Monitoring the Antioxidant Mediated Chemosensitization and ARE-Signaling in Triple Negative Breast Cancer Therapy

Chemotherapy often fails due to cellular detoxifying mechanisms, including phase-II enzymes. Activation of Nrf2-Keap1 pathway induces phase-II enzymes expression through ARE-signaling and prevents cancer development. Nrf2-overexpression in cancer cells results in chemo- and/or radioresistance. This necessitates understanding of Nrf2-regulation, and identification of Nrf2 activators/inhibitors sensitizing cancer cells to improve chemotherapy. N-terminal 435-amino acids of Nrf2 are crucial for Keap1 binding during ubiquitination. Identification of a minimum Nrf2-domain required for Keap1 binding without altering endogenous ARE-signaling would be a novel tool to study Nrf2-signaling. Current study developed firefly-luciferase reporter fusion with N-terminal Nrf2-domain of different lengths and examined its response to Nrf2-activators in cells. The results identified FLuc2 fusion with N-terminal 100-aa of Nrf2 is sufficient for measuring Nrf2-activation in cancer cells. We used MDA-MB231 cells expressing this particular construct for studying antioxidant induced Nrf2-activation and chemosensitization in triple-negative breast cancer therapy. While antioxidant EGCG showed chemosensitization of MDA-MB231 cells to cisplatin by activating Nrf2-ARE signaling, PTS, another antioxidant showed chemoprotection. Tumor xenograft study in mouse demonstrates that combinational treatment by cisplatin/EGCG resulted in tumor growth reduction, compared to cisplatin alone treatment. The results of this study highlight the importance of identifying selective combination of antioxidants/chemotherapeutic agents for customized treatment strategy.     

瑞戈非尼抑制三阴性乳腺癌MDA-MB-231细胞增殖的研究

目的:利用裸鼠皮下成瘤动物模型及裸鼠肝脏原位多发与弥散模型,探索新型分子靶向药物瑞戈非尼对三阴性乳腺癌MDA-MB-231增殖的抑制作用,确定其分子机制。方法:培养获得人高侵袭性三阴性乳腺癌细胞MDA-MB-231,经BALB/c裸鼠皮下注射形成皮下肿瘤,或经肝门静脉注射形成肝脏多发、弥散的肿瘤模型。给予瑞戈非尼灌胃给药治疗,3周后解剖,测量肿瘤体积并称重;或进行PET/CT检测,对核素强度、散发肿瘤占肝脏面积进行定量。通过定量PCR(q PCR)实验验证上皮-间质转化标志物与转移、侵袭相关标志物的表达水平。结果:在裸鼠皮下成瘤模型以及裸鼠肝脏原位多发与弥散肿瘤模型中,瑞戈非尼隔日灌胃给药持续3周能够显著抑制MDA-MB-231的增殖;皮下肿瘤体积、重量,以及裸鼠肝脏PET/CT检测显示瑞戈非尼持续给药组的相对核素强度均明显低于对照组;q PCR实验反映出瑞戈非尼能够抑制MDA-MB-231的上皮-间质转化与转移、侵袭作用。结论:揭示了瑞戈非尼对三阴性乳腺癌细胞系MDA-MB-231的增殖抑制作用,初步探索了其分子机制,为瑞戈非尼应用于三阴性乳腺癌的治疗提供参考。     

三阴乳腺癌P53突变热点及与预后的关系

目的:探讨三阴乳腺癌(TNBC)P53基因热点突变的情况及其与预后的关系。方法:选取2007年1月至2010年12月四川省人民医院收治的71例TNBC患者作为研究对象,采用免疫组化法检测71例TNBC患者手术石蜡标本的P53蛋白表达情况,采用ADx-ARMS方法检测P53基因突变热点情况,并分析两者与TNBC复发转移的关系。结果:71例患者总共有14例出现复发或转移,复发或转移发生率为19.7%。71例患者P53蛋白阳性表达率为69.0%,P53蛋白表达阳性患者的复发或转移率为18.4%,与P53蛋白表达阴性患者的复发或转移率22.7%比较,差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。总共有5例患者检出P53热点突变,P53热点突发生率为7.0%。P53热点突变全部都在P53蛋白阳性表达的患者中检出,而有P53热点突变的患者均没有出现复发或转移。结论:P53热点突变在TNBC患者中发生率不高,均出现在有P53蛋白阳性表达的患者中,而出现P53热点突变的患者预后较好。     

三阴型乳腺癌的化学治疗和靶向治疗进展

三阴型乳腺癌(Triple negative Breast cancer,TNBC)占乳腺癌总数的15%,是一种免疫组织化学亚型。通常发生于青年女性,有很高的复发率,内脏和中枢神经系统转移早,病程短、死亡率高。对大多数TNBC患者,常规化疗是主要的治疗方式。20%患者有很好的化疗敏感性,对化疗耐药的TNBC患者靶向治疗为当前研究的热点,寻找乳腺癌新的治疗靶点,提出TNBC新的治疗策略,有望去改善TNBC患者的预后。     

p53-based Cancer Therapy

Inactivation of p53 functions is an almost universal feature of human cancer cells. This has spurred a tremendous effort to develop p53 based cancer therapies. Gene therapy using wild-type p53, delivered by adenovirus vectors, is now in widespread use in China. Other biologic approaches include the development of oncolytic viruses designed to replicate and kill only p53 defective cells and also the development of siRNA and antisense RNA''s that activate p53 by inhibiting the function of the negative regulators Mdm2, MdmX, and HPV E6. The altered processing of p53 that occurs in tumor cells can elicit T-cell and B-cell responses to p53 that could be effective in eliminating cancer cells and p53 based vaccines are now in clinical trial. A number of small molecules that directly or indirectly activate the p53 response have also reached the clinic, of which the most advanced are the p53 mdm2 interaction inhibitors. Increased understanding of the p53 response is also allowing the development of powerful drug combinations that may increase the selectivity and safety of chemotherapy, by selective protection of normal cells and tissues.Thirty years of research on p53 have produced a detailed understanding of its structure and function. The almost universal loss of p53 activity in tumors has spurred an enormous effort to develop new cancer treatments based on this fact. Sophisticated animal models have shown that activation of the p53 response in even advanced tumors can be curative (Martins et al. 2006; Ventura et al. 2007; Xue et al. 2007). The p53 gene therapy, Gendicine, is approved in China and its US counterpart, Advexin, has shown activity in number of clinical trials. The p53 protein level is raised in many tumors by virtue of an increase in the protein''s half life and this tumor specific alteration in p53 processing has attracted tumor immunologists, who are now testing a number of p53 based vaccines in cancer patients (Speetjens et al. 2009).In more conventional approaches a range of small druglike molecules targeting the p53 system have been developed and several are now in clinical trials. Of critical importance has been the development of small-molecule inhibitors of the p53–Mdm2 protein interaction such as the Nutlins (Vassilev et al. 2004), which have shown activity against human xenografts in preclinical models. Advanced structural approaches have provided compelling support for the idea that some mutant p53 proteins can be targets for small molecules that would cause them to regain wild-type function (Joerger et al. 2006). Cell based screening methods have identified small molecules that can activate both mutant and wild-type p53 proteins in tumor cells to induce apoptosis. These screens, and RNAi based approaches, have revealed many new targets for therapy in the p53 pathway. In an exciting new approach, that has been validated in other tumor suppressor pathways, the search is on for targets in pathways that will show synthetic lethal interactions with loss of p53 function. Finally drug combinations have been developed that can selectively kill cancer cells that lack p53 function while protecting normal cells (Sur et al. 2009). The next few years hold out the prospect of new p53 based therapies that will be of wide application in cancer and other diseases.     

miR-34a-5p对三阴性乳腺癌细胞的影响及相关机制研究*

目的: 探讨miR-34a-5p在三阴性乳腺癌(triple negative breast cancer,TNBC)中的表达,分析miR-34a-5p对TNBC细胞增殖、凋亡、迁移的作用,对TNBC荷瘤小鼠肿瘤生长的影响以及在TNBC中对B7-H1表达的影响。方法: 利用RT-qPCR、Western blot分析TNBC细胞中miR-34a-5p、B7-H1的表达,并利用Kaplan-Meier分析二者的表达与TNBC患者的生存关系;将miR-34a-5p转染TNBC细胞,通过CCK-8、流式细胞术及划痕实验检测miR-34a-5p对TNBC细胞增殖、凋亡、迁移的影响;利用RT-qPCR、Western blot检测miR-34a-5p、B7-H1表达水平的变化,双荧光素酶基因报告验证miR-34a-5p与B7-H1的相互作用;利用RT-qPCR、Western blot、IHC检测miR-34a-5p对MDA-MB-231荷瘤小鼠miR-34a、B7-H1表达的影响。结果: TNBC细胞中miR-34a-5p呈低表达,B7-H1呈高表达,二者均与TNBC患者的不良预后有关,差距具有统计学意义(P<0.01);miR-34a-5p抑制TNBC细胞增殖、侵袭,促进细胞凋亡,并且在TNBC细胞中靶向抑制B7-H1;miR-34a-5p agomir在体内抑制MDA-MB-231成瘤裸鼠的肿瘤生长和B7-H1表达。结论: miR-34a-5p在TNBC发生、发展中发挥着重要作用,靶向miR-34a-5p/B7-H1可能成为TNBC患者新的分子治疗策略。     

乳腺癌靶向治疗的研究进展

乳腺癌是全球最常见的导致女性死亡的癌症之一。目前,除手术治疗外,化疗仍是乳腺癌全身治疗的重要手段。但预后差、总生存期短、复发快严重影响着乳腺癌的治疗效果。随着信号通路、细胞凋亡等分子生物学在肿瘤研究中的深入,新型靶向抗肿瘤药物已成为当前抗癌研究的热点,并在乳腺癌的治疗中取得了一定的进展。近年来研究发现乙酰胆碱受体与人类多种疾病密切相关,尤其是其参与了多种肿瘤的发生、发展。因此,乙酰胆碱受体的特异性拮抗剂α-芋螺毒素可能成为新颖的乳腺癌靶向治疗药物。     

靶向治疗乳腺癌骨转移的研究进展

本文对双磷酸盐、狄诺塞麦、Sagopilone等特异性靶向药物在乳腺癌骨转移靶向治疗中的作用机制、临床应用、临床疗效等方面的相关研究进展情况进行了简要阐述。双磷酸盐在抑制骨转移和非骨转移中发挥作用,狄诺塞麦可能成为双磷酸盐的合理替代物,尤其在双磷酸盐治疗效果不佳的病人中,而新型抗癌药物Sagopilone、骨唾液酸蛋白抑制剂亦可通过多种机制参与乳腺癌转移过程,具有抑制骨转移的巨大潜力。     

三阴性乳腺癌中MMP9和P53的表达与其预后的关系研究

目的:研究三阴性乳腺癌(triple negative breast cancer,TNBC)中基质金属蛋白酶9(matrix metal proteinase 9,MMP9)和P53的表达及其与三阴性乳腺癌预后的关系。方法:收集2002年3月至2011年7月上海交通大学医学院附属新华医院普外科诊治且临床资料完整的TNBC标本147例,通过免疫组化检测其MMP9、P53的表达。结合临床随访数据,分析MMP9、P53的表达与TNBC预后的关系。结果:TNBC占同期本院收治的乳腺癌13.3%(147/1103)。MMP9、P53在TNBC中的阳性表达率分别为47.6%和66.0%。MMP9与TNBC患者的淋巴结转移数显著相关(P=0.003)。MMP9表达阳性的TNBC与MMP9表达阴性TNBC患者60个月的无病生存(disease free survival,DFS)率分别为62%和83%,差异具有统计学意义(P=0.001);总体生存率(overall survival,OS)率分别为66%和73%,差异具有统计学意义(P=0.022)。P53表达阳性的TNBC和P53表达阴性的TNBC患者60个月的DFS分别为65%和87%(P=0.010);OS分别为60%和85%(P=0.005)。MMP9和P53的HR分别为3.353(95%CI:1.614-6.966,P=0.001)和2.979(95%CI:1.239-7.165,P=0.015)。结论:MMP9和P53在TNBC中的阳性表达与患者的预后不良有关,且MMP9为影响TNBC患者预后的独立危险因素。     

Cucurbitacin E Induces Cell Cycle G2/M Phase Arrest and Apoptosis in Triple Negative Breast Cancer

Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a highly aggressive form of breast cancer resistant to many common treatments. In this study, we compared the effects of 12 phytochemical drugs on four cancer cell lines, and noticed that Cucurbitacin E (CuE) significantly inhibited TNBC cell growth by inducing cell cycle G2/M phase arrest and apoptosis. CuE reduced expression of Cyclin D1, Survivin, XIAP, Bcl2, and Mcl-1 in MDA-MB-468 and SW527, and within MDA-MB-468, CuE significantly increased activation of JNK and inhibited activation of AKT and ERK. Collectively, these results suggest that CuE may be a viable compound for developing novel TNBC therapeutics.     

MUC4 Overexpression Augments Cell Migration and Metastasis through EGFR Family Proteins in Triple Negative Breast Cancer Cells

Introduction

Current studies indicate that triple negative breast cancer (TNBC), an aggressive breast cancer subtype, is associated with poor prognosis and an early pattern of metastasis. Emerging evidence suggests that MUC4 mucin is associated with metastasis of various cancers, including breast cancer. However, the functional role of MUC4 remains unclear in breast cancers, especially in TNBCs.

Method

In the present study, we investigated the functional and mechanistic roles of MUC4 in potentiating pathogenic signals including EGFR family proteins to promote TNBC aggressiveness using in vitro and in vivo studies. Further, we studied the expression of MUC4 in invasive TNBC tissue and normal breast tissue by immunostaining.

Results

MUC4 promotes proliferation, anchorage-dependent and-independent growth of TNBC cells, augments TNBC cell migratory and invasive potential in vitro, and enhances tumorigenicity and metastasis in vivo. In addition, our studies demonstrated that MUC4 up-regulates the EGFR family of proteins, and augments downstream Erk1/2, PKC-γ, and FAK mediated oncogenic signaling. Moreover, our studies also showed that knockdown of MUC4 in TNBC cells induced molecular changes suggestive of mesenchymal to epithelial transition. We also demonstrated in this study, for the first time, that knockdown of MUC4 was associated with reduced expression of EGFR and ErbB3 (EGFR family proteins) in TNBC cells, suggesting that MUC4 uses an alternative to ErbB2 mechanism to promote aggressiveness. We further demonstrate that MUC4 is differentially over-expressed in invasive TNBC tissues compared to normal breast tissue.

Conclusions

MUC4 mucin expression is associated with TNBC pathobiology, and its knockdown reduced aggressiveness in vitro, and tumorigenesis and metastasis in vivo. Overall, our findings suggest that MUC4 mucin promotes invasive activities of TNBC cells by altering the expression of EGFR, ErbB2, and ErbB3 molecules and their downstream signaling.     

三阴性乳腺癌中环状RNA的表达特点及功能意义

环状RNA是由前体RNA通过反向剪接形成的一类共价闭合环状分子.在过去,环状RNA被认为是DNA转录的"噪音",不参与生物代谢过程.然而,最近研究表明,环状RNA的异常表达可影响包括三阴性乳腺癌在内的多种恶性肿瘤的发生发展.该文综述了环状RNA在肿瘤中的分子机制及其在三阴性乳腺癌细胞增殖、凋亡、迁移、侵袭和药物抗性中的...     

Near-Infrared Imaging of Adoptive Immune Cell Therapy in Breast Cancer Model Using Cell Membrane Labeling

The overall objective of this study is to non-invasively image and assess tumor targeting and retention of directly labeled T-lymphocytes following their adoptive transfer in mice. T-lymphocytes obtained from draining lymph nodes of 4T1 (murine breast cancer cell) sensitized BALB/C mice were activated in-vitro with Bryostatin/Ionomycin for 18 hours, and were grown in the presence of Interleukin-2 for 6 days. T-lymphocytes were then directly labeled with 1,1-dioctadecyltetramethyl indotricarbocyanine Iodide (DiR), a lipophilic near infrared fluorescent dye that labels the cell membrane. Assays for viability, proliferation, and function of labeled T-lymphocytes showed that they were unaffected by DiR labeling. The DiR labeled cells were injected via tail vein in mice bearing 4T1 tumors in the flank. In some cases labeled 4T1 specific T-lymphocytes were injected a week before 4T1 tumor cell implantation. Multi-spectral in vivo fluorescence imaging was done to subtract the autofluorescence and isolate the near infrared signal carried by the T-lymphocytes. In recipient mice with established 4T1 tumors, labeled 4T1 specific T-lymphocytes showed marked tumor retention, which peaked 6 days post infusion and persisted at the tumor site for up to 3 weeks. When 4T1 tumor cells were implanted 1-week post-infusion of labeled T-lymphocytes, T-lymphocytes responded to the immunologic challenge and accumulated at the site of 4T1 cell implantation within two hours and the signal persisted for 2 more weeks. Tumor accumulation of labeled 4T1 specific T-lymphocytes was absent in mice bearing Meth A sarcoma tumors. When lysate of 4T1 specific labeled T-lymphocytes was injected into 4T1 tumor bearing mice the near infrared signal was not detected at the tumor site. In conclusion, our validated results confirm that the near infrared signal detected at the tumor site represents the DiR labeled 4T1 specific viable T-lymphocytes and their response to immunologic challenge can be imaged in vivo.     

Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor-1 Contributes to Progression in Triple Negative Breast Cancer

TNBC is an aggressive breast cancer subtype that does not express hormone receptors (estrogen and progesterone receptors, ER and PR) or amplified human epidermal growth factor receptor type 2 (HER2), and there currently exist no targeted therapies effective against it. Consequently, finding new molecular targets in triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is critical to improving patient outcomes. Previously, we have detected the expression of metabotropic glutamate receptor-1 (gene: GRM1; protein: mGluR1) in TNBC and observed that targeting glutamatergic signaling inhibits TNBC growth both in vitro and in vivo. In this study, we explored how mGluR1 contributes to TNBC progression, using the isogenic MCF10 progression series, which models breast carcinogenesis from nontransformed epithelium to malignant basal-like breast cancer. We observed that mGluR1 is expressed in human breast cancer and that in MCF10A cells, which model nontransformed mammary epithelium, but not in MCF10AT1 cells, which model atypical ductal hyperplasia, mGluR1 overexpression results in increased proliferation, anchorage-independent growth, and invasiveness. In contrast, mGluR1 knockdown results in a decrease in these activities in malignant MCF10CA1d cells. Similarly, pharmacologic inhibition of glutamatergic signaling in MCF10CA1d cells results in a decrease in proliferation and anchorage-independent growth. Finally, transduction of MCF10AT1 cells, which express c-Ha-ras, using a lentiviral construct expressing GRM1 results in transformation to carcinoma in 90% of resultant xenografts. We conclude that mGluR1 cooperates with other factors in hyperplastic mammary epithelium to contribute to TNBC progression and therefore propose that glutamatergic signaling represents a promising new molecular target for TNBC therapy.