ABSTRACT
Patients with ER-negative breast cancer have the worst prognosis of all breast cancer subtypes, often experiencing rapid recurrence or progression to metastatic disease shortly after diagnosis. Given that metastasis is the primary cause of mortality in most solid tumors, understanding metastatic biology is crucial for effective intervention. Using a mouse systems genetics approach, we previously identified 12 genes associated with metastatic susceptibility. Here, we extend those studies to identify Resf1, a poorly characterized gene, as a novel metastasis susceptibility gene in ER- breast cancer. Resf1 is a large, unstructured protein with an evolutionarily conserved intron-exon structure, but with poor amino acid conservation. CRISPR or gene trap mouse models crossed to the Polyoma Middle-T antigen genetically engineered mouse model (MMTV-PyMT) demonstrated that reduction of Resf1 resulted in a significant increase in tumor growth, a shortened overall survival time, and increased incidence and number of lung metastases, consistent with patient data. Furthermore, an analysis of matched tail and primary tissues revealed loss of the wildtype copy in tumor tissue, consistent with Resf1 being a tumor suppressor. Mechanistic analysis revealed a potential role of Resf1 in transcriptional control through association with compound G4 quadruplexes in expressed sequences, particularly those associated with ribosomal biogenesis. These results suggest that loss of Resf1 enhances tumor progression in ER- breast cancer through multiple alterations in both transcriptional and translational control.
Subject(s)
Repressor Proteins , Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms , Animals , Female , Humans , Mice , Cell Line, Tumor , G-Quadruplexes , Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic , Genes, Tumor Suppressor , Lung Neoplasms/genetics , Lung Neoplasms/secondary , Lung Neoplasms/pathology , Neoplasm Metastasis , Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms/genetics , Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms/pathology , Repressor Proteins/genetics , Repressor Proteins/metabolismABSTRACT
Acetylation of protein and RNA represent a critical event for development and cancer progression. NAT10 is the only known RNA acetylase that catalyzes the N4-actylcytidine (ac4C) modification of RNAs. Here, we show that the loss of NAT10 significantly decreases lung metastasis in allograft and genetically engineered mouse models of breast cancer. NAT10 interacts with a mechanosensitive, metastasis susceptibility protein complex at the nuclear pore. In addition to its canonical role in RNA acetylation, we find that NAT10 interacts with p300 at gene enhancers. NAT10 loss is associated with p300 mislocalization into heterochromatin regions. NAT10 depletion disrupts enhancer organization, leading to alteration of gene transcription necessary for metastatic progression, including reduced myeloid cell-recruiting chemokines that results in a less metastasis-prone tumor microenvironment. Our study uncovers a distinct role of NAT10 in enhancer organization of metastatic tumor cells and suggests its involvement in the tumor-immune crosstalk dictating metastatic outcomes.
ABSTRACT
Understanding functional interactions between cancer mutations is an attractive strategy for discovering unappreciated cancer pathways and developing new combination therapies to improve personalized treatment. However, distinguishing driver gene pairs from passenger pairs remains challenging. Here, we designed an integrated omics approach to identify driver gene pairs by leveraging genetic interaction analyses of top mutated breast cancer genes and the proteomics interactome data of their encoded proteins. This approach identified that PIK3CA oncogenic gain-of-function (GOF) and CBFB loss-of-function (LOF) mutations cooperate to promote breast tumor progression in both mice and humans. The transcription factor CBFB localized to mitochondria and moonlighted in translating the mitochondrial genome. Mechanistically, CBFB enhanced the binding of mitochondrial mRNAs to TUFM, a mitochondrial translation elongation factor. Independent of mutant PI3K, mitochondrial translation defects caused by CBFB LOF led to multiple metabolic reprogramming events, including defective oxidative phosphorylation, the Warburg effect, and autophagy/mitophagy addiction. Furthermore, autophagy and PI3K inhibitors synergistically killed breast cancer cells and impaired the growth of breast tumors, including patient-derived xenografts carrying CBFB LOF and PIK3CA GOF mutations. Thus, our study offers mechanistic insights into the functional interaction between mutant PI3K and mitochondrial translation dysregulation in breast cancer progression and provides a strong preclinical rationale for combining autophagy and PI3K inhibitors in precision medicine for breast cancer. SIGNIFICANCE: CBFB-regulated mitochondrial translation is a regulatory step in breast cancer metabolism and synergizes with mutant PI3K in breast cancer progression.
Subject(s)
Breast Neoplasms , Class I Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases , Core Binding Factor beta Subunit , Animals , Female , Humans , Mice , Breast Neoplasms/pathology , Cell Line, Tumor , Class I Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases/genetics , Class I Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases/metabolism , Core Binding Factor beta Subunit/genetics , Core Binding Factor beta Subunit/pharmacology , Mutation , Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases/genetics , Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases/metabolism , Phosphoinositide-3 Kinase Inhibitors/pharmacology , Signal Transduction/geneticsABSTRACT
The TGF-ß-regulated Chloride Intracellular Channel 4 (CLIC4) is an essential participant in the formation of breast cancer stroma. Here, we used data available from the TCGA and METABRIC datasets to show that CLIC4 expression was higher in breast cancers from younger women and those with early-stage metastatic disease. Elevated CLIC4 predicted poor outcome in breast cancer patients and was linked to the TGF-ß pathway. However, these associations did not reveal the underlying biological contribution of CLIC4 to breast cancer progression. Constitutive ablation of host Clic4 in two murine metastatic breast cancer models nearly eliminated lung metastases without reducing primary tumor weight, while tumor cells ablated of Clic4 retained metastatic capability in wildtype hosts. Thus, CLIC4 was required for host metastatic competence. Pre- and post-metastatic proteomic analysis identified circulating pro-metastatic soluble factors that differed in tumor-bearing CLIC4-deficient and wildtype hosts. Vascular abnormalities and necrosis increased in primary tumors from CLIC4-deficient hosts. Transcriptional profiles of both primary tumors and pre-metastatic lungs of tumor-bearing CLIC4-deficient hosts were consistent with a microenvironment where inflammatory pathways were elevated. Altogether, CLIC4 expression in human breast cancers may serve as a prognostic biomarker; therapeutic targeting of CLIC4 could reduce primary tumor viability and host metastatic competence.
Subject(s)
Breast Neoplasms , Chloride Channels , Animals , Breast Neoplasms/genetics , Breast Neoplasms/metabolism , Breast Neoplasms/pathology , Chloride Channels/biosynthesis , Chloride Channels/genetics , Female , Humans , Mice , Neoplasm Metastasis , Proteomics , Transforming Growth Factor beta/metabolism , Tumor MicroenvironmentABSTRACT
Mechanical signals from the extracellular microenvironment have been implicated in tumor and metastatic progression. Here, we identify nucleoporin NUP210 as a metastasis susceptibility gene for human estrogen receptor positive (ER+) breast cancer and a cellular mechanosensor. Nup210 depletion suppresses lung metastasis in mouse models of breast cancer. Mechanistically, NUP210 interacts with LINC complex protein SUN2 which connects the nucleus to the cytoskeleton. In addition, the NUP210/SUN2 complex interacts with chromatin via the short isoform of BRD4 and histone H3.1/H3.2 at the nuclear periphery. In Nup210 knockout cells, mechanosensitive genes accumulate H3K27me3 heterochromatin modification, mediated by the polycomb repressive complex 2 and differentially reposition within the nucleus. Transcriptional repression in Nup210 knockout cells results in defective mechanotransduction and focal adhesion necessary for their metastatic capacity. Our study provides an important role of nuclear pore protein in cellular mechanosensation and metastasis.
Subject(s)
Breast Neoplasms/pathology , Heterochromatin/metabolism , Mechanotransduction, Cellular/genetics , Nuclear Pore Complex Proteins/metabolism , Animals , Breast Neoplasms/genetics , Breast Neoplasms/metabolism , CCCTC-Binding Factor/metabolism , Cell Line, Tumor , Cell Movement/genetics , Cytoskeleton/metabolism , Enhancer of Zeste Homolog 2 Protein/metabolism , Focal Adhesions/genetics , Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic , Histones/metabolism , Humans , Methyltransferases/metabolism , Mice , Neoplasm Metastasis , Neoplastic Cells, Circulating/metabolism , Nuclear Envelope/metabolism , Nuclear Pore Complex Proteins/genetics , Nuclear Proteins/metabolism , Polymorphism, Genetic , Prognosis , Promoter Regions, Genetic , Protein Binding , Repressor Proteins/metabolism , Transcription Factors/metabolism , Tumor MicroenvironmentABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Clinical studies have linked usage of progestins (synthetic progesterone [P4]) to breast cancer risk. However, little is understood regarding the role of native P4, signaling through the progesterone receptor (PR), in breast tumor formation. Recently, we reported a link between PR and immune signaling pathways, showing that P4/PR can repress type I interferon signaling pathways. Given these findings, we sought to investigate whether P4/PR drive immunomodulation in the mammary gland and promote tumor formation. METHODS: To determine the effect of P4 on immune cell populations in the murine mammary gland, mice were treated with P4 or placebo pellets for 21 days. Immune cell populations in the mammary gland, spleen, and inguinal lymph nodes were subsequently analyzed by flow cytometry. To assess the effect of PR overexpression on mammary gland tumor development as well as immune cell populations in the mammary gland, a transgenic mouse model was used in which PR was overexpressed throughout the entire mouse. Immune cell populations were assessed in the mammary glands, spleens, and inguinal lymph nodes of 6-month-old transgenic and control mice by flow cytometry. Transgenic mice were also monitored for mammary gland tumor development over a 2-year time span. Following development of mammary gland tumors, immune cell populations in the tumors and spleens of transgenic and control mice were analyzed by flow cytometry. RESULTS: We found that mice treated with P4 exhibited changes in the mammary gland indicative of an inhibited immune response compared with placebo-treated mice. Furthermore, transgenic mice with PR overexpression demonstrated decreased numbers of immune cell populations in their mammary glands, lymph nodes, and spleens. On long-term monitoring, we determined that multiparous PR-overexpressing mice developed significantly more mammary gland tumors than control mice. Additionally, tumors from PR-overexpressing mice contained fewer infiltrating immune cells. Finally, RNA sequencing analysis of tumor samples revealed that immune-related gene signatures were lower in tumors from PR-overexpressing mice as compared with control mice. CONCLUSION: Together, these findings offer a novel mechanism of P4-driven mammary gland tumor development and provide rationale in investigating the usage of antiprogestin therapies to promote immune-mediated elimination of mammary gland tumors.
Subject(s)
Breast Neoplasms/chemically induced , Cell Transformation, Neoplastic/chemically induced , Mammary Glands, Animal/drug effects , Progesterone/administration & dosage , Receptors, Progesterone/agonists , Tumor Escape/drug effects , Tumor Microenvironment/immunology , Adaptive Immunity/drug effects , Animals , Breast Neoplasms/immunology , Breast Neoplasms/metabolism , Breast Neoplasms/pathology , Cell Line, Tumor , Cell Transformation, Neoplastic/immunology , Cell Transformation, Neoplastic/metabolism , Cell Transformation, Neoplastic/pathology , Drug Implants , Female , Galectin 4/genetics , Galectin 4/metabolism , Immunity, Innate/drug effects , Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating/drug effects , Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating/immunology , Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating/metabolism , Mammary Glands, Animal/immunology , Mammary Glands, Animal/metabolism , Mammary Glands, Animal/pathology , Mice, Transgenic , Ovariectomy , Receptors, Progesterone/genetics , Receptors, Progesterone/metabolism , Signal Transduction , Time Factors , Tumor Burden/drug effectsABSTRACT
In tumors, nutrient availability and metabolism are known to be important modulators of growth signaling. However, it remains elusive whether cancer cells that are growing out in the metastatic niche rely on the same nutrients and metabolic pathways to activate growth signaling as cancer cells within the primary tumor. We discovered that breast-cancer-derived lung metastases, but not the corresponding primary breast tumors, use the serine biosynthesis pathway to support mTORC1 growth signaling. Mechanistically, pyruvate uptake through Mct2 supported mTORC1 signaling by fueling serine biosynthesis-derived α-ketoglutarate production in breast-cancer-derived lung metastases. Consequently, expression of the serine biosynthesis enzyme PHGDH was required for sensitivity to the mTORC1 inhibitor rapamycin in breast-cancer-derived lung tumors, but not in primary breast tumors. In summary, we provide in vivo evidence that the metabolic and nutrient requirements to activate growth signaling differ between the lung metastatic niche and the primary breast cancer site.
Subject(s)
Breast Neoplasms/genetics , Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic , Lung Neoplasms/genetics , Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental/genetics , Mechanistic Target of Rapamycin Complex 1/genetics , Phosphoglycerate Dehydrogenase/genetics , Serine/biosynthesis , Animals , Antibiotics, Antineoplastic/pharmacology , Breast Neoplasms/drug therapy , Breast Neoplasms/metabolism , Breast Neoplasms/pathology , Cell Line, Tumor , Cell Movement/drug effects , Cell Proliferation/drug effects , Drug Resistance, Neoplasm , Female , Humans , Ketoglutaric Acids/metabolism , Lung Neoplasms/drug therapy , Lung Neoplasms/metabolism , Lung Neoplasms/secondary , Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental/drug therapy , Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental/metabolism , Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental/pathology , Mechanistic Target of Rapamycin Complex 1/antagonists & inhibitors , Mechanistic Target of Rapamycin Complex 1/metabolism , Mice , Mice, Inbred BALB C , Mice, Nude , Monocarboxylic Acid Transporters/genetics , Monocarboxylic Acid Transporters/metabolism , Phosphoglycerate Dehydrogenase/antagonists & inhibitors , Phosphoglycerate Dehydrogenase/metabolism , Pyruvic Acid/metabolism , RNA, Small Interfering/genetics , RNA, Small Interfering/metabolism , Signal Transduction , Sirolimus/pharmacologyABSTRACT
Breast cancer metastasis is a leading cause of cancer-related death of women in the United States. A hurdle in advancing metastasis-targeted intervention is the phenotypic heterogeneity between primary and secondary lesions. To identify metastasis-specific gene expression profiles we performed RNA-sequencing of breast cancer mouse models; analyzing metastases from models of various drivers and routes. We contrasted the models and identified common, targetable signatures. Allograft models exhibited more mesenchymal-like gene expression than genetically engineered mouse models (GEMM), and primary culturing of GEMM-derived metastatic tissue induced mesenchymal-like gene expression. In addition, metastasis-specific transcriptomes differed between tail vein and orthotopic injection of the same cell line. Gene expression common to models of spontaneous metastasis included sildenafil response and nicotine degradation pathways. Strikingly, in vivo sildenafil treatment significantly reduced metastasis by 54%, while nicotine significantly increased metastasis by 46%. These data suggest that (i) actionable metastasis-specific pathways can be readily identified, (ii) already available drugs may have great potential to alleviate metastatic incidence, and (iii) metastasis may be influenced greatly by lifestyle choices such as the choice to consume nicotine products. In summary, while mouse models of breast cancer metastasis vary in ways that must not be ignored, there are shared features that can be identified and potentially targeted therapeutically. IMPLICATIONS: The data we present here exposes critical variances between preclinical models of metastatic breast cancer and identifies targetable pathways integral to metastatic spread. VISUAL OVERVIEW: http://mcr.aacrjournals.org/content/molcanres/18/9/1278/F1.large.jpg.
Subject(s)
Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental/genetics , Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental/pathology , Allografts , Animals , Cell Line, Tumor , Chromatography, Liquid/methods , Female , Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic , Male , Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental/metabolism , Mice , Mice, Inbred C57BL , Neoplasm Metastasis , Neoplasm Transplantation , Tandem Mass Spectrometry/methodsABSTRACT
Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States, with the majority of these deaths due to metastatic lesions rather than the primary tumor. Thus, a better understanding of the etiology of metastatic disease is crucial for improving survival. Using a haplotype mapping strategy in mouse and shRNA-mediated gene knockdown, we identified Rnaseh2c, a scaffolding protein of the heterotrimeric RNase H2 endoribonuclease complex, as a novel metastasis susceptibility factor. We found that the role of Rnaseh2c in metastatic disease is independent of RNase H2 enzymatic activity, and immunophenotyping and RNA-sequencing analysis revealed engagement of the T cell-mediated adaptive immune response. Furthermore, the cGAS-Sting pathway was not activated in the metastatic cancer cells used in this study, suggesting that the mechanism of immune response in breast cancer is different from the mechanism proposed for Aicardi-Goutières Syndrome, a rare interferonopathy caused by RNase H2 mutation. These results suggest an important novel, non-enzymatic role for RNASEH2C during breast cancer progression and add Rnaseh2c to a panel of genes we have identified that together could determine patients with high risk for metastasis. These results also highlight a potential new target for combination with immunotherapies and may contribute to a better understanding of the etiology of Aicardi-Goutières Syndrome autoimmunity.
Subject(s)
Adaptive Immunity , Autoimmune Diseases of the Nervous System/genetics , Breast Neoplasms/genetics , Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic , Lung Neoplasms/genetics , Neoplasm Proteins/genetics , Nervous System Malformations/genetics , Ribonuclease H/genetics , Animals , Autoimmune Diseases of the Nervous System/immunology , Autoimmune Diseases of the Nervous System/mortality , Autoimmune Diseases of the Nervous System/pathology , Breast Neoplasms/immunology , Breast Neoplasms/mortality , Breast Neoplasms/pathology , Cell Line, Tumor , Cell Proliferation , Disease Models, Animal , Female , Genetic Predisposition to Disease , Humans , Lung Neoplasms/immunology , Lung Neoplasms/mortality , Lung Neoplasms/secondary , Lymphatic Metastasis , Mice , Mice, Nude , Mutation , Neoplasm Proteins/antagonists & inhibitors , Neoplasm Proteins/immunology , Nervous System Malformations/immunology , Nervous System Malformations/mortality , Nervous System Malformations/pathology , RNA, Small Interfering/genetics , RNA, Small Interfering/immunology , Ribonuclease H/antagonists & inhibitors , Ribonuclease H/immunology , Sequence Analysis, RNA , Signal Transduction , Survival Analysis , T-Lymphocytes/immunology , T-Lymphocytes/pathologyABSTRACT
Metastatic breast cancer is currently incurable. It has recently emerged that different metabolic pathways support metastatic breast cancer. To further uncover metabolic pathways enabling breast cancer metastasis, we investigated metabolic differences in mouse tumors of differing metastatic propensities using mass spectrometry-based metabolomics. We found that sialic acid metabolism is upregulated in highly metastatic breast tumors. Knocking out a key gene in sialic acid metabolism, Cmas, inhibits synthesis of the activated form of sialic acid, cytidine monophosphate-sialic acid and decreases the formation of lung metastases in vivo. Thus, the sialic acid pathway may be a new target against metastatic breast cancer.
ABSTRACT
Cancer recurrence after initial diagnosis and treatment is a major cause of breast cancer (BC) mortality, which results from the metastatic outbreak of dormant tumour cells. Alterations in the tumour microenvironment can trigger signalling pathways in dormant cells leading to their proliferation. However, processes involved in the initial and the long-term survival of disseminated dormant BC cells remain largely unknown. Here we show that autophagy is a critical mechanism for the survival of disseminated dormant BC cells. Pharmacologic or genetic inhibition of autophagy in dormant BC cells results in significantly decreased cell survival and metastatic burden in mouse and human 3D in vitro and in vivo preclinical models of dormancy. In vivo experiments identify autophagy gene autophagy-related 7 (ATG7) to be essential for autophagy activation. Mechanistically, inhibition of the autophagic flux in dormant BC cells leads to the accumulation of damaged mitochondria and reactive oxygen species (ROS), resulting in cell apoptosis.
Subject(s)
Autophagy-Related Protein 7/genetics , Autophagy/genetics , Breast Neoplasms/genetics , Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic , Mammary Neoplasms, Animal/genetics , Adenine/analogs & derivatives , Adenine/pharmacology , Animals , Autophagy/drug effects , Autophagy-Related Protein 7/antagonists & inhibitors , Autophagy-Related Protein 7/metabolism , Beclin-1/antagonists & inhibitors , Beclin-1/genetics , Beclin-1/metabolism , Breast Neoplasms/metabolism , Breast Neoplasms/pathology , Caspases/genetics , Caspases/metabolism , Cell Line, Tumor , Cell Proliferation/drug effects , Cell Survival/drug effects , Collagen Type I/pharmacology , Female , Humans , Hydroxychloroquine/pharmacology , Lymphatic Metastasis , Mammary Neoplasms, Animal/drug therapy , Mammary Neoplasms, Animal/metabolism , Mammary Neoplasms, Animal/pathology , Mice , Mice, Nude , Mitochondria/drug effects , Mitochondria/metabolism , Mitochondria/pathology , RNA, Small Interfering/genetics , RNA, Small Interfering/metabolism , Reactive Oxygen Species/agonists , Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism , Recurrence , Signal TransductionABSTRACT
Tumour heterogeneity poses a substantial problem for the clinical management of cancer. Somatic evolution of the cancer genome results in genetically distinct subclones in the primary tumour with different biological properties and therapeutic sensitivities. The problem of heterogeneity is compounded in metastatic disease owing to the complexity of the metastatic process and the multiple biological hurdles that the tumour cell must overcome to establish a clinically overt metastatic lesion. New advances in sequencing technology and clinical sample acquisition are providing insights into the phylogenetic relationship of metastases and primary tumours at the level of somatic tumour genetics while also illuminating fundamental mechanisms of the metastatic process. In addition to somatically acquired genetic heterogeneity in the tumour cells, inherited population-based genetic heterogeneity can profoundly modify metastatic biology and further complicate the development of effective, broadly applicable antimetastatic therapies. Here, we examine how genetic heterogeneity impacts metastatic disease and the implications of current knowledge for future research endeavours and therapeutic interventions.
Subject(s)
Genetic Heterogeneity , Neoplasm Metastasis/genetics , Neoplasms/pathology , Animals , Genetic Predisposition to Disease , Humans , Mice , Neoplasm Metastasis/therapy , Neoplasms/genetics , Neoplasms, Experimental/geneticsABSTRACT
Metastases are responsible for most cancer-related deaths. The kinetics of tumor relapse is highly heterogeneous, ranging from recurrences shortly after diagnosis to years or even decades after the initial treatment. This subclinical period is known as tumor dormancy, in which residual disease remains in an undetectable state before finally appearing as an overtly proliferative metastasis. Despite recent advances in our understanding of the molecular mechanisms leading to tumor dormancy, it is still a poorly understood phase of cancer progression, which limits opportunities for the design of successful therapeutic interventions. The influence of the tumor microenvironment at the metastatic site and anti-metastatic immune responses have been shown to play a crucial role in the onset and maintenance of metastatic dormancy. However, there is still a significant gap in our understanding of how dormant cells remain viable in a quiescent state for long periods of time. Here, we review the latest experimental evidence shedding light on the biological processes that enable dormant tumor cells to endure the multiple stresses encountered at the metastatic site.
ABSTRACT
We report several receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) ligands increase RhoA-guanosine triphosphate (GTP) in untransformed and transformed cell lines and determine this phenomenon depends on the RTKs activating the AKT serine/threonine kinase. The increased RhoA-GTP results from AKT phosphorylating three serines (S298, S329, and S567) in the DLC1 tumor suppressor, a Rho GTPase-activating protein (RhoGAP) associated with focal adhesions. Phosphorylation of the serines, located N-terminal to the DLC1 RhoGAP domain, induces strong binding of that N-terminal region to the RhoGAP domain, converting DLC1 from an open, active dimer to a closed, inactive monomer. That binding, which interferes with the interaction of RhoA-GTP with the RhoGAP domain, reduces the hydrolysis of RhoA-GTP, the binding of other DLC1 ligands, and the colocalization of DLC1 with focal adhesions and attenuates tumor suppressor activity. DLC1 is a critical AKT target in DLC1-positive cancer because AKT inhibition has potent antitumor activity in the DLC1-positive transgenic cancer model and in a DLC1-positive cancer cell line but not in an isogenic DLC1-negative cell line.
Subject(s)
Epithelial Cells/metabolism , Fibroblasts/metabolism , Focal Adhesions/metabolism , GTPase-Activating Proteins/metabolism , Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/metabolism , Tumor Suppressor Proteins/metabolism , rhoA GTP-Binding Protein/metabolism , Binding Sites , Cell Line , Cell Movement , Epithelial Cells/ultrastructure , Fibroblasts/ultrastructure , Focal Adhesions/ultrastructure , GTPase-Activating Proteins/genetics , Gene Expression Regulation , Guanosine Triphosphate/metabolism , HEK293 Cells , HeLa Cells , Humans , Hydrolysis , Lens, Crystalline , Phosphorylation , Protein Binding , Protein Domains , Protein Multimerization , Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/genetics , Signal Transduction , Tumor Suppressor Proteins/genetics , rhoA GTP-Binding Protein/geneticsABSTRACT
Effective drug development to combat metastatic disease in breast cancer would be aided by the availability of well-characterized preclinical animal models that (a) metastasize with high efficiency, (b) metastasize in a reasonable time-frame, (c) have an intact immune system, and (d) capture some of the heterogeneity of the human disease. To address these issues, we have assembled a panel of twelve mouse mammary cancer cell lines that can metastasize efficiently on implantation into syngeneic immunocompetent hosts. Genomic characterization shows that more than half of the 30 most commonly mutated genes in human breast cancer are represented within the panel. Transcriptomically, most of the models fall into the luminal A or B intrinsic molecular subtypes, despite the predominance of an aggressive, poorly-differentiated or spindled histopathology in all models. Patterns of immune cell infiltration, proliferation rates, apoptosis and angiogenesis differed significantly among models. Inherent within-model variability of the metastatic phenotype mandates large cohort sizes for intervention studies but may also capture some relevant non-genetic sources of variability. The varied molecular and phenotypic characteristics of this expanded panel of models should aid in model selection for development of antimetastatic therapies in vivo, and serve as a useful platform for predictive biomarker identification.
Subject(s)
Breast Neoplasms/immunology , Breast Neoplasms/pathology , Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental , Allografts , Animals , Biomarkers, Tumor , Biopsy , Breast Neoplasms/drug therapy , Breast Neoplasms/metabolism , Cell Line, Tumor , Female , Gene Expression Profiling , Genomics/methods , Heterografts , Humans , Immunohistochemistry , Mice , Molecular Targeted Therapy , Neoplasm Metastasis , Polymorphism, Single NucleotideABSTRACT
Breast cancer mortality is primarily due to metastasis rather than primary tumors, yet relatively little is understood regarding the etiology of metastatic breast cancer. Previously, using a mouse genetics approach, we demonstrated that inherited germline polymorphisms contribute to metastatic disease, and that these single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) could be used to predict outcome in breast cancer patients. In this study, a backcross between a highly metastatic (FVB/NJ) and low metastatic (MOLF/EiJ) mouse strain identified Arntl2, a gene encoding a circadian rhythm transcription factor, as a metastasis susceptibility gene associated with progression, specifically in estrogen receptor-negative breast cancer patients. Integrated whole genome sequence analysis with DNase hypersensitivity sites reveals SNPs in the predicted promoter of Arntl2. Using CRISPR/Cas9-mediated substitution of the MOLF promoter, we demonstrate that the SNPs regulate Arntl2 transcription and affect metastatic burden. Finally, analysis of SNPs associated with ARNTL2 expression in human breast cancer patients revealed reproducible associations of ARNTL2 expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) SNPs with disease-free survival, consistent with the mouse studies.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The Mouse Genomes Project is an ongoing collaborative effort to sequence the genomes of the common laboratory mouse strains. In 2011, the initial analysis of sequence variation across 17 strains found 56.7 M unique single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and 8.8 M indels. We carry out deep sequencing of 13 additional inbred strains (BUB/BnJ, C57BL/10J, C57BR/cdJ, C58/J, DBA/1J, I/LnJ, KK/HiJ, MOLF/EiJ, NZB/B1NJ, NZW/LacJ, RF/J, SEA/GnJ and ST/bJ), cataloguing molecular variation within and across the strains. These strains include important models for immune response, leukaemia, age-related hearing loss and rheumatoid arthritis. We now have several examples of fully sequenced closely related strains that are divergent for several disease phenotypes. RESULTS: Approximately 27.4 M unique SNPs and 5 M indels are identified across these strains compared to the C57BL/6 J reference genome (GRCm38). The amount of variation found in the inbred laboratory mouse genome has increased to 71 M SNPs and 12 M indels. We investigate the genetic basis of highly penetrant cancer susceptibility in RF/J finding private novel missense mutations in DNA damage repair and highly cancer associated genes. We use two highly related strains (DBA/1J and DBA/2J) to investigate the genetic basis of collagen-induced arthritis susceptibility. CONCLUSIONS: This paper significantly expands the catalogue of fully sequenced laboratory mouse strains and now contains several examples of highly genetically similar strains with divergent phenotypes. We show how studying private missense mutations can lead to insights into the genetic mechanism for a highly penetrant phenotype.
Subject(s)
Genome , High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing/methods , Mice, Inbred Strains/genetics , Alleles , Animals , Base Sequence , Chromosome Mapping , DNA Damage/genetics , DNA Repair/genetics , Homozygote , INDEL Mutation/genetics , Mice , Mutation, Missense/genetics , Polymorphism, Single NucleotideABSTRACT
Metastasis remains the primary cause of patient morbidity and mortality in solid tumors and is due to the action of a large number of tumor-autonomous and non-autonomous factors. Here we report the results of a genome-wide integrated strategy to identify novel metastasis susceptibility candidate genes and molecular pathways in breast cancer metastasis. This analysis implicates a number of transcriptional regulators and suggests cell-mediated immunity is an important determinant. Moreover, the analysis identified novel or FDA-approved drugs as potentially useful for anti-metastatic therapy. Further explorations implementing this strategy may therefore provide a variety of information for clinical applications in the control and treatment of advanced neoplastic disease.
Subject(s)
Genetic Predisposition to Disease , Lung Neoplasms/secondary , Mammary Neoplasms, Animal/genetics , Animals , Cell Adhesion Molecules/genetics , Cell Line, Tumor , Female , Gene Expression Profiling , Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic , Genome-Wide Association Study , Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors/biosynthesis , Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors/genetics , Mammary Neoplasms, Animal/diagnosis , Mammary Neoplasms, Animal/pathology , Mice , Mice, Inbred NZB , Mice, Transgenic , Nectins , Promyelocytic Leukemia Zinc Finger Protein , RNA Interference , RNA, Small Interfering/genetics , Rosiglitazone , Thiazolidinediones/pharmacologyABSTRACT
Accumulating evidence supports the role of an aberrant transcriptome as a driver of metastatic potential. Deadenylation is a general regulatory node for post-transcriptional control by microRNAs and other determinants of RNA stability. Previously, we demonstrated that the CCR4-NOT scaffold component Cnot2 is an inherited metastasis susceptibility gene. In this study, using orthotopic metastasis assays and genetically engineered mouse models, we show that one of the enzymatic subunits of the CCR4-NOT complex, Cnot7, is also a metastasis modifying gene. We demonstrate that higher expression of Cnot7 drives tumor cell autonomous metastatic potential, which requires its deadenylase activity. Furthermore, metastasis promotion by CNOT7 is dependent on interaction with CNOT1 and TOB1. CNOT7 ribonucleoprotein-immunoprecipitation (RIP) and integrated transcriptome wide analyses reveal that CNOT7-regulated transcripts are enriched for a tripartite 3'UTR motif bound by RNA-binding proteins known to complex with CNOT7, TOB1, and CNOT1. Collectively, our data support a model of CNOT7, TOB1, CNOT1, and RNA-binding proteins collectively exerting post-transcriptional control on a metastasis suppressive transcriptional program to drive tumor cell metastasis.
Subject(s)
Breast Neoplasms/genetics , Mammary Neoplasms, Animal/genetics , Receptors, CCR4/genetics , Transcription Factors/genetics , Transcriptome/genetics , Animals , Breast Neoplasms/pathology , Exoribonucleases , Female , Gene Expression Regulation , Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic , Humans , Mammary Neoplasms, Animal/pathology , Mice , Neoplasm Metastasis , RNA Stability/genetics , Repressor ProteinsABSTRACT
Breast cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortality of women in the United States. Since the majority of cancer deaths are due to metastases rather than the primary tumor, a better understanding of the biological mechanisms that lead to metastatic disease is critical to reduce breast cancer associated mortality. Current adjuvant therapies use the same broadly cytotoxic and targeted strategies against metastases as are used against the primary tumor. However, resistance to chemotherapy due to the cellular dormancy, high genotypic and phenotypic heterogeneity between primary tumor and metastases as well as among individual metastases, and the limitations in detection of disseminated tumor cells and micrometastases significantly hinder the efficiency of currently available therapies. While it is crucial to directly address the issue of metastatic dormancy and evaluate for anti-metastatic therapy the relevance of molecular targets chosen based on primary tumor profiling, it is also imperative to address metastasis-specific mechanisms of growth and survival that are likely to be distinct from those of the primary tumor. We believe that a three-pronged approach to therapy will be necessary to deal with progressive disease: blocking of further dissemination after diagnosis; eradication of disseminated tumor cells and prevention of the dormant-to-proliferative switch of those remaining; and elimination of established metastatic tumors. The implementation of this strategy requires a greater depth of knowledge of metastasis driver and maintenance genes and suggests the need for a "Metastasis Genome Atlas" project to complement the current investigations into cancer genomic landscapes.