Abstract A034: Single cell RNA sequencing of triple negative breast cancer patient-derived xenograft model identifies CRABP1 of cancer-associated fibroblast as a key regulator of breast cancer metastasis
Authors: Heo Woohang , Her Yujeong , Yang Sieun , Lee Dakyung , Kim Rokhyun , Kim Jong-Il , Moon Hyeong-Gon 
Published: November 2024

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is associated with a high risk of distant metastasis, particularly to the lung and liver. Both intrinsic characteristics of cancer cells and the tumor microenvironment (TME) influence TNBC growth and metastasis. The TME, comprising stromal, immune, and endothelial cells, exhibits heterogeneity both between and within cell types. Identifying the molecular characteristics of TME cells that affect cancer progression is crucial. We aim to investigate this using single-cell RNA sequencing of patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models to explore TME cells and genes involved in TNBC metastasis. We established PDX models by transplanting tumor tissues from 26 TNBC patients into immunodeficient mice. These models were categorized based on their metastatic potential and patient outcomes: non-metastatic (n=5) and metastatic (n=4). Single-cell RNA sequencing of nine PDX tumors revealed significant differences in gene expression of murine stromal cells between metastatic and non-metastatic models. We identified ten genes (Serpinb2, Spp1, Tnc, Thbs1, Timp1, Il11, Mt2, Crabp1, Cck, Mt1) that were highly expressed in the stromal cells of metastatic PDX models. To test if TNBC cells influence these fibroblast genes, we exposed NIH3T3 fibroblasts to conditioned media from the 4T1 TNBC cell line. In three independent experiments, only Crabp1 expression in NIH3T3 cells was consistently increased by 4T1- conditioned media. CRABP1, a retinoic acid-binding protein, is known for its role in differentiation and proliferation by regulating MAPK signaling. Although Crabp1-positive cancer-associated fibroblasts have been noted, its role in TNBC metastasis was previously unexplored. We investigated CRABP1 function using a CRABP1 knockdown NIH3T3 cell line. CRABP1 knockdown led to reduced invasion and migration of 4T1 cells in trans-well assays and decreased invasiveness of 4T1 spheroids in a collagen matrix. Additionally, CRABP1 knockdown NIH3T3 cells showed reduced proliferation in vitro and fewer alpha-SMA positive cancer-associated fibroblasts in co-injected 4T1 tumors in BALB/C mice. In summary, CRABP1, identified through single-cell RNA sequencing of stromal cells in TNBC PDX models, is a potential regulator of TNBC metastasis, affecting cancer cell migration, invasion, and fibroblast proliferation.

Citation Format: Woohang Heo, Yujeong Her, Sieun Yang, Dakyung Lee, Rokhyun Kim, Jong-Il Kim, Hyeong-Gon Moon. Single cell RNA sequencing of triple negative breast cancer patient-derived xenograft model identifies CRABP1 of cancer-associated fibroblast as a key regulator of breast cancer metastasis [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference in Cancer Research: Tumor-body Interactions: The Roles of Micro- and Macroenvironment in Cancer; 2024 Nov 17-20; Boston, MA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(22_Suppl):Abstract nr A034.