The SOX11 transcription factor is a critical regulator of basal-like breast cancer growth, invasion, and basal-like gene expression.

Basal-like breast cancers (BLBCs) are aggressive breast cancers associated with poor survival. Defining the key drivers of BLBC growth will allow identification of molecules for targeted therapy. In this study, we performed a primary screen integrating multiple assays that compare transcription factor expression and activity in BLBC and non-BLBC at the RNA, DNA, and protein levels. This integrated screen identified 33 transcription factors that were elevated in BLBC in multiple assays comparing mRNA expression, DNA cis-element sequences, or protein DNA-binding activity. In a secondary screen to identify transcription factors critical for BLBC cell growth, 8 of the 33 candidate transcription factors (TFs) were found to be necessary for growth in at least two of three BLBC cell lines. Of these 8 transcription factors, SOX11 was the only transcription factor required for BLBC growth, but not for growth of non-BLBC cells. Our studies demonstrate that SOX11 is a critical regulator of multiple BLBC phenotypes, including growth, migration, invasion, and expression of signature BLBC genes. High SOX11 expression was also found to be an independent prognostic indicator of poor survival in women with breast cancer. These results identify SOX11 as a potential target for the treatment of BLBC, the most aggressive form of breast cancer

Androgen Receptor Mutations Associated with Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome: A High Content Analysis Approach Leading to Personalized Medicine

Androgen insensitivity syndrome (AIS) is a rare disease associated with inactivating mutations of AR that disrupt male sexual differentiation, and cause a spectrum of phenotypic abnormalities having as a common denominator loss of reproductive viability. No established treatment exists for these conditions, however there are sporadic reports of patients (or recapitulated mutations in cell lines) that respond to administration of supraphysiologic doses (or pulses) of testosterone or synthetic ligands. Here, we utilize a novel high content analysis (HCA) approach to study AR function at the single cell level in genital skin fibroblasts (GSF). We discuss in detail findings in GSF from three historical patients with AIS, which include identification of novel mechanisms of AR malfunction, and the potential ability to utilize HCA for personalized treatment of patients affected by this condition

The SOX11 transcription factor is a critical regulator of basal-like breast cancer growth, invasion, and basal-like gene expression.

Basal-like breast cancers (BLBCs) are aggressive breast cancers associated with poor survival. Defining the key drivers of BLBC growth will allow identification of molecules for targeted therapy. In this study, we performed a primary screen integrating multiple assays that compare transcription factor expression and activity in BLBC and non-BLBC at the RNA, DNA, and protein levels. This integrated screen identified 33 transcription factors that were elevated in BLBC in multiple assays comparing mRNA expression, DNA cis-element sequences, or protein DNA-binding activity. In a secondary screen to identify transcription factors critical for BLBC cell growth, 8 of the 33 candidate transcription factors (TFs) were found to be necessary for growth in at least two of three BLBC cell lines. Of these 8 transcription factors, SOX11 was the only transcription factor required for BLBC growth, but not for growth of non-BLBC cells. Our studies demonstrate that SOX11 is a critical regulator of multiple BLBC phenotypes, including growth, migration, invasion, and expression of signature BLBC genes. High SOX11 expression was also found to be an independent prognostic indicator of poor survival in women with breast cancer. These results identify SOX11 as a potential target for the treatment of BLBC, the most aggressive form of breast cancer

Natural product β-thujaplicin inhibits homologous recombination repair and sensitizes cancer cells to radiation therapy

Investigation of natural products is an attractive strategy to identify novel compounds for cancer prevention and treatment. Numerous studies have shown the efficacy and safety of natural products, and they have been widely used as alternative treatments for a wide range of illnesses, including cancers. However, it remains unknown whether natural products affect homologous recombination (HR)-mediated DNA repair and whether these compounds can be used as sensitizers with minimal toxicity to improve patients' responses to radiation therapy, a mainstay of treatment for many human cancers. In this study, in order to systematically identify natural products with an inhibitory effect on HR repair, we developed a high-throughput image-based HR repair screening assay and screened a chemical library containing natural products. Among the most interesting of the candidate compounds identified from the screen was β-thujaplicin, a bioactive compound isolated from the heart wood of plants in the Cupressaceae family, can significantly inhibit HR repair. We further demonstrated that β-thujaplicin inhibits HR repair by reducing the recruitment of a key HR repair protein, Rad51, to DNA double-strand breaks. More importantly, our results showed that β-thujaplicin can radiosensitize cancer cells. Additionally, β-thujaplicin sensitizes cancer cells to PARP inhibitor in different cancer cell lines. Collectively, our findings for the first time identify natural compound β-thujaplicin, which has a good biosafety profile, as a novel HR repair inhibitor with great potential to be translated into clinical applications as a sensitizer to DNA-damage-inducing treatment such as radiation and PARP inhibitor. In addition, our study provides proof of the principle that our robust high-throughput functional HR repair assay can be used for a large-scale screening system to identify novel natural products that regulate DNA repair and cellular responses to DNA damage-inducing treatments such as radiation therapy

The AP-1 transcription factor regulates postnatal mammary gland development

AbstractThe AP-1 transcription factor is activated by multiple growth factors that are critical regulators of breast cell proliferation. We previously demonstrated that AP-1 blockade inhibits breast cancer cell growth in vitro. Yet a specific role of AP-1 in normal mammary gland development has not been studied. Using a bi-transgenic mouse expressing an inducible AP-1 inhibitor (Tam67), we found that the AP-1 factor regulates postnatal proliferation of mammary epithelial cells. Mammary epithelial proliferation was significantly reduced after AP-1 blockade in adult, prepubertal, pubertal, and hormone-stimulated mammary glands. In pubertal mice, mammary cell proliferation was greatly reduced, and the cells that did proliferate failed to express Tam67. We also observed structural changes such as suppressed branching and budding, reduced gland tree size, and less fat pad occupancy in developing mammary glands after AP-1 blockade. We further demonstrated that Tam67 suppressed the expression of AP-1-dependent genes (TIMP-1, vimentin, Fra-1, and fibronectin) and the AP-1-dependent growth regulatory genes (cyclin D1 and c-myc) in AP-1-blocked mammary glands. We therefore conclude that AP-1 factor is a pivotal regulator of postnatal mammary gland growth and development

ARID1A Deficiency Impairs the DNA Damage Checkpoint and Sensitizes Cells to PARP Inhibitors

ARID1A, a chromatin remodeler of the SWI/SNF family, is a recently identified tumor suppressor that is mutated in a broad spectrum of human cancers. Thus, it is of fundamental clinical importance to understand its molecular functions and determine whether ARID1A deficiency can be exploited therapeutically. In this manuscript, we report a key function of ARID1A in regulating the DNA damage checkpoint. ARID1A is recruited to DNA double strand breaks (DSBs) via its interaction with the upstream DNA damage checkpoint kinase ATR. At the molecular level, ARID1A facilitates efficient processing of DSB to single strand ends, and sustains DNA damage signaling. Importantly, ARID1A deficiency sensitizes cancer cells to PARP inhibitors in vitro and in vivo providing a potential therapeutic strategy for patients with ARID1A-mutant tumors

Dose dependent effects of three AR agonists on AR nuclear translocation, nuclear hyperspeckling and total AR.

<p>Data of fold-increase are presented from 6 genital skin fibroblasts cell lines obtained form normal individuals at the time of circumcision. Cells were maintained in 5% SD-FBS media for 12 hr and treated with the indicated compound for 18 hr in 5%SD-FBS. Tested compounds given at logarithmic concentrations (10⁻¹⁴ to 10⁻⁵ M) include the following AR agonist: DHT (-○-), Mibolerone (-▵-), and R1881(-□-).</p

Calculated Maximal and EC50 Responses of AIS Mutations in HeLa Cells.

<p>Values calculated by applying the 4-parameter curve fit algorithm available in SigmaPlot to multiple replicate experiments and represent Mean±S.E.M. All data are presented as absolute numerical measurements.</p><p>Calculated maximal responses from AR HCA. EC50 values are presented for Nuclear Translocation, Hyperspeckling and Transcriptional Activity after stimulation with three AR agonists (DHT, Mibolerone and R1881) in HeLa transfected with wild type AR, AR-F764L, AR-R840C and AR-P766S. EC50 represents the nM concentration of agonist that provokes a response halfway between the baseline and maximal induction. Maximal response achieved with each agonist for each HTM parameter is expressed as % signal present in the nucleus for Nuclear Translocation, as fold-induction from time point 0 for Hyperspeckling and Transcriptional Activity.</p

Dose dependent effects of three AR agonists on AR nuclear translocation, nuclear hyperspeckling and total AR fold-increase.

<p>Data is presented from genital skin fibroblasts cell lines obtained from AIS patients with AR mutations AR-F764L (GSF571), AR-R840C (GSF840) and AR-P766S (GSF851). Cells were maintained in 5% SD-FBS media for 12 hr and treated with the indicated compound for 18 hr in 5%SD-FBS. Tested compounds given at logarithmic concentrations (10⁻¹⁴ to 10⁻⁵ M) include the following AR agonist: DHT (-○-), Mibolerone (-▵-), and R1881(-□-).</p