scholarly journals Cancer-Associated Stemness and Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition Signatures Related to Breast Invasive Carcinoma Prognostic

Cancers ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (10) ◽  
pp. 3053
Author(s):  
Iulia-Monica Groza ◽  
Cornelia Braicu ◽  
Ancuta Jurj ◽  
Oana Zanoaga ◽  
Raduly Lajos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Overall Survival ◽  
Survival Rate ◽  
Cancer Progression ◽  
Epithelial To Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
Overall Survival Rate ◽  
Cancer Genes ◽  
Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Oncological Diseases

Breast cancer is one of the most common oncological diseases in women, as its incidence is rapidly growing, rendering it unpredictable and causing more harm than ever before on an annual basis. Alterations of coding and noncoding genes are related to tumorigenesis and breast cancer progression. In this study, several key genes associated with epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and cancer stem cell (CSC) features were identified. EMT and CSCs are two key mechanisms responsible for self-renewal, differentiation, and self-protection, thus contributing to drug resistance. Therefore, understanding of the relationship between these processes may identify a therapeutic vulnerability that can be further exploited in clinical practice, and evaluate its correlation with overall survival rate. To determine expression levels of altered coding and noncoding genes, The Cancer Omics Atlas (TCOA) are used, and these data are overlapped with a list of CSCs and EMT-specific genes downloaded from NCBI. As a result, it is observed that CSCs are reciprocally related to EMT, thus identifying common signatures that allow for predicting the overall survival for breast cancer genes (BRCA). In fact, common CSCs and EMT signatures, represented by ALDH1A1, SFRP1, miR-139, miR-21, and miR-200c, are deemed useful as prognostic biomarkers for BRCA. Therefore, by mapping changes in gene expression across CSCs and EMT, suggesting a cross-talk between these two processes, we have been able to identify either the most common or specific genes or miRNA markers associated with overall survival rate. Thus, a better understanding of these mechanisms will lead to more effective treatment options.

The Regulatory Role of Both MBNL1 and MBNL1-AS1 in Several Common Cancers

2021 ◽  
Vol 27 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qi Zhang ◽  
Yinxin Wu ◽  
Jinlan Chen ◽  
Yuxuan Cai ◽  
Bei Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Colorectal Cancer ◽  
Gastric Cancer ◽  
Lung Cancer ◽  
Overall Survival ◽  
Survival Rate ◽  
Rna Splicing ◽  
Metabolic Regulation ◽  
Overall Survival Rate

Background: MBNL1, a protein encoded by q25 gene on chromosome 3, belongs to the tissue-specific RNA metabolic regulation family, which controls RNA splicing.[1]MBNL1 formed in the process of development drive large transcriptomic changes in cell differentiation,[2] it serves as a kind of tumor differentiation inhibitory factor.MBNL1 has a close relationship with cancer, comprehensive analysis, [3]found that breast cancer, leukemia, stomach cancer, esophageal adenocarcinoma, glial cell carcinoma and another common tumor in the cut, and cut in Huntington's disease. But MBNL1 plays a promoting role in cervical cancer, is contradictory in colorectal cancer, It promotes colorectal cancer cell proliferation, On the other hand, it inhibits its metastasis, so it is an important physiological marker in many cancers. When we integrated the role of MBNL1 protein in various tumors, we found that its antisense RNA, MBNL1-AS1, had a good inhibitory effect in several colorectal cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, and gastric cancer. Objective: To elucidate the expression of MBNL1 and MBNL1-AS1 in various tumors, and to search for their physiological markers. Methods: It was searched by the PUMUB system and summarized its expression in various cancers. Results: MBNL1 was down-regulated, leukemia, breast cancer, glioblastoma, gastric cancer, overall survival rate, recurrence, metastasis increased. While the metastasis of colon cancer decreased, proliferation was promoted, and the effect of both was promoted for cervical cancer.MBNL1-AS1 was down-regulated, and the overall survival rate, recurrence, and metastasis of lung cancer, colorectal cancer, and bladder cancer increased. Conclusion: MBNL1 may be an important regulator of cancer, and MBNL1-AS1 is a better tumor suppressor.

scholarly journals Transposon mutagenesis identifies genes that cooperate with mutant Pten in breast cancer progression

2016 ◽  
Vol 113 (48) ◽  
pp. E7749-E7758 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roberto Rangel ◽  
Song-Choon Lee ◽  
Kenneth Hon-Kim Ban ◽  
Liliana Guzman-Rojas ◽  
Michael B. Mann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Cancer Progression ◽  
Epithelial To Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Breast Cancer Subtype ◽  
Clinical Importance ◽  
Transposon Mutagenesis ◽  
Phosphatase And Tensin Homolog ◽  
Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Tensin Homolog ◽  
Cancer Subtype

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) has the worst prognosis of any breast cancer subtype. To better understand the genetic forces driving TNBC, we performed a transposon mutagenesis screen in a phosphatase and tensin homolog (Pten) mutant mice and identified 12 candidate trunk drivers and a much larger number of progression genes. Validation studies identified eight TNBC tumor suppressor genes, including the GATA-like transcriptional repressorTRPS1. Down-regulation ofTRPS1in TNBC cells promoted epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) by deregulating multiple EMT pathway genes, in addition to increasing the expression ofSERPINE1andSERPINB2and the subsequent migration, invasion, and metastasis of tumor cells. Transposon mutagenesis has thus provided a better understanding of the genetic forces driving TNBC and discovered genes with potential clinical importance in TNBC.

scholarly journals Therapeutic Potential of a Novel αvβ3 Antagonist to Hamper the Aggressiveness of Mesenchymal Triple Negative Breast Cancer Sub-Type

Cancers ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 139 ◽  
Author(s):  
Billy Hill ◽  
Annachiara Sarnella ◽  
Domenica Capasso ◽  
Daniela Comegna ◽  
Annarita Del Gatto ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Cancer Progression ◽  
Triple Negative Breast Cancer ◽  
Epithelial To Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Triple Negative ◽  
Therapeutic Potential ◽  
Migration And Invasion ◽  
Αvβ3 Integrin ◽  
Altered Expression ◽  
Mesenchymal Transition

The mesenchymal sub-type of triple negative breast cancer (MES-TNBC) has a highly aggressive behavior and worse prognosis, due to its invasive and stem-like features, that correlate with metastatic dissemination and resistance to therapies. Furthermore, MES-TNBC is characterized by the expression of molecular markers related to the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) program and cancer stem cells (CSCs). The altered expression of αvβ3 integrin has been well established as a driver of cancer progression, stemness, and metastasis. Here, we showed that the high levels of αvβ3 are associated with MES-TNBC and therefore exploited the possibility to target this integrin to reduce the aggressiveness of this carcinoma. To this aim, MES-TNBC cells were treated with a novel peptide, named ψRGDechi, that we recently developed and characterized for its ability to selectively bind and inhibit αvβ3 integrin. Notably, ψRGDechi was able to hamper adhesion, migration, and invasion of MES-TNBC cells, as well as the capability of these cells to form vascular-like structures and mammospheres. In addition, this peptide reversed EMT program inhibits mesenchymal markers. These findings show that targeting αvβ3 integrin by ψRGDechi, it is possible to inhibit some of the malignant properties of MES-TNBC phenotype.

scholarly journals Epigenetic Reprogramming of TGF-β Signaling in Breast Cancer

Cancers ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 726 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sudha Suriyamurthy ◽  
David Baker ◽  
Peter ten Dijke ◽  
Prasanna Vasudevan Iyengar
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Signaling Pathway ◽  
Cancer Progression ◽  
Epithelial To Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Transforming Growth Factor ◽  
Transforming Growth Factor Β ◽  
Cellular Mechanisms ◽  
Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Tumor Cell Migration ◽  
Selective Targeting

The Transforming Growth Factor-β (TGF-β) signaling pathway has a well-documented, context-dependent role in breast cancer development. In normal and premalignant cells, it acts as a tumor suppressor. By contrast, during the malignant phases of breast cancer progression, the TGF-β signaling pathway elicits tumor promoting effects particularly by driving the epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT), which enhances tumor cell migration, invasion and ultimately metastasis to distant organs. The molecular and cellular mechanisms that govern this dual capacity are being uncovered at multiple molecular levels. This review will focus on recent advances relating to how epigenetic changes such as acetylation and methylation control the outcome of TGF-β signaling and alter the fate of breast cancer cells. In addition, we will highlight how this knowledge can be further exploited to curb tumorigenesis by selective targeting of the TGF-β signaling pathway.

A Hidden Human Proteome Signature Characterizes the Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition Program

2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 372-375 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniele Vergara ◽  
Tiziano Verri ◽  
Marina Damato ◽  
Marco Trerotola ◽  
Pasquale Simeone ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Cancer Progression ◽  
Epithelial To Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Open Reading Frames ◽  
Breast Cancer Cell Lines ◽  
Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Cellular Models ◽  
Genomic Regions ◽  
Protein Signature

Background: Molecular changes associated with the initiation of the epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) program involve alterations of large proteome-based networks. The role of protein products mapping to non-coding genomic regions is still unexplored. Objective: The goal of this study was the identification of an alternative protein signature in breast cancer cellular models with a distinct expression of EMT markers. Methods: We profiled MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells using liquid-chromatography mass/spectrometry (LCMS/ MS) and interrogated the OpenProt database to identify novel predicted isoforms and novel predicted proteins from alternative open reading frames (AltProts). Results: Our analysis revealed an AltProt and isoform protein signature capable of classifying the two breast cancer cell lines. Among the most highly expressed alternative proteins, we observed proteins potentially associated with inflammation, metabolism and EMT. Conclusion: Here, we present an AltProts signature associated with EMT. Further studies will be needed to define their role in cancer progression.

The role of miR200c in leptin-mediated triple-negative breast cancer progression to an epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition.

2019 ◽  
Vol 37 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. e12548-e12548
Author(s):  
Lucas Wang ◽  
Brittany Harlow ◽  
Laura Bowers ◽  
Stephen Hursting ◽  
Linda A deGraffenried ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Cancer Progression ◽  
Triple Negative Breast Cancer ◽  
Epithelial To Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Leptin Receptor ◽  
Triple Negative ◽  
Receptor Expression ◽  
Obese Women ◽  
Mesenchymal Transition

e12548 Background: Almost 40% of women with breast cancer are obese at diagnosis. Obesity is associated with a worse prognosis in triple negative breast cancer (TNBC). Preclinical studies have shown that leptin is an important factor associated with TNBC by promoting cancer stem cell (CSC) enrichment and/or epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Transcription factors SNAIL, TWIST and ZEB are critical components in enhancing EMT in cancer cells. The specific mechanism(s) by leptin regulates SNAIL, TWIST and ZEB expression remain unclear, limiting the development of effective interventions to improve outcomes in obese TNBC patients. Recent studies have demonstrated that miR200c, downstream of leptin receptor signaling, regulates the expression of SNAIL1, TWIST and ZEB. We will test the hypothesis that leptin contributes to obesity-induced EMT/CSC in TNBC through modulation of miR200c. Methods: Ob-R (leptin receptor) expression was suppressed in TNBC MDA-MB-231 and E-Wnt cells using shRNA (Ob-R null). Ob-R and Ob-R null cells were exposed to sera pooled from lean or obese women, as well as lean sera supplemented with leptin, after which expression of SNAIL, TWIST, ZEB and miR200c was measured by qPCR, while activation of the JAK-STAT pathway was assessed by Western blotting. Results: TNBC cells exposed to obese and high leptin conditions demonstrated increased expression of EMT markers compared to levels expressed under lean conditions. The Ob-R WT and null cells were used to determine the specific role of leptin signaling in regulating expression of SNAIL, TWIST and ZEB through miR200c. Conclusions: Both obese and high leptin conditions result in increased expression of EMT regulators, suggesting that effective targeting of this pathway may provide clinical benefit in the obese breast cancer patient. Elucidating the specific mediators of this pathway will guide development of novel and more potent medical therapies.

scholarly journals Pannexin1 Is Associated with Enhanced Epithelial-To-Mesenchymal Transition in Human Patient Breast Cancer Tissues and in Breast Cancer Cell Lines

Cancers ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 1967 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nour Jalaleddine ◽  
Layal El-Hajjar ◽  
Hassan Dakik ◽  
Abdullah Shaito ◽  
Jessica Saliba ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Cancer Progression ◽  
Epithelial To Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Cell Communication ◽  
Gene Set Enrichment Analysis ◽  
The Cancer Genome Atlas ◽  
Breast Cancer Cell Lines ◽  
Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Genetic Ablation ◽  
Functional Features

Loss of connexin-mediated cell-cell communication is a hallmark of breast cancer progression. Pannexin1 (PANX1), a glycoprotein that shares structural and functional features with connexins and engages in cell communication with its environment, is highly expressed in breast cancer metastatic foci; however, PANX1 contribution to metastatic progression is still obscure. Here we report elevated expression of PANX1 in different breast cancer (BRCA) subtypes using RNA-seq data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). The elevated PANX1 expression correlated with poorer outcomes in TCGA BRCA patients. In addition, gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) revealed that epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) pathway genes correlated positively with PANX1 expression. Pharmacological inhibition of PANX1, in MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 breast cancer cells, or genetic ablation of PANX1, in MDA-MB-231 cells, reverted the EMT phenotype, as evidenced by decreased expression of EMT markers. In addition, PANX1 inhibition or genetic ablation decreased the invasiveness of MDA-MB-231 cells. Our results suggest PANX1 overexpression in breast cancer is associated with a shift towards an EMT phenotype, in silico and in vitro, attributing to it a tumor-promoting effect, with poorer clinical outcomes in breast cancer patients. This association offers a novel target for breast cancer therapy.

scholarly journals Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition of tumor cells: cancer progression and metastasis

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vasileios Vardas ◽  
Eleni Politaki ◽  
Evangelia Pantazaka ◽  
Vassilis Georgoulias ◽  
Galatea Kallergi
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Tumor Cells ◽  
Circulating Tumor Cells ◽  
Cancer Progression ◽  
Epithelial To Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Metastatic Breast ◽  
Cellsearch System ◽  
Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Specificity And Sensitivity

Detection and characterization of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) with an epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) phenotype is very important as it can contribute to the identification of high-risk for relapse and death patients. However, most of the methods are underestimating CTC numbers, due to their dependence on epithelial markers. In the current study, we evaluated the EMT phenotype in CTCs isolated from breast cancer (BC) patients, using the CellSearch system. Spiking experiments for the evaluation of the specificity and sensitivity of our method were performed using HeLa cells. Sixty-five breast cancer (BC) patients (47 early and 18 metastatic) were enrolled in the study. Vimentin is a mesenchymal marker which indicates tumoral cells acquiring invasive and malignant properties. We studied the vimentin (VIM) expression using the extra channel of the CellSearch system and an anti-vimentin antibody conjugated with FITC. In our present results, we reported the percentage of circulating tumor cells that expressed vimentin in early and in metastatic breast cancer patients. Interestingly, the incidence of cells with a CK-VIM+CD45- phenotype was detected in both settings. These cells were detected in 31.4% of CK-negative (11/35) and 82.3% of CK-positive (10/12) early BC patients. The corresponding numbers for metastatic disease were 15.4% (2/13) and 100% (5/5), respectively. Our results suggest that in CTC-negative patients, potentially undetectable tumor cells could be identified using the FDA-approved CellSearch system, based on the (CK-VIM+CD45-)-phenotype, offering additional information regarding the metastatic dissemination in cancer patients. Further experiments evaluating more biomarkers are necessary to elucidate the mechanisms that regulate tumorigenesis and metastasis.

scholarly journals Epigenetic Modulation of SPCA2 Reverses Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition in Breast Cancer Cells

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Monish Ram Makena ◽  
Myungjun Ko ◽  
Donna Kimberly Dang ◽  
Rajini Rao
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors ◽  
Epithelial To Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
Poor Survival ◽  
Survival Prognosis ◽  
Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Canonical Wnt

AbstractThe secretory pathway Ca2+-ATPase SPCA2 is a tumor suppressor in triple receptor negative breast cancer (TNBC), a highly aggressive molecular subtype that lacks tailored treatment options. Low expression of SPCA2 in TNBC confers poor survival prognosis in patients. Previous work has established that re-introducing SPCA2 to TNBC cells restores basal Ca2+ signaling, represses mesenchymal gene expression, mitigates tumor migration in vitro and metastasis in vivo. In this study, we examined the effect of histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi) in TNBC cell lines. We show that the pan-HDACi vorinostat and the class I HDACi romidepsin induce dose-dependent upregulation of SPCA2 transcript with concurrent downregulation of mesenchymal markers and tumor cell migration characteristic of epithelial phenotype. Silencing SPCA2 abolished the ability of HDACi to reverse epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT). Independent of ATPase activity, SPCA2 elevated resting Ca2+ levels to activate downstream components of non-canonical Wnt/Ca2+ signaling. HDACi treatment led to SPCA2-dependent phosphorylation of CAMKII and β-catenin, turning Wnt signaling off. We conclude that SPCA2 mediates the efficacy of HDACi in reversing EMT in TNBC by a novel mode of non-canonical Wnt/Ca2+ signaling. Our findings provide incentive for screening epigenetic modulators that exploit Ca2+ signaling pathways to reverse EMT in breast tumors.Simple SummaryThe triple receptor negative breast cancer subtype, or TNBC, currently has no tailored treatment options. TNBC is highly metastatic, associated with high patient mortality, and disproportionately occurs in Black/African American women where it contributes to racial disparities in health outcomes. Therefore, we focused on new therapeutic approaches to TNBC. We discovered that levels of the Calcium-ATPase SPCA2 are abnormally low in TNBC and that these low levels correlate with poor survival prognosis in patients. Previously, we showed that recombinant SPCA2 prevented TNBC cells from acquiring aggressive ‘mesenchymal’ properties associated with metastasis both in vitro and in vivo. These findings motivated us to search for drugs that turn the SPCA2 gene back on in TNBC cells. In this study, we show that histone deacetylase inhibitors increase SPCA2 levels, activate Ca2+ signaling and convert cancer cells to a less aggressive ‘epithelial’ state. These findings could lead to new treatment options for TNBC.Graphical Abstract

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