCA2 carriers (14%) and NC (8.3%) (p=0.001). High grade was more common in BRCA1 (60.4%) and BRCA2 (51.4%) carriers than in NC (36.7%, p=.001). Less favorable pathological features and younger age at diagnosis in BRCA1 carriers were reflected in a more advanced stage at diagnosis. Stage I at diagnosis was found in 34% of BRCA1 carriers (p=.05 vs. NC), 43% of BRCA2 carriers and 46% of NC, stage II in 48% of BRCA1 carriers, 41% of BRCA2 carriers and 37% of NC, and stage III in 17% of BRCA1 carriers, 13.5% of BRCA2 carriers and 13.5% of non-carriers. Conclusions: This consecutive cohort study demonstrates that breast cancers in BRCA1 carriers are characterized by more aggressive pathological features and are diagnosed at more advanced stages than in BRCA2 carriers and non-carriers. This may suggest a differential approach for prevention and surveillance in BRCA1 compared to BRCA2 carriers. No significant financial relationships to disclose.

scholarly journals Survival outcomes are associated with genomic instability in luminal breast cancers

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. e0245042
Author(s):  
Lydia King ◽  
Andrew Flaus ◽  
Emma Holian ◽  
Aaron Golden
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Genomic Instability ◽  
Cancer Survival ◽  
Molecular Taxonomy ◽  
Gene Signature ◽  
Therapeutic Interventions ◽  
Survival Outcomes ◽  
Breast Cancers ◽  
Breast Cancer Patients ◽  
Luminal A

Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer related death among women. Breast cancers are generally diagnosed and treated based on clinical and histopathological features, along with subtype classification determined by the Prosigna Breast Cancer Prognostic Gene Signature Assay (also known as PAM50). Currently the copy number alteration (CNA) landscape of the tumour is not considered. We set out to examine the role of genomic instability (GI) in breast cancer survival since CNAs reflect GI and correlate with survival in other cancers. We focused on the 70% of breast cancers classified as luminal and carried out a comprehensive survival and association analysis using Molecular Taxonomy of Breast Cancer International Consortium (METABRIC) data to determine whether CNA Score Quartiles derived from absolute CNA counts are associated with survival. Analysis revealed that patients diagnosed with luminal A breast cancer have a CNA landscape associated with disease specific survival, suggesting that CNA Score can provide a statistically robust prognostic factor. Furthermore, stratification of patients into subtypes based on gene expression has shown that luminal A and B cases overlap, and it is in this region we largely observe luminal A cases with reduced survival outlook. Therefore, luminal A breast cancer patients with quantitatively elevated CNA counts may benefit from more aggressive therapy. This demonstrates how individual genomic landscapes can facilitate personalisation of therapeutic interventions to optimise survival outcomes.

scholarly journals Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition Regulates Surface PD-L1 via CMTM6 and CMTM7 Induction in Breast Cancer

Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 1165
Author(s):  
Malina Xiao ◽  
Meriem Hasmim ◽  
Audrey Lequeux ◽  
Kris Van Moer ◽  
Tuan Zea Tan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Cell Surface ◽  
Epithelial To Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Surface Expression ◽  
Cell Surface Expression ◽  
Breast Cancer Cell Lines ◽  
Breast Cancers ◽  
Mesenchymal Phenotype ◽  
Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Aggressive Breast Cancer

CMTM6 is a critical regulator of cell surface expression of PD-L1 in tumor cells, but little is known about the transcriptional regulation of CMTM6. Here we report that the expression of CMTM6 positively correlates with the epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) score in breast cancer cell lines and with the major EMT marker Vimentin in triple-negative breast cancers (TNBC). We showed that CMTM6 is concomitantly overexpressed with PD-L1 in breast mesenchymal compared with the epithelial cells. Driving a mesenchymal phenotype in SNAI1-inducible MCF-7 cells (MCF-7Mes cells) increased both PD-L1 and CMTM6. CMTM6 silencing in MCF-7Mes cells partially reduced cell surface expression of PD-L1, indicating that a proportion of the PD-L1 on the surface of MCF-7Mes cells depends on CMTM6. We also found a positive correlation between CMTM3 and CMTM7 expression with EMT score in breast cancer cells, and with Vimentin in TNBC patients. Dual knockdown of CMTM6 and CMTM7 significantly decreased PD-L1 surface expression in MCF-7Mes cells, indicating that both CMTM6 and CMTM7 regulate the expression of PD-L1. This study highlights the importance of CMTM6 and CMTM7 in EMT-induced PD-L1 and suggests that EMT, CMTM6 or CMTM7 modulators can be combined with anti-PD-L1 in patients with highly aggressive breast cancer.

scholarly journals Marizomib suppresses triple-negative breast cancer via proteasome and oxidative phosphorylation inhibition

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Prahlad V. Raninga ◽  
Andy Lee ◽  
Debottam Sinha ◽  
Lan-feng Dong ◽  
Keshava K. Datta ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Oxidative Phosphorylation ◽  
Brain Metastases ◽  
Triple Negative Breast Cancer ◽  
Epithelial To Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Triple Negative ◽  
Breast Cancer Subtype ◽  
Proteasome Inhibition ◽  
Breast Cancer Patients ◽  
Mesenchymal Transition

AbstractLacking effective targeted therapies, triple-negative breast cancer (TNBCs) is highly aggressive with development of metastasis especially brain, and remains clinically challenging breast cancer subtype to treat. Despite the survival dependency on the proteasome pathway genes, FDA-approved proteasome inhibitors induced minimal clinical response in breast cancer patients due to weak proteasome inhibition. Here, we show that a potent proteasome inhibitor Marizomib (Mzb) inhibits multiple proteasome catalytic activities and induces a better anti-tumor response in TNBC cell lines and patient-derived xenografts alone and in combination with the standard-of-care chemotherapy. Mechanistically, Mzb inhibits oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) via PGC-1α suppression in conjunction with proteasome inhibition in TNBC cells. Mzb reduces lung and brain metastases by reducing the number of circulating tumor cells and the expression of multiple genes involved in the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. Furthermore, Mzb-induced OXPHOS inhibition upregulates glycolysis to meet the energetic demands of TNBC cells and, hence, combined inhibition of glycolysis with Mzb exposure leads to a synergistic anti-cancer activity. Collectively, our data provide a strong rationale for a clinical evaluation of Mzb in primary and metastatic TNBC patients.One Sentence SummaryMarizomib inhibits primary tumor growth, and also reduces lung and brain metastases in pre-clinical models of triple-negative breast cancer.

scholarly journals Induced Tamoxifen Resistance is Mediated by Increased Methylation of E-Cadherin in Estrogen Receptor-Expressing Breast Cancer Cells

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Qi Wang ◽  
Melisa Gun ◽  
Xing-yu Hong
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Estrogen Receptor ◽  
Cancer Cells ◽  
Breast Cancer Cells ◽  
Epithelial To Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Breast Cancers ◽  
Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Tamoxifen Resistant ◽  
Mcf 7 ◽  
E Cadherin

Abstract Estrogen receptor-positive breast cancers are treated with tamoxifen, a drug that competitively inhibits the binding of estrogen to its receptor. Resistance to tamoxifen is a major hurdle in effective management of target breast cancer patient population. A number of dynamic changes within the tumor microenvironment, including the phenomenon of epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT), determine the response to endocrine therapy. EMT is marked by silencing or suppression of epithelial marker, E-Cadherin and we found significantly down-regulated E-Cadherin, among other epithelial markers, and a significantly up-regulated mesenchymal marker, Twist, among other mesenchymal markers, in a model system that comprised of tamoxifen sensitive MCF-7 cells and their tamoxifen-resistant counterparts, MCF-7-TAM, developed by chronic and escalating exposure of parental cells to tamoxifen. Further, E-cadherin, but not Twist, was differentially expressed in MCF-7-TAM cells because of differential methylation. Treatment with demethylating agent 5-azacytidine increased the expression of E-cadherin thus verifying a role of methylation in its silencing and, moreover, 5-azacytidine treatment also re-sensitized MCF-7-TAM cells to tamoxifen, as evaluated by assays for viability, apoptosis and migration potential. The 5-azacytidine effects were similar to effects of E-cadherin overexpression in MCF-7-TAM cells. This work describes novel mechanism of E-cadherin downregulation in tamoxifen resistant breast cancer cells. Further studies are needed to exploit this information for betterment of breast cancer therapy.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document