scholarly journals A class of GATA3 mutation reprograms the breast cancer transcriptional network through gain and loss of function

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Motoki Takaku ◽  
Sara A. Grimm ◽  
John D. Roberts ◽  
Kaliopi Chrysovergis ◽  
Brian D. Bennett ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Gene Expression ◽  
Progesterone Receptor ◽  
Epithelial To Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Sequence Motif ◽  
Loss Of Function ◽  
Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Molecular Alterations ◽  
Gain And Loss ◽  
Gata3 Mutation

AbstractGATA3 is frequently mutated in breast cancer; these mutations are widely presumed to be loss of function. Here, we address molecular alterations downstream of a novel class of GATA3 mutations, revealing both gain and loss of function. Mutation of one allele of GATA3 led to loss of binding and decreased expression at a subset of genes, including Progesterone Receptor. At other loci, associated with epithelial to mesenchymal transition, gain of binding at a novel sequence motif correlated with increased gene expression. These results demonstrate that not all GATA3 mutations are equivalent and that these mutations impact breast cancer through gain and loss of function.

scholarly journals Interferon-beta represses cancer stem cell properties in triple-negative breast cancer

2017 ◽  
Vol 114 (52) ◽  
pp. 13792-13797 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary R. Doherty ◽  
HyeonJoo Cheon ◽  
Damian J. Junk ◽  
Shaveta Vinayak ◽  
Vinay Varadan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Gene Expression ◽  
Triple Negative Breast Cancer ◽  
Epithelial To Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Triple Negative ◽  
Mammary Epithelial Cells ◽  
Gene Expression Signature ◽  
Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocytes ◽  
Gene Signature ◽  
Mesenchymal Transition

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), the deadliest form of this disease, lacks a targeted therapy. TNBC tumors that fail to respond to chemotherapy are characterized by a repressed IFN/signal transducer and activator of transcription (IFN/STAT) gene signature and are often enriched for cancer stem cells (CSCs). We have found that human mammary epithelial cells that undergo an epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) following transformation acquire CSC properties. These mesenchymal/CSCs have a significantly repressed IFN/STAT gene expression signature and an enhanced ability to migrate and form tumor spheres. Treatment with IFN-beta (IFN-β) led to a less aggressive epithelial/non–CSC-like state, with repressed expression of mesenchymal proteins (VIMENTIN, SLUG), reduced migration and tumor sphere formation, and reexpression of CD24 (a surface marker for non-CSCs), concomitant with an epithelium-like morphology. The CSC-like properties were correlated with high levels of unphosphorylated IFN-stimulated gene factor 3 (U-ISGF3), which was previously linked to resistance to DNA damage. Inhibiting the expression of IRF9 (the DNA-binding component of U-ISGF3) reduced the migration of mesenchymal/CSCs. Here we report a positive translational role for IFN-β, as gene expression profiling of patient-derived TNBC tumors demonstrates that an IFN-β metagene signature correlates with improved patient survival, an immune response linked with tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), and a repressed CSC metagene signature. Taken together, our findings indicate that repressed IFN signaling in TNBCs with CSC-like properties is due to high levels of U-ISGF3 and that treatment with IFN-β reduces CSC properties, suggesting a therapeutic strategy to treat drug-resistant, highly aggressive TNBC tumors.

scholarly journals A comprehensive overview of metaplastic breast cancer: clinical features and molecular aberrations

2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tejaswini P. Reddy ◽  
Roberto R. Rosato ◽  
Xiaoxian Li ◽  
Stacy Moulder ◽  
Helen Piwnica-Worms ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Epithelial To Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Treatment Guidelines ◽  
Growth Factor Receptor ◽  
Metaplastic Breast Cancer ◽  
Comprehensive Overview ◽  
Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Nitric Oxide Signaling ◽  
Molecular Alterations ◽  
Standardized Treatment

Abstract Metaplastic breast cancer (MpBC) is an exceedingly rare breast cancer variant that is therapeutically challenging and aggressive. MpBC is defined by the histological presence of at least two cellular types, typically epithelial and mesenchymal components. This variant harbors a triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) phenotype, yet has a worse prognosis and decreased survival compared to TNBC. There are currently no standardized treatment guidelines specifically for MpBC. However, prior studies have found that MpBC typically has molecular alterations in epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, amplification of epidermal growth factor receptor, PI3K/Akt signaling, nitric oxide signaling, Wnt/β-catenin signaling, altered immune response, and cell cycle dysregulation. Some of these molecular alterations have been studied as therapeutic targets, in both the preclinical and clinical setting. This current review discusses the histological organization and cellular origins of MpBC, molecular alterations, the role of radiation therapy, and current clinical trials for MpBC.

scholarly journals Gene Expression Landscape of SDH-Deficient Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 1057
Author(s):  
Valentina Indio ◽  
Angela Schipani ◽  
Margherita Nannini ◽  
Milena Urbini ◽  
Alessandro Rizzo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Tumor Microenvironment ◽  
Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors ◽  
Epithelial To Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Growth Factor Receptor ◽  
Loss Of Function ◽  
Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Stromal Tumors ◽  
Molecular Events ◽  
Fresh Frozen

Background: About 20–40% of gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) lacking KIT/PDGFRA mutations show defects in succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) complex. This study uncovers the gene expression profile (GEP) of SDH-deficient GIST in order to identify new signaling pathways or molecular events actionable for a tailored therapy. Methods: We analyzed 36 GIST tumor samples, either from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded by microarray or from fresh frozen tissue by RNA-seq, retrospectively collected among KIT-mutant and SDH-deficient GISTs. Pathway analysis was performed to highlight enriched and depleted transcriptional signatures. Tumor microenvironment and immune profile were also evaluated. Results: SDH-deficient GISTs showed a distinct GEP with respect to KIT-mutant GISTs. In particular, SDH-deficient GISTs were characterized by an increased expression of neural markers and by the activation of fibroblast growth factor receptor signaling and several biological pathways related to invasion and tumor progression. Among them, hypoxia and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition emerged as features shared with SDH-deficient pheochromocytoma/paraganglioma. In addition, the study of immune landscape revealed the depletion of tumor microenvironment and inflammation gene signatures. Conclusions: This study provides an update of GEP in SDH-deficient GISTs, highlighting differences and similarities compared to KIT-mutant GISTs and to other neoplasm carrying the SDH loss of function. Our findings add a piece of knowledge in SDH-deficient GISTs, shedding light on their putative histology and on the dysregulated biological processes as targets of new therapeutic strategies.

scholarly journals Proteomic Analysis of Zeb1 Interactome in Breast Carcinoma Cells

Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (11) ◽  
pp. 3143
Author(s):  
Sergey E. Parfenyev ◽  
Sergey V. Shabelnikov ◽  
Danila Y. Pozdnyakov ◽  
Olga O. Gnedina ◽  
Leonid S. Adonin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Cancer Cells ◽  
Epithelial To Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Malignant Neoplasm ◽  
Malignant Neoplasms ◽  
Breast Cancer Patients ◽  
Survival Prognosis ◽  
Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Wide Range

Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed malignant neoplasm and the second leading cause of cancer death among women. Epithelial-to-mesenchymal Transition (EMT) plays a critical role in the organism development, providing cell migration and tissue formation. However, its erroneous activation in malignancies can serve as the basis for the dissemination of cancer cells and metastasis. The Zeb1 transcription factor, which regulates the EMT activation, has been shown to play an essential role in malignant transformation. This factor is involved in many signaling pathways that influence a wide range of cellular functions via interacting with many proteins that affect its transcriptional functions. Importantly, the interactome of Zeb1 depends on the cellular context. Here, using the inducible expression of Zeb1 in epithelial breast cancer cells, we identified a substantial list of novel potential Zeb1 interaction partners, including proteins involved in the formation of malignant neoplasms, such as ATP-dependent RNA helicase DDX17and a component of the NURD repressor complex, CTBP2. We confirmed the presence of the selected interactors by immunoblotting with specific antibodies. Further, we demonstrated that co-expression of Zeb1 and CTBP2 in breast cancer patients correlated with the poor survival prognosis, thus signifying the functionality of the Zeb1–CTBP2 interaction.

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

Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 259
Author(s):  
Monish Ram Makena ◽  
Myungjun Ko ◽  
Donna Kimberly Dang ◽  
Rajini Rao
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Secretory Pathway ◽  
Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors ◽  
Epithelial To Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Molecular Subtype ◽  
Survival Prognosis ◽  
Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Tumor Cell Migration ◽  
Canonical Wnt

The 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.

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