Elevated Expression of Stromal Palladin Predicts Poor Clinical Outcome in Renal Cell Carcinoma

The role that stromal renal cell carcinoma (RCC) plays in support of tumor progression is unclear. Here we sought to determine the predictive value on patient survival of several markers of stromal activation and the feasibility of a fibroblast-derived extracellular matrix (ECM) based three-dimensional (3D) culture stemming from clinical specimens to recapitulate stromal behavior in vitro. The clinical relevance of selected stromal markers was assessed using a well annotated tumor microarray where stromal-marker levels of expression were evaluated and compared to patient outcomes. Also, an in vitro 3D system derived from fibroblasts harvested from patient matched normal kidney, primary RCC and metastatic tumors was employed to evaluate levels and localizations of known stromal markers such as the actin binding proteins palladin, alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), fibronectin and its spliced form EDA. Results suggested that RCCs exhibiting high levels of stromal palladin correlate with a poor prognosis, as demonstrated by overall survival time. Conversely, cases of RCCs where stroma presents low levels of palladin expression indicate increased survival times and, hence, better outcomes. Fibroblast-derived 3D cultures, which facilitate the categorization of stromal RCCs into discrete progressive stromal stages, also show increased levels of expression and stress fiber localization of α-SMA and palladin, as well as topographical organization of fibronectin and its splice variant EDA. These observations are concordant with expression levels of these markers in vivo. The study proposes that palladin constitutes a useful marker of poor prognosis in non-metastatic RCCs, while in vitro 3D cultures accurately represent the specific patient's tumor-associated stromal compartment. Our observations support the belief that stromal palladin assessments have clinical relevance thus validating the use of these 3D cultures to study both progressive RCC-associated stroma and stroma-dependent mechanisms affecting tumorigenesis. The clinical value of assessing RCC stromal activation merits further study

14-3-3ε Is Required for Germ Cell Migration in Drosophila

Although 14-3-3 proteins participate in multiple biological processes, isoform-specific specialized functions, as well as functional redundancy are emerging with tissue and developmental stage-specificity. Accordingly, the two 14-3-3ε proteins in Drosophila exhibit functional specificity and redundancy. Homozygotes for loss of function alleles of D14-3-3ε contain significantly fewer germ line cells (pole cells) in their gonads, a phenotype not shared by mutants in the other 14-3-3 gene leo. We show that although D14-3-3ε is enriched within pole cells it is required in mesodermal somatic gonad precursor cells which guide pole cells in their migration through the mesoderm and coalesce with them to form the embryonic gonad. Loss of D14-3-3ε results in defective pole cell migration, reduced pole cell number. We present evidence that D14-3-3ε loss results in reduction or loss of the transcription factor Zfh-1, one of the main regulatory molecules of the pole cell migration, from the somatic gonad precursor cells

Endo180 modulation by bisphosphonates and diagnostic accuracy in metastatic breast cancer

We thank the patients who participated in this study; Professor Gerry Thomas and the Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, Human Biomaterials Resource Centre (Tissue Bank); Professor Clare M Isacke (Institute of Cancer Research, London) for Endo180 antibodies; Dr Richard Harvey (Department of Medical Oncology, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust) for CA 15-3 antigen measurement. The Division of Cancer at Imperial College London, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust is an Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre (ECMC) supported by funds from Cancer Research UK and the Department of Health (C37/A7283) and forms part of Imperial Cancer Research UK Centre (C42671/A12196). CP is recipient of a CRUK Clinician Scientist award. JW is The Flow Foundation Professor of Oncology at Imperial College London. MPC and GK were supported by donations from Tony and Rita Gallagher and Imperial College NHS Healthcare Trust Special Trustees (to JW and JS). MPC was funded by The Rosetrees Trust (Grant JS16/M59; to JW and JS). A-VF was funded by Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia fellowship (project supervisor: JS) and Imperial College NHS Healthcare Special Trustees (to JW and JS). MR-T was funded by the Association of International Cancer Research (Grant 08-0803 to JS)

Endo180 modulation by bisphosphonates and diagnostic accuracy in metastatic breast cancer

Background:Endo180 (CD280; MRC2; uPARAP)-dependent collagen remodelling is dysregulated in primary tumours and bone metastasis. Here, we confirm the release and diagnostic accuracy of soluble Endo180 for diagnosing metastasis in breast cancer (BCa).Methods:Endo180 was quantified in BCa cell conditioned medium and plasma from BCa patients stratified according to disease status and bisphosphonate treatment (n=88). All P-values are from two-sided tests.Results:Endo180 is released by ectodomain shedding from the surface of MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 BCa cell lines. Plasma Endo180 was significantly higher in recurrent/metastatic (1.71±0.87; n=59) vs early/localised (0.92±0.37; n=29) BCa (P<0.0001). True/false-positive rates for metastasis classification were: 85%/50% for the reference standard, CA 15-3 antigen (28 U ml-1); 97%/36% for Endo180; and 97%/32% for CA 15-3 antigen+Endo180. Bisphosphonate treatment was associated with reduced Endo180 levels in BCa patients with bone metastasis (P=0.011; n=42). True/false-positive rates in bisphosphonate-naive patients (n=57) were: 68%/45% for CA 15-3 antigen; 95%/20% for Endo180; and 92%/21% for CA 15-3 antigen+Endo180.Conclusion:Endo180 is a potential marker modulated by bisphosphonates in metastatic BCa