Quantitative Immunohistochemistry Evaluating APE1 Expression in a Mouse Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma Model

poster abstractHigh levels of APE1 expression have been reported in numerous malignant tumors (brain, ovarian, pancreatic, and prostate). APE1 is an emerging target for a variety of novel anticancer drugs. Human apurinic endonuclease/redox factor 1 (APE1/Ref-1) mediates the repair of baseless sites in DNA caused by alkylation and oxidative DNA damage. Compound E3330 targets the redox signaling function of APE1. A pancreatic cancer mouse model was used to evaluate the drug effects of E3330 and Gemcitabine. The following doses were used across eight mice groups: E3330 at 12.5mg/kg, 25mg/kg, and 50mg/kg), Gemcitabine (35mg/kg), a combination of E3330 and Gemcitabine at 12.5mg/kg, 25mg/kg, and 50mg/kg), and an untreated vehicle control group. Mice were dosed i.p. 3 times weekly (MWF) and the study was completed at day 39. At termination, tumors were harvested and cross-sections were processed into a Paraffin block. Tissue sections were prepared and stained for H&E and an immunostain for CD31 (angiogenesis marker). Slides were imaged via Aperio whole slide digital system. The immunostains were evaluated to predict the effectiveness of treatment for pancreatic adenocarcinoma. IHC slides were quantitated using an Aperio positive pixel algorithm to determine the percent of angiogenesis in the various drug treatment groups. A biologically significant correlation was seen amongst the low and middle dose E3330 drug groups in comparison to the vehicle control. The (12.5 & 25) E3330 groups had an anti-angiogenic effect (shown by decreased CD31 positivity). These were slightly lower than the combinations of E3330 and Gemcitabine at the same dose treatment groups (possibly due to blunting of E3330). These results support previous studies demonstrating the antiangiogenic activity of E3330

Critical role of phosphorylation of serine 165 of YBX1 on the activation of NF- B in colon cancer

poster abstractY-box binding protein 1 (YBX1) is a multifunctional protein known to facilitate many of the hallmarks of cancer. Elevated levels of YBX1 protein are highly correlated with cancer progression, making it an excellent marker in cancer. The connection between YBX1 and the important nuclear factor B (NF-B), has never been previously reported. Here, we show that overexpression of wild type YBX1 (wtYBX1) activates NF-B, suggesting that YBX1 is a potential NF-B activator. Furthermore, using mass spectrometry analysis, we identified novel phosphorylation of serine 165 (S165) on YBX1. Overexpression of the S165A-YBX1 mutant in either 293 cells or colon cancer HT29 cells showed dramatically reduced NF-B activating ability as compared to that of wtYBX1, confirming that S165 phosphorylation is critical for the activation of NF-B by YBX1. We further show that expression of the S165A-YBX1 mutant dramatically decreased the expression of NF-B-inducible genes, reduced cell growth, and compromised tumorigenic ability as compared to wtYBX1. Taken together, we provide the first evidence that YBX1 functions as a tumor promoter via NF-B activation, and phosphorylation of S165 of YBX1 is critical for this function. Therefore, our important discovery may lead to blocking S165 phosphorylation as a potential therapeutic strategy to treat colon cancer

Critical role of phosphorylation of serine 165 of YBX1 on the activation of NF-κB in colon cancer.

Y-box binding protein 1 [YBX1] is a multifunctional protein known to facilitate many of the hallmarks of cancer. Elevated levels of YBX1 protein are highly correlated with cancer progression, making it an excellent marker in cancer. The connection between YBX1 and the important nuclear factor κB [NF-κB] has never been reported. Here, we show that overexpression of wild type YBX1 [WT-YBX1] activates NF-κB, suggesting that YBX1 is a potential NF-κB activator. Furthermore, using mass spectrometry analysis we identified novel phosphorylation of serine 165 [S165] on YBX1. Overexpression of the S165A-YBX1 mutant in either HEK293 cells or colon cancer HT29 cells showed dramatically reduced NF-κB activating ability as compared with that of WT-YBX1, confirming that S165 phosphorylation is critical for the activation of NF-κB by YBX1. We also show that expression of the S165A-YBX1 mutant dramatically decreased the expression o

Early-Stage Metastasis Requires Mdm2 and Not p53 Gain of Function

Metastasis of cancer cells to distant organ systems is a complex process that is initiated with the programming of cells in the primary tumor. The formation of distant metastatic foci is correlated with poor prognosis and limited effective treatment options. We and others have correlated Mouse double minute 2 (Mdm2) with metastasis; however, the mechanisms involved have not been elucidated. Here, it is reported that shRNA-mediated silencing of Mdm2 inhibits epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) and cell migration. In vivo analysis demonstrates that silencing Mdm2 in both post-EMT and basal/triple-negative breast cancers resulted in decreased primary tumor vasculature, circulating tumor cells, and metastatic lung foci. Combined, these results demonstrate the importance of Mdm2 in orchestrating the initial stages of migration and metastasis

Dependence receptor UNC5A restricts luminal to basal breast cancer plasticity and metastasis

BACKGROUND: The majority of estrogen receptor-positive (ERα+) breast cancers respond to endocrine therapies. However, resistance to endocrine therapies is common in 30% of cases, which may be due to altered ERα signaling and/or enhanced plasticity of cancer cells leading to breast cancer subtype conversion. The mechanisms leading to enhanced plasticity of ERα-positive cancer cells are unknown. METHODS: We used short hairpin (sh)RNA and/or the CRISPR/Cas9 system to knockdown the expression of the dependence receptor UNC5A in ERα+ MCF7 and T-47D cell lines. RNA-seq, quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, chromatin immunoprecipitation, and Western blotting were used to measure the effect of UNC5A knockdown on basal and estradiol (E2)-regulated gene expression. Mammosphere assay, flow cytometry, and immunofluorescence were used to determine the role of UNC5A in restricting plasticity. Xenograft models were used to measure the effect of UNC5A knockdown on tumor growth and metastasis. Tissue microarray and immunohistochemistry were utilized to determine the prognostic value of UNC5A in breast cancer. Log-rank test, one-way, and two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used for statistical analyses. RESULTS: Knockdown of the E2-inducible UNC5A resulted in altered basal gene expression affecting plasma membrane integrity and ERα signaling, as evident from ligand-independent activity of ERα, altered turnover of phosphorylated ERα, unique E2-dependent expression of genes effecting histone demethylase activity, enhanced upregulation of E2-inducible genes such as BCL2, and E2-independent tumorigenesis accompanied by multiorgan metastases. UNC5A depletion led to the appearance of a luminal/basal hybrid phenotype supported by elevated expression of basal/stem cell-enriched ∆Np63, CD44, CD49f, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), and the lymphatic vessel permeability factor NTN4, but lower expression of luminal/alveolar differentiation-associated ELF5 while maintaining functional ERα. In addition, UNC5A-depleted cells acquired bipotent luminal progenitor characteristics based on KRT14+/KRT19+ and CD49f+/EpCAM+ phenotype. Consistent with in vitro results, UNC5A expression negatively correlated with EGFR expression in breast tumors, and lower expression of UNC5A, particularly in ERα+/PR+/HER2- tumors, was associated with poor outcome. CONCLUSION: These studies reveal an unexpected role of the axon guidance receptor UNC5A in fine-tuning ERα and EGFR signaling and the luminal progenitor status of hormone-sensitive breast cancers. Furthermore, UNC5A knockdown cells provide an ideal model system to investigate metastasis of ERα+ breast cancers

Pharmacological Dual Inhibition of Tumor and Tumor-Induced Functional Limitations in a Transgenic Model of Breast Cancer

Breast cancer progression is associated with systemic effects, including functional limitations and sarcopenia without the appearance of overt cachexia. Autocrine/paracrine actions of cytokines/chemokines produced by cancer cells mediate cancer progression and functional limitations. The cytokine-inducible transcription factor NF-κB could be central to this process, as it displays oncogenic functions and is integral to the Pax7:MyoD:Pgc-1β:miR-486 myogenesis axis. We tested this possibility using the MMTV-PyMT transgenic mammary tumor model and the NF-κB inhibitor dimethylaminoparthenolide (DMAPT). We observed deteriorating physical and functional conditions in PyMT+ mice with disease progression. Compared with wild-type mice, tumor-bearing PyMT+ mice showed decreased fat mass, impaired rotarod performance, and reduced grip strength as well as increased extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition in muscle. Contrary to acute cachexia models described in the literature, mammary tumor progression was associated with reduction in skeletal muscle stem/satellite-specific transcription factor Pax7. Additionally, we observed tumor-induced reduction in Pgc-1β in muscle, which controls mitochondrial biogenesis. DMAPT treatment starting at 6 to 8 weeks age prior to mammary tumor occurrence delayed mammary tumor onset and tumor growth rates without affecting metastasis. DMAPT overcame cancer-induced functional limitations and improved survival, which was accompanied with restoration of Pax7, Pgc-1β, and mitochondria levels and reduced ECM levels in skeletal muscles. In addition, DMAPT restored circulating levels of 6 out of 13 cancer-associated cytokines/chemokines changes to levels seen in healthy animals. These results reveal a pharmacological approach for overcoming cancer-induced functional limitations, and the above-noted cancer/drug-induced changes in muscle gene expression could be utilized as biomarkers of functional limitations

Applying Small Molecule Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription-3 (STAT3) Protein Inhibitors as Pancreatic Cancer Therapeutics

Constitutively activated STAT3 protein has been found to be a key regulator of pancreatic cancer and a target for molecular therapeutic intervention. In this study, PG-S3-001, a small molecule derived from the SH-4-54 class of STAT3 inhibitors, was found to inhibit patient-derived pancreatic cancer cell proliferation in vitro and in vivo in the low micromolar range. PG-S3-001 binds the STAT3 protein potently, Kd = 324 nmol/L by surface plasmon resonance, and showed no effect in a kinome screen (>100 cancer-relevant kinases). In vitro studies demonstrated potent cell killing as well as inhibition of STAT3 activation in pancreatic cancer cells. To better model the tumor and its microenvironment, we utilized three-dimensional (3D) cultures of patient-derived pancreatic cancer cells in the absence and presence of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAF). In this coculture model, inhibition of tumor growth is maintained following STAT3 inhibition in the presence of CAFs. Confocal microscopy was used to verify tumor cell death following treatment of 3D cocultures with PG-S3-001. The 3D model was predictive of in vivo efficacy as significant tumor growth inhibition was observed upon administration of PG-S3-001. These studies showed that the inhibition of STAT3 was able to impact the survival of tumor cells in a relevant 3D model, as well as in a xenograft model using patient-derived cells

Additional file 6: of Dependence receptor UNC5A restricts luminal to basal breast cancer plasticity and metastasis

Summary of results of RNA-seq of sh-Control and sh5-UNC5A clones of MCF7 and T-47D cells. Various comparisons are shown. (XLSX 859 kb

Additional file 5: of Dependence receptor UNC5A restricts luminal to basal breast cancer plasticity and metastasis

The effect of ICI-182,780 (Fulvestrant) treatment on UNC5A knockdown cells and Western blot showing UNC5A knockdown by CRISPR in MCF-7 cells. (PSD 3346 kb