scholarly journals Disrupting the CmP signaling network unveils novel biomarkers for triple negative breast cancer in Caucasian American women

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johnathan Abou-Fadel ◽  
Muaz Bhalli ◽  
Brian Grajeda ◽  
Jun Zhang

Objective: Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) constitutes ~15 percent of all diagnosed invasive breast cancer cases with limited options for treatment since immunotherapies that target the ER, PR and HER2 receptors are ineffective. Progesterone (PRG) is capable of inducing its effects through either classic, non-classic, or combined responses by binding to classic nuclear PRG receptors (nPRs) or non-classic membrane PRG receptors (mPRs). Under PRG-induced actions, we previously demonstrated that the CSC (CCM signaling complex) can couple both nPRs and mPRs into a CmPn signaling network which plays an important role in nPR(+) breast cancer tumorigeneses. We recently defined the novel CmP signaling network in TNBC cells, which overlapped with our previously defined CmPn network in nPR(+) breast cancer cells. Materials and Methods: Under mPRs-specific steroid actions, we measured alterations to key tumorigenesis pathways in Caucasian American Women (CAW)-TNBC cells, with RNAseq and Proteomic approaches. Results: TNBC in CAW share similar altered signaling pathways, under mPRs-specific steroid actions, demonstrating the overall aggressive nature of TNBCs, regardless of racial differences. Furthermore, in this report, we have identified 21 new CAW-TNBC specific candidate biomarkers that reinforce the definitive role of the CmP signaling network in TNBC tumorigenesis, initially identified in our previous studies with AAW-TNBCs. This new set of potential prognostic biomarkers may revolutionize molecular mechanisms and currently known concepts of tumorigenesis in CAW-TNBCs, leading to hopeful new therapeutic strategies.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johnathan Abou-Fadel ◽  
Brian Grajeda ◽  
Xiaoting Jiang ◽  
Alyssa-Marie Cailing-De La O ◽  
Esmeralda Flores ◽  
...  

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer worldwide and remains the second leading cause of cancer death. While breast cancer mortality has steadily declined over the past decades through medical advances, an alarming disparity in breast cancer mortality has emerged between African American women (AAW) and Caucasian American women (CAW); and new evidence suggests more aggressive behavior of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) in AAW may contribute to racial differences in tumor biology and mortality. Progesterone (PRG) is capable of exerting its cellular effects through either its classic, non-classic or combined responses through binding to either classic nuclear PRG receptors (nPRs) or non-classic membrane PRG receptors (mPRs), warranting both pathways an equally important status in PRG-mediated signaling. In our previous report, we demonstrated that the CCM signaling complex (CSC) consisting of CCM1, CCM2, and CCM3 proteins can couple both nPRs and mPRs signaling cascades to form a CSC-mPRs-PRG-nPRs (CmPn) signaling network in nPR positive(+) breast cancer cells. In this report, we furthered our research by establishing the CSC-mPRs-PRG (CmP) signaling network in nPR(-) breast cancer cells, demonstrating that a common core mechanism exists, regardless of nPR(+/-) cell type. This is the first report stating that inducible expression patterns exist between CCMs and major mPRs in TNBC cells. Furthermore, we firstly show mPRs in TNBC cells are localized in the nucleus and participate in nucleocytoplasmic shuttling in a coordinately synchronized fashion with CCM proteins under steroid actions, following the same cellular distribution as other well-defined steroid hormone receptors. Finally, for the first time, we deconvoluted the CmP signalosome by using multi-omics approaches, which helped us understand key factors within the CmP network, and identify 21 specific biomarkers with potential clinical applications associated with AAW-TNBC tumorigenesis. These novel biomarkers could have immediate clinical implications to dramatically improve health disparities among AAW-TNBCs.


Author(s):  
Wei Xie ◽  
Huijie Zhao ◽  
Fengxian Wang ◽  
Yiyun Wang ◽  
Yuan He ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Anti-angiogenic therapy has been widely applied to the clinical treatment of malignant tumors. However, the efficacy of such treatments has been called into question, especially in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Bevacizumab, the first anti-angiogenic agent approved by FDA, actually increases invasive and metastatic properties of TNBC cells, resulting from the activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling in response to hypoxia. As a critical receptor of Wnt/β-catenin signaling, Frizzled-7 (Fzd7) is aberrantly expressed in TNBC, indicating Fzd7 a potential target for developing drugs to be combined with anti-angiogenic agents. Methods Hybridoma technique and antibody humanization technique were utilized to generate a Fzd7-targeting antibody (SHH002-hu1). Biolayer interferometry (BLI) assay and near infrared (NIR) imaging were conducted to detect the affinity and targeting ability of SHH002-hu1. Next, whether SHH002-hu1 could suppress the invasion and migration of TNBC cells induced by Bevacizumab were validated, and the underlying molecular mechanisms were elucidated by luciferase reporter and western blot assays. The nude-mice transplanted TNBC models were established to assess the anti-TNBC activities of SHH002-hu1 when combined with Bevacizumab. Then, the effects on putative TNBC stem-like cells and Wnt/β-catenin signaling were evaluated by immunofluorescence (IF). Further, the tumor-initiating and self-renew capacity of TNBC cells were studied by secondary nude mouse xenograft model and sphere formation assay. In addition, the effects of SHH002-hu1 on the adaptation of TNBC cells to hypoxia were evaluated by the detection of vasculogenic mimicry (VM) and hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) transcriptional activity. Results The novel humanized antibody targeting Fzd7 (SHH002-hu1) exhibited extremely high affinity with Fzd7, and specifically targeted to Fzd7+ cells and tumor tissues. SHH002-hu1 repressed invasion, migration and epithelial-mesenchymal cell transformation (EMT) of TNBC cells induced by Bevacizumab through abating Wnt/β-catenin signaling. SHH002-hu1 significantly enhanced the capacity of Bevacizumab to inhibit the growth of TNBC via reducing the subpopulation of putative TNBC stem-like cells, further attenuating Bevacizumab-enhanced tumor-initiating and self-renew capacity of TNBC cells. Moreover, SHH002-hu1 effectively restrained the adaptation of TNBC cells to hypoxia via disrupting Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Conclusion SHH002-hu1 significantly enhances the anti-TNBC capacity of Bevacizumab, and shows the potential of preventing TNBC recurrence, suggesting SHH002-hu1 a good candidate for the synergistic therapy together with Bevacizumab.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 325-325
Author(s):  
Patricia Gallagher ◽  
Marianne Collard ◽  
Heather Brown-Harding ◽  
Elisabeth Tallant

Abstract Objectives Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a subtype of breast cancer characterized by the lack of estrogen receptors, progesterone receptors and over-expression of the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2, limiting targeted treatment.  TNBC disproportionally affects ethnic minorities and younger women and has a high propensity to metastasize, often within 5 years of diagnosis, making it one of the most aggressive breast cancer subtypes.  We showed that treatment with a proprietary muscadine grape extract (MGE) reduced the growth and metastasis of TNBC in mice.  Muscadine grapes (V. Rotundifolia) are rich in polyphenols and extracts produced from muscadine grape seed and skin are marketed as nutraceuticals for their anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer properties.  The goal of these studies was to determine the molecular mechanisms for the reduction in metastatic growth by MGE. Methods A proprietary extract was prepared from muscadine grape seeds and skins.  Migration of MDA-MB-231 and BT-549 cells was measured by a scratch wound assay, cell shape was visualized by confocal microscopy and mRNA/proteins that participate in cell migration/motility were measured by RT-PCR and western blot hybridization. Results The extract reduced the migration of MDA-MB-231 and BT-549 TNBC cells in a dose-dependent manner.  The reduction in cell migration was associated with MGE-induced alterations in cell shape and actin filament organization, visualized by confocal microscopy.  The extract caused an apparent loss of cell polarization in MDA-MB-231 cells and a reduction in the presence of filopodia in BT-549 cells.  The MGE-induced reduction in migration and alterations in cell shape and polarization were associated with a decrease in Rho kinase ROCK1/2 mRNA and protein as well as both the mRNA and protein expression of RHAMM, a protein that is implicated in both cell motility and breast cancer progression. Conclusions These results demonstrate that a proprietary MGE reduces TNBC cell migration, in association with changes in cell shape and cytoskeleton as well as proteins that regulate migration and motility, suggesting that treatment of TNBC patients with MGE may slow or prevent metastatic progression. Funding Sources Chronic Disease Research Fund.


2013 ◽  
Vol 138 (1) ◽  
pp. 281-289 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jose M. Pacheco ◽  
Feng Gao ◽  
Caroline Bumb ◽  
Matthew J. Ellis ◽  
Cynthia X. Ma

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aline S. Fonseca ◽  
Selene Elifio-Esposito ◽  
Marilesia F. Souza ◽  
Akanksha Mahajan ◽  
Yara R. Zabala ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valentina A. Zavala ◽  
Laura C. Carrasquilla ◽  
Silvia J. Serrano-Gomez ◽  
Maria C. Sanabria-Salas ◽  
Melody C. Baddoo ◽  
...  

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