Disruption of Lysosome Function Promotes Tumor Growth and Metastasis in Drosophila

Lysosome function is essential to many physiological processes. It has been suggested that deregulation of lysosome function could contribute to cancer. Through a genetic screen in Drosophila, we have discovered that mutations disrupting lysosomal degradation pathway components contribute to tumor development and progression. Loss-of-function mutations in the Class C vacuolar protein sorting (VPS) gene, deep orange (dor), dramatically promote tumor overgrowth and invasion of the Ras^V12 cells. Knocking down either of the two other components of the Class C VPS complex, carnation (car) and vps16A, also renders Ras^V12 cells capable for uncontrolled growth and metastatic behavior. Finally, chemical disruption of the lysosomal function by feeding animals with antimalarial drugs, chloroquine or monensin, leads to malignant tumor growth of the Ras^V12 cells. Taken together, our data provide evidence for a causative role of lysosome dysfunction in tumor growth and invasion and indicate that members of the Class C VPS complex behave as tumor suppressors.     

Orthotopic Injection of Breast Cancer Cells into the Mammary Fat Pad of Mice to Study Tumor Growth.

Breast cancer growth can be studied in mice using a plethora of models. Genetic manipulation of breast cancer cells may provide insights into the functions of proteins involved in oncogenic progression or help to discover new tumor suppressors. In addition, injecting cancer cells into mice with different genotypes might provide a better understanding of the importance of the stromal compartment. Many models may be useful to investigate certain aspects of disease progression but do not recapitulate the entire cancerous process. In contrast, breast cancer cells engraftment to the mammary fat pad of mice better recapitulates the location of the disease and presence of the proper stromal compartment and therefore better mimics human cancerous disease. In this article, we describe how to implant breast cancer cells into mice orthotopically and explain how to collect tissues to analyse the tumor milieu and metastasis to distant organs. Using this model, many aspects (growth, angiogenesis, and metastasis) of cancer can be investigated simply by providing a proper environment for tumor cells to grow.     

Integrin-binding Protein Nischarin Interacts with Tumor Suppressor Liver Kinase B1 (LKB1) to Regulate Cell Migration of Breast Epithelial Cells

Biallelic inactivation of LKB1, a serine/threonine kinase, has been detected in 30% of lung adenocarcinomas, and inhibition of breast tumor growth has been demonstrated. We have identified the tumor suppressor, Nischarin, as a novel binding partner of LKB1. Our mapping analysis shows that the N terminus of Nischarin interacts with amino acids 44–436 of LKB1. Time lapse microscopy and Transwell migration data show that the absence of both Nischarin and LKB1 from an invasive breast cancer cell line (MDA-MB-231) enhances migration as measured by increased distance and speed of migrating cells. Our data suggest that this is a result of elevated PAK1 and LIMK1 phosphorylation. Moreover, the absence of Nischarin and LKB1 increased tumor growth in vivo. Consistent with this, the percentage of S phase cells was increased, as demonstrated by flow cytometry and enhanced cyclin D1. The absence of Nischarin and LKB1 also led to a dramatic increase in the formation of lung metastases. Our studies, for the first time, demonstrate functional interaction between LKB1 and Nischarin to inhibit cell migration and breast tumor progression. Mechanistically, we show that these two proteins together regulate PAK-LIMK-Cofilin and cyclin D1/CDK4 pathways.     

Synergistic Therapeutic Effect of Cisplatin and Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase (PI3K) Inhibitors in Cancer Growth and Metastasis of Brca1 Mutant Tumors

Drug resistance and cancer metastasis are two major problems in cancer research. During a course of therapeutic treatment in Brca1-associated tumors, we found that breast cancer stem cells (CSCs) exhibit an intrinsic ability to metastasize and acquire drug resistance through distinct signaling pathways. Microarray analysis indicated that the cytoskeletal remodeling pathway was differentially regulated in CSCs, and this was further evidenced by the inhibitory role of reagents that impair this pathway in the motility of cancer cells. We showed that cisplatin treatment, although initially inhibiting cancer growth, preventing metastasis through blocking cytoskeletal remodeling, and retarding CSC motility, eventually led to drug resistance associated with a marked increase in the number of CSCs. This event was at least partially attributed to the activation of PI3K signaling, and it could be significantly inhibited by co-treatment with rapamycin. These results provide strong evidence that cytoskeletal rearrangement and PI3K/AKT signaling play distinct roles in mediating CSC mobility and viability, respectively, and blocking both pathways synergistically may inhibit primary and metastatic cancer growth.     

Metabolomic Changes Accompanying Transformation and Acquisition of Metastatic Potential in a Syngeneic Mouse Mammary Tumor Model

Breast cancer is the most common cancer type for women in the western world. Despite decades of research, the molecular processes associated with breast cancer progression are still inadequately defined. Here, we focus on the systematic alteration of metabolism by using the state of the art metabolomic profiling techniques to investigate the changes of 157 metabolites during the progression of normal mouse mammary epithelial cells to an isogenic series of mammary tumor cell lines with increasing metastatic potentials. Our results suggest a two-step metabolic progression hypothesis during the acquisition of tumorigenic and metastatic abilities. Metabolite changes accompanying tumor progression are identified in the intracellular and secreted forms in several pathways, including glycolysis, the tricarboxylic acid cycle, the pentose phosphate pathway, fatty acid and nucleotide biosynthesis, and the GSH-dependent antioxidative pathway. These results suggest possible biomarkers of breast cancer progression as well as opportunities of interrupting tumor progression through the targeting of metabolic pathways.     

Artemin,a Member of the Glial Cell Line-derived Neurotrophic Factor Family of Ligands,Is HER2-regulated and Mediates Acquired Trastuzumab Resistance by Promoting Cancer Stem Cell-like Behavior in Mammary Carcinoma Cells

Previous studies have demonstrated that Artemin (ARTN) functions as a cancer stem cell (CSC) and metastatic factor in mammary carcinoma. Herein, we report that ARTN mediates acquired resistance to trastuzumab in HER2-positive mammary carcinoma cells. Ligands that increase HER2 activity increased ARTN expression in HER2-positive mammary carcinoma cells, whereas trastuzumab inhibited ARTN expression. Forced expression of ARTN decreased the sensitivity of HER2-positive mammary carcinoma cells to trastuzumab both in vitro and in vivo. Conversely, siRNA-mediated depletion of ARTN enhanced trastuzumab efficacy. Cells with acquired resistance to trastuzumab exhibited increased ARTN expression, the depletion of which restored trastuzumab sensitivity. Trastuzumab resistance produced an increased CSC population concomitant with enhanced mammospheric growth. ARTN mediated the enhancement of the CSC population by increased BCL-2 expression, and the CSC population in trastuzumab-resistant cells was abrogated upon inhibition of BCL-2. Hence, we conclude that ARTN is one mediator of acquired resistance to trastuzumab in HER2-positive mammary carcinoma cells.     

Downregulation of MTAP promotes Tumor Growth and Metastasis by regulating ODC Activity in Breast Cancer

5''-Methylthioadenosine phosphorylase (MTAP) is a key enzyme in the methionine salvage pathway and has been reported to suppress tumorigenesis. The MTAP gene is located at 9p21, a chromosome region often deleted in breast cancer (BC). However, the clinical and biological significance of MTAP in BC is still unclear. Here, we reported that MTAP was frequently downregulated in 41% (35/85) of primary BCs and 89% (8/9) of BC cell lines. Low expression of MTAP was significantly correlated with a poor survival of BC patients (P=0.0334). Functional studies showed that MTAP was able to suppress both in vitro and in vivo tumorigenic ability of BC cells, including migration, invasion, angiogenesis, tumor growth and metastasis in nude mice with orthotopic xenograft tumor of BC. Mechanistically, we found that downregulation of MTAP could increase the polyamine levels by activating ornithine decarboxylase (ODC). By treating the MTAP-repressing BC cells with specific ODC inhibitor Difluoromethylornithine (DFMO) or treating the MTAP-overexpressing BC cells with additional putrescine, metastasis-promoting or -suppressing phenotype of these MTAP-manipulated cells was significantly reversed, respectively. Taken together, our data suggested that MTAP has a critical metastasis-suppressive role by tightly regulating ODC activity in BC cells, which may serve as a prominent novel therapeutic target for advanced breast cancer treatment.     

R-Ras Protein Inhibits Autophosphorylation of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor 2 in Endothelial Cells and Suppresses Receptor Activation in Tumor Vasculature

Abnormal angiogenesis is associated with a broad range of medical conditions, including cancer. The formation of neovasculature with functionally defective blood vessels significantly impacts tumor progression, metastasis, and the efficacy of anticancer therapies. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) potently induces vascular permeability and vessel growth in the tumor microenvironment, and its inhibition normalizes tumor vasculature. In contrast, the signaling of the small GTPase R-Ras inhibits excessive angiogenic growth and promotes the maturation of regenerating blood vessels. R-Ras signaling counteracts VEGF-induced vessel sprouting, permeability, and invasive activities of endothelial cells. In this study, we investigated the effect of R-Ras on VEGF receptor 2 (VEGFR2) activation by VEGF, the key mechanism for angiogenic stimulation. We show that tyrosine phosphorylation of VEGFR2 is significantly elevated in the tumor vasculature and dermal microvessels of VEGF-injected skin in R-Ras knockout mice. In cultured endothelial cells, R-Ras suppressed the internalization of VEGFR2, which is required for full activation of the receptor by VEGF. Consequently, R-Ras strongly suppressed autophosphorylation of the receptor at all five major tyrosine phosphorylation sites. Conversely, silencing of R-Ras resulted in increased VEGFR2 phosphorylation. This effect of R-Ras on VEGFR2 was, at least in part, dependent on vascular endothelial cadherin. These findings identify a novel function of R-Ras to control the response of endothelial cells to VEGF and suggest an underlying mechanism by which R-Ras regulates angiogenesis.     

乳腺癌细胞株中MKK4的表达及其对细胞转移的影响和机理研究

目的：观察乳腺癌细胞株中MKK4蛋白的表达水平,研究MKK4蛋白表达对乳腺癌细胞运动能力及EMT标志物的影响,确定MKK4在肿瘤细胞EMT转化及肿瘤转移中的作用,为肿瘤转移机制研究提供一定的基础资料,为肿瘤防治奠定一定的理论基础。方法：通过体外细胞培养技术收集系列乳腺癌细胞株的培养裂解液,利用Westernblot技术检测细胞培养裂解液中MKK4及EMT标志物的表达水平,构建M鼬（4表达水平与细胞转移能力的对应图;采用siRNA技术,干扰MKK4高表达乳腺癌细胞株MKK4的表达,Westernblot技术观察MKK4低表达后,EMT标志物的变化,同时,构建MKK4质粒,转染MKK4低表达乳腺癌细胞株,Westernblot技术观察MKK4高表达后,EMT标志物的变化。并采用MTT法、Transwell、划痕法观察MKK4高表达后细胞增殖、运动、迁移等能力的变化。结果：乳腺癌细胞株中MKK4蛋白的表达水平与乳腺癌细胞运动能力有一定的相关性,并与EMT标志物的表达具有相关性,MKK4蛋白表达越高,细胞运动能力越差。干扰或转染技术影响乳腺癌细胞株中MKK4的表达后,细胞EMT标志物的表达也相应变化,乳腺癌细胞株中MKK4高表达后,其细胞增殖明显抑制,运动迁移能力也相应下降。结论：乳腺癌细胞中MKK4蛋白的表达水平与乳腺癌细胞EMT转化及运动能力有一定的相关性,MKK4蛋白表达越高,细胞运动能力越差。     

Roles of the Cyclooxygenase 2 Matrix Metalloproteinase 1 Pathway in Brain Metastasis of Breast Cancer

Brain is one of the major sites of metastasis in breast cancer; however, the pathological mechanism of brain metastasis is poorly understood. One of the critical rate-limiting steps of brain metastasis is the breaching of blood-brain barrier, which acts as a selective interface between the circulation and the central nervous system, and this process is considered to involve tumor-secreted proteinases. We analyzed clinical significance of 21 matrix metalloproteinases on brain metastasis-free survival of breast cancer followed by verification in brain metastatic cell lines and found that only matrix metalloproteinase 1 (MMP1) is significantly correlated with brain metastasis. We have shown that MMP1 is highly expressed in brain metastatic cells and is capable of degrading Claudin and Occludin but not Zo-1, which are key components of blood-brain barrier. Knockdown of MMP1 in brain metastatic cells significantly suppressed their ability of brain metastasis in vivo, whereas ectopic expression of MMP1 significantly increased the brain metastatic ability of the cells that are not brain metastatic. We also found that COX2 was highly up-regulated in brain metastatic cells and that COX2-induced prostaglandins were directly able to promote the expression of MMP1 followed by augmenting brain metastasis. Furthermore, we found that COX2 and prostaglandin were able to activate astrocytes to release chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 7 (CCL7), which in turn promoted self-renewal of tumor-initiating cells in the brain and that knockdown of COX2 significantly reduced the brain metastatic ability of tumor cells. Our results suggest the COX2-MMP1/CCL7 axis as a novel therapeutic target for brain metastasis.     

乳腺癌细胞株中MKK4 的表达及其对细胞转移的影响和机理研究

目的:观察乳腺癌细胞株中MKK4蛋白的表达水平,研究MKK4蛋白表达对乳腺癌细胞运动能力及EMT标志物的影响,确定MKK4在肿瘤细胞EMT转化及肿瘤转移中的作用,为肿瘤转移机制研究提供一定的基础资料,为肿瘤防治奠定一定的理论基础。方法:通过体外细胞培养技术收集系列乳腺癌细胞株的培养裂解液,利用Western blot技术检测细胞培养裂解液中MKK4及EMT标志物的表达水平,构建MKK4表达水平与细胞转移能力的对应图;采用siRNA技术,干扰MKK4高表达乳腺癌细胞株MKK4的表达,Western blot技术观察MKK4低表达后,EMT标志物的变化,同时,构建MKK4质粒,转染MKK4低表达乳腺癌细胞株,Western blot技术观察MKK4高表达后,EMT标志物的变化。并采用MTT法、Transwell、划痕法观察MKK4高表达后细胞增殖、运动、迁移等能力的变化。结果:乳腺癌细胞株中MKK4蛋白的表达水平与乳腺癌细胞运动能力有一定的相关性,并与EMT标志物的表达具有相关性,MKK4蛋白表达越高,细胞运动能力越差。干扰或转染技术影响乳腺癌细胞株中MKK4的表达后,细胞EMT标志物的表达也相应变化,乳腺癌细胞株中MKK4高表达后,其细胞增殖明显抑制,运动迁移能力也相应下降。结论:乳腺癌细胞中MKK4蛋白的表达水平与乳腺癌细胞EMT转化及运动能力有一定的相关性,MKK4蛋白表达越高,细胞运动能力越差。     

HER2/ErbB2-induced Breast Cancer Cell Migration and Invasion Require p120 Catenin Activation of Rac1 and Cdc42

Breast cancers that overexpress the receptor tyrosine kinase ErbB2/HER2/Neu result in poor patient outcome because of extensive metastatic progression. Herein, we delineate a molecular mechanism that may govern this malignant phenotype. ErbB2 induction of migration requires activation of the small GTPases Rac1 and Cdc42. The ability of ErbB2 to activate these small GTPases necessitated expression of p120 catenin, which is itself up-regulated by signaling through ErbB2 and the tyrosine kinase Src. Silencing p120 in ErbB2-dependent breast cancer cell lines dramatically inhibited migration and invasion as well as activation of Rac1 and Cdc42. In contrast, overexpression of constitutively active mutants of these GTPases reversed the effects of p120 silencing. Lastly, ectopic expression of p120 promoted migration and invasion and potentiated metastatic progression of a weakly metastatic, ErbB2-dependent breast cancer cell line. These results suggest that p120 acts as an obligate intermediate between ErbB2 and Rac1/Cdc42 to modulate the metastatic potential of breast cancer cells.     

高转移倾向乳腺癌细胞中p-ERK促进增殖和迁移作用的信号转导途径

在建立乳腺癌细胞MCF-7高转移倾向亚克隆LM-MCF-7细胞株的基础上,为阐明LM-MCF-7细胞具有更强增殖和迁移能力的分子机制,对其相关分子及其信号转导途径进行了探讨.免疫印迹结果显示,与MCF-7细胞相比,LM-MCF-7细胞中p-ERK1/2水平显著升高.流式细胞术和“伤口愈合”实验结果表明,ERK1/2的特异性抑制剂PD98059可明显抑制LM-MCF-7细胞的高增殖和高迁移能力.免疫印迹检测发现,与MCF-7细胞相比,LM-MCF-7细胞中与增殖和迁移相关的因子,如β-catenin、细胞周期蛋白D1、磷酸化肌球蛋白轻链（p-MLC）和肌球蛋白轻链激酶（MLCK）的水平呈明显增高,PD98059对这些因子水平的增高具有抑制作用.免疫荧光染色显示,LM-MCF-7细胞中β-catenin分布在细胞核中,应用PD98059处理后,β-catenin主要分布在胞浆中.上述研究结果表明,在LM-MCF-7细胞中活化的ERK1/2水平升高,是导致该细胞增殖和迁移能力增强的重要原因之一,与ERK1/2-MLCK-p-MLC和ERK1/2-β-catenin 细胞周期蛋白D1等信号转导途径有密切的关系.     

结合素-4（nectin-4）在乳腺癌中表达及其临床意义研究

目的：观察乳腺癌患者血清及乳腺组织中结合素4的表达并探讨其临床意义。方法：选择2007年6月至2008年12月哈尔滨医科大学附属三院收集的40例乳腺癌患者和20例乳腺良性肿瘤患者为研究对象,分为正常对照组、乳腺癌组、乳腺良性肿瘤组,采用Elisa法和免疫组化法对所选择的血清及组织标本中nectin-4及血清中癌胚抗原（CEA）、CA153的表达进行检测。结果：（1）nectin-4的阳性表达定位于细胞质和细胞膜,其在乳腺癌组织中的阳性表达率显著高于乳腺良性组织（P〈0．05）;nectin-4的表达与患者的年龄、临床分期无关（P〉0．05）,但与乳腺癌的病理类型、腋窝淋巴结转移与否、Her-2、ER和PR的表达均显著相关（P〈0．05）。②乳腺癌组血清nectin-4表达水平最高,为238＋4．95pg／ml;乳腺良性病变组为1205：3．28pg／ml;正常对照组为104±5．86pg／ml,三者之间比较,差别有统计学意义（P〈0．01）。③与正常对照组、乳腺良性病变组比较,乳腺癌组血清CEA、CAl53水平均明显升高,差异有显著统计学意义（P〈0．01）。④nectin-4、CEA和CA153诊断乳腺癌的敏感性分别为31．67％、43-33％、28．33％,特异性分别为92．50％、95％、95％,三者联合检测诊断乳腺癌的敏感性较单独检测显著升高（P〈0．05）,可达81．67％。结论：Nectin-4在乳腺癌中高表达,且与乳腺癌的病理类型、腋窝淋巴结转移与否、Her-2、ER和PR的表达均呈显著相关,通过联合检测血清nectin-4、CEA和CA153水平可显著提高乳腺癌诊断的敏感性,有助于乳腺癌的治疗和预后评估,值得临床进一步深入研究。     

转录因子二聚化配体3（TFDP3）在乳腺癌组织中的表达及其与乳腺癌分子分型的相关性研究

目的:本研究旨在分析总结癌-睾丸抗原TFDP3在乳腺癌中的表达规律,探究TFDP3表达与乳腺癌分型及发病进程关系。方法:通过对不同分型及分期的乳腺癌组织切片进行免疫组化检测,分析TFDP3在其中的表达情况,并结合样本来源患者的临床信息,对TFDP3的表达与乳腺癌分子分型、分期及预后的相关性进行统计分析。同时,通过Western Blot检测了5种乳腺癌细胞系(MDA-MB-231、MCF-7、SK-BR-3、T47D及MCF-10A)中TFDP3的表达情况,并通过细胞免疫荧光实验,检测TFDP3在细胞中的定位。结果:TFDP3在已检测的乳腺癌样本中的表达率为49%。乳腺癌临床分子分型标记物HER2的表达与TFDP3的表达呈正相关,但乳腺癌的分期、临床病理分型以及临床分子分型标记物ER、PR的表达均与肿瘤组织中TFDP3的表达无相关性。结论:TFDP3在各在乳腺癌组织中高表达,其表达量与HER2的表达量呈正性相关。这为研究已TFDP3为靶点的乳腺癌免疫治疗,提供了新的依据。     

Conversion of Androgen Receptor Signaling From a Growth Suppressor in Normal Prostate Epithelial Cells to an Oncogene in Prostate Cancer Cells Involves a Gain of Function in c-Myc Regulation

In normal prostate, androgen-dependent androgen receptor (AR) signaling within prostate stromal cells induces their secretion of paracrine factors, termed “andromedins” which stimulate growth of the epithelial cells. The present studies demonstrate that androgen-dependent andromedin-driven growth stimulation is counter-balanced by androgen-induced AR signaling within normal adult prostate epithelial cells resulting in terminal G₀ growth arrest coupled with terminal differentiation into ΔNp63-negative, PSA-expressing secretory luminal cells. This cell autonomous AR-driven terminal differentiation requires DNA-binding of the AR protein, is associated with decreases in c-Myc m-RNA and protein, are coupled with increases in p21, p27, and SKP-2 protein expression, and does not require functional p53. These changes result in down-regulation of Cyclin D₁ protein and RB phosphoryation. shRNA knockdown documents that neither RB, p21, p27 alone or in combination are required for such AR-induced G₀ growth arrest. Transgenic expression of a constitutive vector to prevent c-Myc down-regulation overrides AR-mediated growth arrest in normal prostate epithelial cells, which documents that AR-induced c-Myc down-regulation is critical in terminal growth arrest of normal prostate epithelial cells. In contrast, in prostate cancer cells, androgen-induced AR signaling paradoxically up-regulates c-Myc expression and stimulates growth as documented by inhibition of both of these responses following exposure to the AR antagonist, bicalutamide. These data document that AR signaling is converted from a growth suppressor in normal prostate epithelial cells to an oncogene in prostate cancer cells during prostatic carcinogenesis and that this conversion involves a gain of function for regulation of c-Myc expression.     

原核表达人MMP-2PEX片段对乳腺癌细胞BICR-H1的生长及转移的抑制

目的:克隆表达人源基质金属蛋白酶-2(MMP-2)的C－端类血红素结合域片段PEX,在鸡胚脲囊膜模型上研究PEX对血管发生,乳腺癌BICR-H1的生长及转移抑制作用。方法:构建人源PEX的原核表达载体pET-28a(+)-PEX-His,转化大肠杆菌BL21DE3-pLys,异丙基β-D硫代半乳糖苷(IPTG)诱导PEX蛋白;包涵体蛋白经尿素变性后,通过Ni-NTA 琼脂糖鏊合柱纯化、复性蛋白;观察其对人脐静脉血管内皮细胞增殖和鸡胚脲囊膜血管生长的影响;用带有绿色荧光蛋白(GFP)的腺病毒感染高转移人乳腺癌细胞BICR-H1,接种细胞到10日鸡胚脲囊膜上致瘤,通过静脉注射不同剂量PEX后,观察瘤重、体积和肺转移。结果:5~30μg经原核表达纯化的人PEX蛋白能有效抑制人脐静脉血管内皮细胞增殖能力,表现为时间和剂量依赖效应,并可抑制鸡胚脲囊膜血管发生。BICR-H1的生长及转移在10μg PEX作用时可得到有效抑制,30μg时则完全抑制,未见有肿瘤在接种部位的形成,更未观察到肺脏的转移灶。结论:原核表达纯化的人源PEX具有抑制血管生成、进而抑制乳腺癌BICR-H1细胞的生长和转移作用,是潜在的抗血管发生治疗肿瘤药物,有进一步研发价值。