RGD cadherins and α2β1 integrin in cancer metastasis: A dangerous liaison

We propose a new cadherin family classification comprising epithelial cadherins (cadherin 17 [CDH17], cadherin 16, VE-cadherin, cadherin 6 and cadherin 20) containing RGD motifs within their sequences. Expression of some RGD cadherins is associated with aggressive forms of cancer during the late stages of metastasis, and CDH17 and VE-cadherin have emerged as critical actors in cancer metastasis. After binding to α2β1 integrin, these cadherins promote integrin β1 activation, and thereby cell adhesion, invasion and proliferation, in liver and lung metastasis. Activation of α2β1 integrin provokes an affinity increase for type IV collagen, a major component of the basement membrane and a critical partner for cell anchoring in liver and other metastatic organs. Activation of α2β1 integrin by RGD motifs breaks an old paradigm of integrin classification and supports an important role of this integrin in cancer metastasis. Recently, synthetic peptides containing the RGD motif of CDH17 elicited highly specific and selective antibodies that block the ability of CDH17 RGD to activate α2β1 integrin. These monoclonal antibodies inhibit metastatic colonization in orthotopic mouse models of liver and lung metastasis for colorectal cancer and melanoma, respectively. Hopefully, blocking the cadherin RGD ligand capacity will give us control over the integrin activity in solid tumors metastasis, paving the way for development of new agents of cancer treatment.     

巢式甲基化特异性PCR检测肝细胞癌患者血清中RASSF1A和CDH13基因启动子区甲基化

为了检测肝细胞癌患者血清中RASSF1A和CDH13基因启动子的甲基化状态,收集肝细胞癌患者及健康对照者的血清标本,采用巢式甲基化特异性PCR(nMSP)法检测RASSF1A和CDH13基因启动子区甲基化状态.结果肝细胞癌患者血清样品中RASSF1A和CDH13基因启动子区甲基化率为53.12%和31.25%,68.75%的患者血清可以检测到异常甲基化,正常对照血清中未检测到RASSF1A和CDH13基因启动子区甲基化,RASSF1A和CDH13基因甲基化与患者的临床病理资料无明显相关性(P>0.05);表明nMSP法检测血清中RASSF1A和CDH13基因启动子区甲基化具有较高的敏感性,可为肝细胞癌的筛查、早期诊断和预后判断提供有价值的信息.     

Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in fibrosis: Collagen type I expression is highly upregulated after EMT,but does not contribute to collagen deposition

The hallmark of fibrosis is an accumulation of fibrillar collagens, especially of collagen type I. There is considerable debate whether in vivo type II epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is involved in organ fibrosis. Lineage tracing experiments by various groups show opposing data concerning the relative contribution of epithelial cells to the pool of myofibroblasts. We hypothesized that EMT-derived cells might directly contribute to collagen deposition. To study this, EMT was induced in human epithelial lung and renal cell lines in vitro by means of TGF-β1 stimulation, and we compared the collagen type I (COL1A1) expression levels of transdifferentiated cells with that of myofibroblasts obtained by TGF-β1 stimulation of human dermal and lung fibroblasts. COL1A1 expression levels of transdifferentiated epithelial cells appeared to be at least one to two orders of magnitude lower than that of myofibroblasts. This was confirmed at immunohistochemical level: in contrast to myofibroblasts, collagen type I deposition by EMT-derived cells was not or hardly detectable. We postulate that, even when type II EMT occurs in vivo, the direct contribution of EMT-derived cells to collagen accumulation is rather limited.     

Interplay between inflammation and cancer

Tumor-promoting inflammation is one of the hallmarks of cancer. It has been shown that cancer development is strongly influenced by both chronic and acute inflammation process. Progress in research on inflammation revealed a connection between inflammatory processes and neoplastic transformation, the progression of tumour, and the development of metastases and recurrences. Moreover, the tumour invasive procedures (both surgery and biopsy) affect the remaining tumour cells by increasing their survival, proliferation and migration. One of the concepts explaining this phenomena is an induction of a wound healing response. While in normal tissue it is necessary for tissue repair, in tumour tissue, induction of adaptive and innate immune response related to wound healing, stimulates tumour cell survival, angiogenesis and extravasation of circulating tumour cells. It has become evident that certain types of immune response and immune cells can promote tumour progression more than others. In this review, we focus on current knowledge on carcinogenesis and promotion of cancer growth induced by inflammatory processes.