scholarly journals Role of Integrins in Resistance to Therapies Targeting Growth Factor Receptors in Cancer

Cancers ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 692 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elisabete Cruz da Silva ◽  
Monique Dontenwill ◽  
Laurence Choulier ◽  
Maxime Lehmann

Integrins contribute to cancer progression and aggressiveness by activating intracellular signal transduction pathways and transducing mechanical tension forces. Remarkably, these adhesion receptors share common signaling networks with receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) and support their oncogenic activity, thereby promoting cancer cell proliferation, survival and invasion. During the last decade, preclinical studies have revealed that integrins play an important role in resistance to therapies targeting RTKs and their downstream pathways. A remarkable feature of integrins is their wide-ranging interconnection with RTKs, which helps cancer cells to adapt and better survive therapeutic treatments. In this context, we should consider not only the integrins expressed in cancer cells but also those expressed in stromal cells, since these can mechanically increase the rigidity of the tumor microenvironment and confer resistance to treatment. This review presents some of these mechanisms and outlines new treatment options for improving the efficacy of therapies targeting RTK signaling.

BMC Cancer ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hongtao Zhen ◽  
Peng Du ◽  
Qiang Yi ◽  
Xiaolong Tang ◽  
Tongqing Wang

Abstract Background Bladder cancer is a prevalent malignancy of the urinary system, in which long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are highly associated. We aimed to elucidate the role of LINC00958 in bladder cancer. Methods LINC00958 expression levels were measured using qRT-PCR. The interaction of LINC00958-miR-490-3p-AURKA was analyzed by luciferase, RIP, and RNA pull-down assays. The biological roles of LINC00958, miR-490-3p, and AURKA in bladder cancer cells were analyzed using CCK8, BrdU, and transwell assays. Results Increased expression of LINC00958 and AURKA was observed in bladder cancer tissues and cell lines. Decreased LINC00958 expression repressed bladder cancer progression and downregulation of miR-490-3p accelerated bladder cancer cell progression. Moreover, LINC00958 sponges miR-490-3p to upregulate AURKA expression, thereby promoting carcinogenesis in bladder cancer cells. Conclusions Our study revealed that LINC00958 facilitated cell proliferation and invasion, and suppressed cell apoptosis by sponging miR-490-3p and upregulating AURKA, thus inspiring a new treatment method for bladder cancer.


2011 ◽  
Vol 108 (3) ◽  
pp. 424-430 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mu Yao ◽  
Chanlu Xie ◽  
Maryrose Constantine ◽  
Sheng Hua ◽  
Brett D. Hambly ◽  
...  

We have developed a blend of food extracts commonly consumed in the Mediterranean and East Asia, named blueberry punch (BBP), with the ultimate aim to formulate a chemoprevention strategy to inhibit prostate cancer progression in men on active surveillance protocol. We demonstrated previously that BBP inhibited prostate cancer cell proliferation in vitro and in vivo. The purpose of this study was to determine the molecular mechanism responsible for the suppression of prostate cancer cell proliferation by BBP. Treatment of lymph node-metastasised prostate cancer cells (LNCaP) and bone-metastasised prostate cancer cells (PC-3 and MDA-PCa-2b) with BBP (up to 0·8 %) for 72 h increased the percentage of cells at the G0/G1 phase and decreased those at the S and G2/M phases. The finding was supported by the reduction in the percentage of Ki-67-positive cells and of DNA synthesis measured by the incorporation of 5-ethynyl-2′-deoxyuridine. Concomitantly, BBP treatment decreased the protein levels of phosphorylated retinoblastoma, cyclin D1 and E, cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) 4 and 2, and pre-replication complex (CDC6 and MCM7) in LNCaP and PC-3 cells, whereas CDK inhibitor p27 was elevated in these cell lines. In conclusion, BBP exerts its anti-proliferative effect on prostate cancer cells by modulating the expression and phosphorylation of multiple regulatory proteins essential for cell proliferation.


2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Renfang Song ◽  
Samir S. El-Dahr ◽  
Ihor V. Yosypiv

The kidney plays a fundamental role in the regulation of arterial blood pressure and fluid/electrolyte homeostasis. As congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract (CAKUT) constitute one of the most common human birth defects, improved understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms that lead to CAKUT is critical. Accumulating evidence indicates that aberrant signaling via receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) is causally linked to CAKUT. Upon activation by their ligands, RTKs dimerize, undergo autophosphorylation on specific tyrosine residues, and interact with adaptor proteins to activate intracellular signal transduction pathways that regulate diverse cell behaviours such as cell proliferation, survival, and movement. Here, we review the current understanding of role of RTKs and their downstream signaling pathways in the pathogenesis of CAKUT.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Codruţa Şoica ◽  
Mirela Voicu ◽  
Roxana Ghiulai ◽  
Cristina Dehelean ◽  
Roxana Racoviceanu ◽  
...  

Sex hormone-dependent cancers currently contribute to the high number of cancer-related deaths worldwide. The study and elucidation of the molecular mechanisms underlying the progression of these tumors was a double-edged sword, leading to the expansion and development of new treatment options, with the cost of triggering more aggressive, therapy resistant relapses. The interaction of androgen, estrogen and progesterone hormones with specific receptors (AR, ER, PR) has emerged as a key player in the development and progression of breast, ovarian, prostate and endometrium cancers. Sex hormone-dependent cancers share a common and rather unique carcinogenesis mechanism involving the active role of endogenous and exogenous sex hormones to maintain high mitotic rates and increased cell proliferation thus increasing the probability of aberrant gene occurrence and accumulation highly correlated with abnormal cell division and the occurrence of malignant phenotypes. Cancer related hormone therapy has evolved, currently being associated with the blockade of other signaling pathways often associated with carcinogenesis and tumor progression in cancers, with promising results. However, despite the established developments, there are still several shortcomings to be addressed. Triterpenes are natural occurring secondary metabolites biosynthesized by various pathways starting from squalene cyclization. Due to their versatile therapeutic potential, including the extensively researched antiproliferative effect, these compounds are most definitely a cornerstone in the research and development of new natural/semisynthetic anticancer therapies. The present work thoroughly describes the ongoing research related to the antitumor activity of triterpenes in sex hormone-dependent cancers. Also, the current review highlights both the biological activity of various triterpenoid compounds and their featured mechanisms of action correlated with important chemical structural features.


2019 ◽  
Vol 73 ◽  
pp. 20-32
Author(s):  
Alicja M. Kmiecik ◽  
Piotr Dzięgiel ◽  
Maciej Ugorski

MUC1 is high-molecular-weight glycoprotein which is widely expressed on epithelial cell layers of various organs and is aberrantly overexpressed in most human carcinomas such as breast, ovarian or colon cancer. MUC1 contains three domains: short cytoplasmic and transmembrane domains, and a long extracellular domain. The protein is translated as a single polypeptide that undergoes auto-cleavage into two subunits: MUC1-N and MUC1-C, that form a stable noncovalent complex at the cell membrane. In normal epithelial cells, MUC1 expression is restricted to the apical side of the cells. During cancer transformation there is a loss of cell polarity and MUC1-C is found over the entire cell surface while MUC1-N is shed from the surface of carcinoma cells. As the result of depolarization, MUC1-C interacts with receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs), such as EGFR and activates intracellular pathways which are important for cancer progression. Overexpression of MUC1 is also associated with the accumulation of MUC1-C in the cytoplasm and targeting of this subunit to the nucleus or mitochondria. Nuclear localization of MUC1-C is associated with activation of gene families involved in oncogenesis or cancer metabolism. Other results have shown that MUC1-C localizes to the mitochondrial outer membrane, where it blocks stress induced apoptosis. Recent studies have been directed at the MUC1-C subunit which reminds to be attractive target for the development of anti-cancer agents. In this review, the role of MUC1-C in cancer progression is discussed.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diana Duarte ◽  
Nuno Vale

: Antimalarial drugs from different classes have demonstrated anticancer effects in different types of cancer cells, but their complete mode of action in cancer remains unknown. Recently, several studies reported the important role of palmitoyl-protein thioesterase 1 (PPT1), a lysosomal enzyme, as the molecular target of chloroquine and its derivates in cancer. It was also found that PPT1 is overexpressed in different types of cancer, such as breast, colon, etc. Our group has found a synergistic interaction between antimalarial drugs, such as mefloquine, artesunate and chloroquine and antineoplastic drugs in breast cancer cells, but the mechanism of action was not determined. Here, we describe the importance of autophagy and lysosomal inhibitors in tumorigenesis and hypothesize that other antimalarial agents besides chloroquine could also interact with PPT1 and inhibit the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) signalling, an important pathway in cancer progression. We believe that PPT1 inhibition results in changes in the lysosomal metabolism that result in less accumulation of antineoplastic drugs in lysosomes, which increases the bioavailability of the antineoplastic agents. Taken together, these mechanisms help to explain the synergism of antimalarial and antineoplastic agents in cancer cells.


Cancers ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 1026 ◽  
Author(s):  
David E. Korenchan ◽  
Robert R. Flavell

Dysregulation of pH in solid tumors is a hallmark of cancer. In recent years, the role of altered pH heterogeneity in space, between benign and aggressive tissues, between individual cancer cells, and between subcellular compartments, has been steadily elucidated. Changes in temporal pH-related processes on both fast and slow time scales, including altered kinetics of bicarbonate-CO2 exchange and its effects on pH buffering and gradual, progressive changes driven by changes in metabolism, are further implicated in phenotypic changes observed in cancers. These discoveries have been driven by advances in imaging technologies. This review provides an overview of intra- and extracellular pH alterations in time and space reflected in cancer cells, as well as the available technology to study pH spatiotemporal heterogeneity.


2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 252 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karolien Vanhove ◽  
Elien Derveaux ◽  
Geert-Jan Graulus ◽  
Liesbet Mesotten ◽  
Michiel Thomeer ◽  
...  

Lung cancer cells are well-documented to rewire their metabolism and energy production networks to support rapid survival and proliferation. This metabolic reorganization has been recognized as a hallmark of cancer. The increased uptake of glucose and the increased activity of the glycolytic pathway have been extensively described. However, over the past years, increasing evidence has shown that lung cancer cells also require glutamine to fulfill their metabolic needs. As a nitrogen source, glutamine contributes directly (or indirectly upon conversion to glutamate) to many anabolic processes in cancer, such as the biosynthesis of amino acids, nucleobases, and hexosamines. It plays also an important role in the redox homeostasis, and last but not least, upon conversion to α-ketoglutarate, glutamine is an energy and anaplerotic carbon source that replenishes tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediates. The latter is generally indicated as glutaminolysis. In this review, we explore the role of glutamine metabolism in lung cancer. Because lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death with limited curative treatment options, we focus on the potential therapeutic approaches targeting the glutamine metabolism in cancer.


2020 ◽  
Vol 117 (43) ◽  
pp. 26756-26765
Author(s):  
Botai Xuan ◽  
Deepraj Ghosh ◽  
Joy Jiang ◽  
Rachelle Shao ◽  
Michelle R. Dawson

Polyploidal giant cancer cells (PGCCs) are multinucleated chemoresistant cancer cells found in heterogeneous solid tumors. Due in part to their apparent dormancy, the effect of PGCCs on cancer progression has remained largely unstudied. Recent studies have highlighted the critical role of PGCCs as aggressive and chemoresistant cancer cells, as well as their ability to undergo amitotic budding to escape dormancy. Our recent study demonstrated the unique biophysical properties of PGCCs, as well as their unusual migratory persistence. Here we unveil the critical function of vimentin intermediate filaments (VIFs) in maintaining the structural integrity of PGCCs and enhancing their migratory persistence. We performed in-depth single-cell analysis to examine the distribution of VIFs and their role in migratory persistence. We found that PGCCs rely heavily on their uniquely distributed and polarized VIF network to enhance their transition from a jammed to an unjammed state to allow for directional migration. Both the inhibition of VIFs with acrylamide and small interfering RNA knockdown of vimentin significantly decreased PGCC migration and resulted in a loss of PGCC volume. Because PGCCs rely on their VIF network to direct migration and to maintain their enlarged morphology, targeting vimentin or vimentin cross-linking proteins could provide a therapeutic approach to mitigate the impact of these chemoresistant cells in cancer progression and to improve patient outcomes with chemotherapy.


2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (28) ◽  
pp. 5596-5603 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jaeah Kim ◽  
Christopher P. Hopper ◽  
Kelsey H. Connell ◽  
Parisa Darkhal ◽  
Jason A. Zastre ◽  
...  

Quantification of benfotiamine and sulbutiamine, synthetic thiamine analogs, in biological samples is an essential step toward understanding the role of these thiamine analogs on cancer cell proliferation.


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