scholarly journals Blocking c-MET/ERBB1 Axis Prevents Brain Metastasis in ERBB2+ Breast Cancer

Cancers ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (10) ◽  
pp. 2838
Author(s):  
Shailendra K. Gautam ◽  
Ranjana K. Kanchan ◽  
Jawed A. Siddiqui ◽  
Shailendra K. Maurya ◽  
Sanchita Rauth ◽  
...  

Brain metastasis (BrM) remains a significant cause of cancer-related mortality in epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive (ERBB2+) breast cancer (BC) patients. We proposed here that a combination treatment of irreversible tyrosine kinase inhibitor neratinib (NER) and the c-MET inhibitor cabozantinib (CBZ) could prevent brain metastasis. To address this, we first tested the combination treatment of NER and CBZ in the brain-seeking ERBB2+ cell lines SKBrM3 and JIMT-1-BR3, and in ERBB2+ organoids that expressed the c-MET/ERBB1 axis. Next, we developed and characterized an orthotopic mouse model of spontaneous BrM and evaluated the therapeutic effect of CBZ and NER in vivo. The combination treatment of NER and CBZ significantly inhibited proliferation and migration in ERBB2+ cell lines and reduced the organoid growth in vitro. Mechanistically, the combination treatment of NER and CBZ substantially inhibited ERK activation downstream of the c-MET/ERBB1 axis. Orthotopically implanted SKBrM3+ cells formed primary tumor in the mammary fat pad and spontaneously metastasized to the brain and other distant organs. Combination treatment with NER and CBZ inhibited primary tumor growth and predominantly prevented BrM. In conclusion, the orthotopic model of spontaneous BrM is clinically relevant, and the combination therapy of NER and CBZ might be a useful approach to prevent BrM in BC.

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. iii3-iii3
Author(s):  
Jiwei Wang ◽  
Emma Rigg ◽  
Taral R Lunavat ◽  
Wenjing Zhou ◽  
Zichao Feng ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Melanoma has the highest propensity of any cancer to metastasize to the brain, with late-stage patients developing brain metastasis (MBM) in 40% of cases. Survival of patients with MBM is around 8 months with current therapies, illustrating the need for new treatments. MBM development is likely caused by molecular interactions between tumor cells and the brain, constituting the brain metastatic niche. miRNAs delivered by exosomes released by the primary tumor cells may play a role in niche establishment, yet the mechanisms are poorly understood. Here, the aim was to identify miRNAs released by exosomes from melanomas, which may be important in niche establishment and MBM progression. Materials and Methods miRNAs from exosomes collected from human astrocytes, melanocytes, and MBM cell lines were profiled to determine differential expression. Functional in vitro validation was performed by cell growth and migration assays, cytokine arrays, qPCR and Western blots. Functional in vivo studies were performed after miR knockdown in MBM cell lines. An in silico docking study was performed to determine drugs that potentially inhibit transcription of miR-146a to impede MBM development. Results miR-146a was the most upregulated miRNA in exosomes from MBM cells and was highly expressed in human and animal MBM samples. miR-146a mimics activated human astrocytes, shown by increased proliferation and migration, elevated expression of GFAP in vitro and in mouse brain tumor samples, and increased cytokine production. In animal studies, knockdown of miR-146a in MBM cells injected intracardially into mice reduced BM burden and increased animal survival. Based on the docking studies, deserpidine was found to be an effective inhibitor of MBM growth in vitro and in vivo. Conclusions MiR-146a may play an important role in MBM development, and deserpidine is a promising candidate for clinical use.


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Soo-Hyun Kim ◽  
Richard P. Redvers ◽  
Lap Hing Chi ◽  
Xiawei Ling ◽  
Andrew J. Lucke ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTBreast cancer brain metastasis remains largely incurable. While several mouse models have been developed to investigate the genes and mechanisms regulating breast cancer brain metastasis, these models often lack clinical relevance since they require the use of immune-compromised mice and/or are poorly metastatic to brain from the mammary gland. We describe the development and characterisation of an aggressive brain metastatic variant of the 4T1 syngeneic model (4T1Br4) that spontaneously metastasises to multiple organs, but is selectively more metastatic to the brain from the mammary gland than parental 4T1 tumours. By immunohistochemistry, 4T1Br4 tumours and brain metastases display a triple negative phenotype, consistent with the high propensity of this breast cancer subtype to spread to brain. In vitro assays indicate that 4T1Br4 cells have an enhanced ability to adhere to or migrate across a brain-derived endothelial monolayer and greater invasive response to brain-derived soluble factors compared to 4T1 cells. These properties are likely to contribute to the brain-selectivity of 4T1Br4 tumours. Expression profiling and gene set enrichment analyses demonstrate the clinical relevance of the 4T1Br4 model at the transcriptomic level. Pathway analyses implicate tumour-intrinsic immune regulation and vascular interactions in successful brain colonisation, revealing potential therapeutic targets. Evaluation of two histone deacetylase inhibitors, SB939 and 1179.4b, shows partial efficacy against 4T1Br4 metastasis to brain and other sites in vivo and potent radio-sensitising properties in vitro. The 4T1Br4 model provides a clinically relevant tool for mechanistic studies and to evaluate novel therapies against brain metastasis.SUMMARY STATEMENTWe introduce a new syngeneic mouse model of spontaneous breast cancer brain metastasis, demonstrate its phenotypic, functional and transcriptomic relevance to human TNBC brain metastasis and test novel therapies.


2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. ii57-ii57
Author(s):  
J Wang ◽  
E K Rigg ◽  
T R Lunavat ◽  
W Zhou ◽  
Z Feng ◽  
...  

Abstract BACKGROUND Melanoma has the highest propensity of any cancer to metastasize to the brain, with late-stage patients developing brain metastasis (MBM) in 40% of cases. Survival of patients with MBM is around 8 months with current therapies, illustrating the need for new treatments. MBM development is likely caused by molecular interactions between tumor cells and the brain, constituting the brain metastatic niche. miRNAs delivered by exosomes released from the primary tumor cells may play a role in niche establishment, yet the mechanisms are poorly understood. Here, the aim was to identify miRNAs released by exosomes from melanomas, which may be important in niche establishment and MBM progression. MATERIAL AND METHODS miRNAs in exosomes collected from human astrocytes, melanocytes, and MBM cell lines were profiled to determine differential expression. Functional in vitro validation was performed by cell growth and migration assays, cytokine arrays, qPCR and Western blots. Functional in vivo studies were performed after miR knockdown in MBM cell lines. An in silico docking study was performed to determine drugs that potentially inhibit transcription of miR-146a to impede MBM development. RESULTS miR-146a was the most upregulated miRNA in exosomes from MBM cells and was highly expressed in human and animal MBM samples. miR-146a mimics activated human astrocytes, shown by increased proliferation and migration, elevated expression of GFAP in vitro and in mouse brain tumor samples, and increased cytokine production. In animal studies, knockdown of miR-146 in MBM cells injected intracardially into mice reduced BM burden and increased animal survival. Based on the docking studies, deserpidine was found to be an effective inhibitor of MBM growth in vitro and in vivo. CONCLUSION miR-146a may play an important role in MBM development, and deserpidine is a promising candidate for clinical use.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (24) ◽  
pp. 13374
Author(s):  
Yen-Yu Lin ◽  
Yu-Chao Wang ◽  
Da-Wei Yeh ◽  
Chen-Yu Hung ◽  
Yi-Chen Yeh ◽  
...  

Lung adenocarcinoma has a strong propensity to metastasize to the brain. The brain metastases are difficult to treat and can cause significant morbidity and mortality. Identifying patients with increased risk of developing brain metastasis can assist medical decision-making, facilitating a closer surveillance or justifying a preventive treatment. We analyzed 27 lung adenocarcinoma patients who received a primary lung tumor resection and developed metastases within 5 years after the surgery. Among these patients, 16 developed brain metastases and 11 developed non-brain metastases only. We performed targeted DNA sequencing, RNA sequencing and immunohistochemistry to characterize the difference between the primary tumors. We also compared our findings to the published data of brain-tropic and non-brain-tropic lung adenocarcinoma cell lines. The results demonstrated that the targeted tumor DNA sequencing did not reveal a significant difference between the groups, but the RNA sequencing identified 390 differentially expressed genes. A gene expression signature including CDKN2A could identify 100% of brain-metastasizing tumors with a 91% specificity. However, when compared to the differentially expressed genes between brain-tropic and non-brain-tropic lung cancer cell lines, a different set of genes was shared between the patient data and the cell line data, which include many genes implicated in the cancer-glia/neuron interaction. Our findings indicate that it is possible to identify lung adenocarcinoma patients at the highest risk for brain metastasis by analyzing the primary tumor. Further investigation is required to elucidate the mechanism behind these associations and to identify potential treatment targets.


2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (Supplement_6) ◽  
pp. vi181-vi181
Author(s):  
Rafal Zielinski ◽  
Roberto Cardenas-Zuniga ◽  
Maria Poimenidou ◽  
Magdalena Remiszewski ◽  
Edd Felix ◽  
...  

Abstract As part of our drug discovery program, we have developed structure-based modular designs of unique DNA-binding agents. The approach combines DNA intercalating and DNA “minor-groove-binding” modules. We have discovered compound WP1244 that potentially binds up to 10 bp long sequences of DNA. The unique and intriguing feature of WP1244 is its high CNS uptake combined with the picomolar to low nanomolar cytotoxicity against ependymoma and glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) cell lines and demonstrated in vivo activity in the orthotopic model of GBM. To improve water solubility and develop an IV formulation, we have synthesized WP1874, a mesylate salt of WP1244, and initiated its preclinical characterization. WP1874, similarly to its parental compound, shows high cytotoxicity in ependymoma, GBM, and medulloblastoma cell lines with IC50 in low nanomolar range and it was up to 100 to 200 times more potent than doxorubicin. Interestingly, WP1874 does not appear to be cytotoxic against normal kidney cells (VeroC1008) with IC50 > 10 μM. Preliminary pharmacokinetic and biodistribution studies performed in CD-1 mice with intact brains revealed enhanced penetration of WP1874 to the brain with Cmax 1.5-fold greater than in plasma. Respectively, WP1874 Cmax in the brain was 2.3 ug/g (~2.0 μM) vs. 1.5 μg/ml (1.3 μM) in plasma. Acute toxicity in intravenously administered WP1874 was LD50 >15mg/kg. No mortalities or any apparent toxicity symptoms were recorded for six intravenous weekly doses of WP1874 at 2.5 or 5 mg/kg in CD-1, Balb/c, or nude athymic mice. Intraperitoneal administration was well-tolerated up to 5 mg/kg given three times a week for four cycles. High CNS uptake, excellent cytotoxicity against different brain cancer cell lines, and low toxicity in vivo and in vitro against normal cells warrant further investigation of WP1874 as a mechanically unique potential anticancer agent against CNS malignancies.


2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (Supplement_6) ◽  
pp. vi198-vi199
Author(s):  
Mao Li ◽  
Markus Schweiger ◽  
Daniel Ryan ◽  
Ichiro Nakano ◽  
Litia Carvalho ◽  
...  

Abstract Olfactory receptors (ORs), responsible for the sense of smell, play an essential role in various physiological processes outside the nasal epithelium, including cancer. In breast cancer, however, the expression and function of ORs remain understudied. We established a breast cancer metastasis model by intracardiac injection of MDA-MB-231 (231P) in immunocompromised mice and produced a series of derivative cell lines from developed metastatic sites, including the brain-seeking clone (231Br). We examined the significance of ORs transcript abundance in primary and metastatic breast cancer to different tissues, including the brain, bone, and lung. While 20 OR transcripts were differentially expressed in distant metastases, OR5B21 displayed high expression in all three metastatic sites with respect to the primary tumor, especially in brain metastasis with 13 fold higher than the primary site. Metastatic clones showed distinguishing higher invasion biological characteristics compared to parental cells in vivo and in vitro. Knockdown of OR5B21 significantly decreased the invasion and migration of MDA-MB-231 Brain-seeking metastatic cell as well as metastasis to different organs, including the brain, while overexpression of OR5B21 had the opposite effect. Mechanistically, OR5B21 expression was associated with epithelial to mesenchymal transition through the STAT3/NFkB/CEBPβ signaling pathway. We propose OR5B21 (and potentially other ORs) as a novel oncogene contributing to breast cancer brain metastasis and a potential target for adjuvant therapy.


2012 ◽  
Vol 30 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. 637-637 ◽  
Author(s):  
Denis Collins ◽  
Norma O'Donovan ◽  
Naomi Walsh ◽  
Kathy Gately ◽  
Connla Edwards ◽  
...  

637 Background: HER2, a member of the c-erbB receptor tyrosine kinase family, is over-expressed (HER2 gene amplification/IHC 3+, >30% cells) in approx. 25% of breast cancers. Pre-clinical studies have shown that the HER2-targeted small molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) lapatinib (LAP) can increase HER2 levels in cell line models and can potentiate trastuzumab-mediated antibody dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity. To assess the potential effects of the next generation TKI neratinib (NER) on expression of HER2 in breast cancer, this study compares the effects of LAP and NER on HER2 protein levels in the HER2-amplified SKBR3 and HER2-non-amplified T47D cell lines in vitro. Methods: SKBR3 and T47D were treated with LAP or NER (0.2, 1 and 2 µM) for 12, 24 and 48 hours.HER2 protein levels were determined by ELISA, immunoblotting and high content analysis (HCA). HER2 protein was examined using two antibodies targeting the extracellular domain (ECD) and the intracellular domain (ICD) of HER2. pHER2, EGFR/pEGFR, MAPK/pMAPK and AKT/pAKT levels were determined by immunoblotting. Proliferation studies utilized an acid phosphatase-based assay. Results: ELISA analysis confirmedsignificantly lower HER2 expression in T47D (44 +/- 17 pg/µg) compared to SKBR3 (748 +/- 296 pg/µg), p = 0.015. NER proved a more potent inhibitor of pHER2 and pEGFR as analyzed by immunoblotting and in proliferation studies (NER IC50 - SKBR3 0.03 +/- 0.01 nM, T47D 199 +/- 70 nM, LAP IC50 - SKBR3 20 +/- 1 nM, T47D 1.2 +/- 0.2 µM). LAP induced an increase in both ECD and ICD-containing HER2 protein levels in SKBR3 and T47D cells. No increase in HER-2 levels was observed with NER treatment, as determined by HCA and immunoblotting. EGFR protein levels increased in response to lapatinib in both cell lines. Conclusions: Our results suggest that LAP and NER have differing effects on HER2 protein levels in the models examined. NER provides greater inhibition of HER2 signaling activity but does not increase HER2 protein levels as was observed with LAP. Further pre-clinical assessment of combinations of LAP and NER with HER2 and EGFR monoclonal antibody therapies is warranted in HER2-amplified, HER2-non-amplified and EGFR-expressing breast cancer models.


Cancers ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 1811
Author(s):  
Yuka Kuroiwa ◽  
Jun Nakayama ◽  
Chihiro Adachi ◽  
Takafumi Inoue ◽  
Shinya Watanabe ◽  
...  

HER2 is overexpressed in 25–30% of breast cancers, and approximately 30% of HER2-positive breast cancers metastasize to the brain. Although the incidence of brain metastasis in HER2-positive breast cancer is high, previous studies have been mainly based on cell lines of the triple-negative subtype, and the molecular mechanisms of brain metastasis in HER2-positive breast cancer are unclear. In the present study, we performed intracranial injection using nine HER2-positive breast cancer cell lines to evaluate their proliferative activity in brain tissue. Our results show that UACC-893 and MDA-MB-453 cells rapidly proliferated in the brain parenchyma, while the other seven cell lines moderately or slowly proliferated. Among these nine cell lines, the proliferative activity in brain tissue was not correlated with either the HER2 level or the HER2 phosphorylation status. To extract signature genes associated with brain colonization, we conducted microarray analysis and found that these two cell lines shared 138 gene expression patterns. Moreover, some of these genes were correlated with poor prognosis in HER2-positive breast cancer patients. Our findings might be helpful for further studying brain metastasis in HER2-positive breast cancer.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (22) ◽  
pp. 12296
Author(s):  
Trond Are Mannsåker ◽  
Tuyen Hoang ◽  
Synnøve Nymark Aasen ◽  
Ole Vidhammer Bjørnstad ◽  
Himalaya Parajuli ◽  
...  

Melanomas have a high potential to metastasize to the brain. Recent advances in targeted therapies and immunotherapies have changed the therapeutical landscape of extracranial melanomas. However, few patients with melanoma brain metastasis (MBM) respond effectively to these treatments and new therapeutic strategies are needed. Cabozantinib is a receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) inhibitor, already approved for the treatment of non-skin-related cancers. The drug targets several of the proteins that are known to be dysregulated in melanomas. The anti-tumor activity of cabozantinib was investigated using three human MBM cell lines. Cabozantinib treatment decreased the viability of all cell lines both when grown in monolayer cultures and as tumor spheroids. The in vitro cell migration was also inhibited and apoptosis was induced by cabozantinib. The phosphorylated RTKs p-PDGF-Rα, p-IGF-1R, p-MERTK and p-DDR1 were found to be downregulated in the p-RTK array of the MBM cells after cabozantinib treatment. Western blot validated these results and showed that cabozantinib treatment inhibited p-Akt and p-MEK 1/2. Further investigations are warranted to elucidate the therapeutic potential of cabozantinib for patients with MBM.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. ii10-ii11
Author(s):  
Manuel Valiente ◽  
Amanda Van Swearingen ◽  
Carey Anders ◽  
Amos Bairoch ◽  
Adrienne Boire ◽  
...  

Abstract Central nervous system (CNS), notably brain, metastases are most prevalent in lung cancer (20–56% of patients), breast cancer (5–20%) and melanoma (7–16%). Lesions occur in both the brain parenchyma and the meninges. To mechanistically understand CNS metastasis formation and develop preventive and therapeutic strategies, it is essential to use model systems that, as much as possible, faithfully recapitulate the clinical disease process. Furthermore, the complexities of brain metastases dictate that studies should utilize multiple model systems in various stages of brain metastases progression. To facilitate brain metastasis research, 19 laboratories around the world have compiled comprehensive information on their brain metastasis mouse models. Each lab has provided details on the cell lines that they have generated or characterized as being capable of forming metastatic colonies in the brain, as well as principle methodologies of brain metastasis research. This Brain Metastasis Cell Lines Panel (BrMPanel, https://apps.cnio.es/app/BrainMetastasis/CellLines) represents the first of its class and includes information about each cell line, how tropism to the brain was established, and the behavior of each model in vivo. The BrMPanel is composed of 60 cell lines, derived from patients (32 cell lines, 53%), mouse (27, 45%) or rat (1, 2%), and represent the three main cancer types that result in brain metastasis: breast cancer (38 cell lines, 63%), lung cancer (8, 13%) and melanoma (14, 23%). This resource is intended to assist investigators in choosing the most suitable model for research on brain metastasis, and is available to the entire scientific community. The ultimate goal of this effort is to facilitate research on this unmet clinical need, to improve models through a collaborative environment, and to promote the exchange of information on these valuable resources. We invite other collaborators to contribute their models to the BrMPanel to grow this resource.


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