bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Aleutian Arc
Authors: Lathram Ernest Hartwell
Published: May 2008

The Aleutian Arc is the orogenic link, some 3200 km long, between the American and Asian continents and separates off the Bering Sea Basin from the Pacific Ocean. There is clear evidence of the antiquity—Cretaceous or earlier—and of the stages of development—submarine, basic (ophiolitic) volcanism followed by subaerial, andesitic volcanism—of the arc. Deformation occurred between these stages and, in contrast to the western Pacific arcs, an outer non-volcanic arc is absent, unless represented by the Aleutian Terrace. Nor are paired metamorphic belts present here.

Segment
: this is a 400 km long section close to the centre of the Arc, chosen to include the Andreanof Islands (Fig. 1). The Arc as a whole varies in width from 125 km to 235 km, averaging 165 km.

Zones
: four zones, three entirely submarine, are recognized. On the south, the well-defined Aleutian Trench (zone 1) is over 7000 m deep. The Aleutian Terrace (zone 2) is a wide bench feature at around 4000 m beneath sea level from which the Aleutian Ridge (zone 3) rises steeply. The latter includes all the islands of the Arc. To the north of the Arc lies the Aleutian Basin (zone 4), a broad submarine plain at around 3500 m beneath sea level.

History
: the oldest rocks exposed are the submarine, ophiolitic, early Marine Series (late Cretaceous to early Miocene); the initiation of the volcanism must have occurred earlier, but the date is unknown. In M. Miocene times volcanism ceased, arching and faulting took place and plutonic rocks
Nutlin-3a Activates p53 to Both Down-regulate Inhibitor of Growth 2 and Up-regulate mir-34a, mir-34b, and mir-34c Expression, and Induce Senescence
Authors: Kumamoto Kensuke , Spillare Elisa A. , Fujita Kaori , Horikawa Izumi , Yamashita Taro , Appella Ettore , Nagashima Makoto , Takenoshita Seiichi , Yokota Jun , Harris Curtis C.
Published: May 2008

Nutlin-3, an MDM2 inhibitor, activates p53, resulting in several types of cancer cells undergoing apoptosis. Although p53 is mutated or deleted in ∼50% of all cancers, p53 is still functionally active in the other 50%. Consequently, nutlin-3 and similar drugs could be candidates for neoadjuvant therapy in cancers with a functional p53. Cellular senescence is also a phenotype induced by p53 activation and plays a critical role in protecting against tumor development. In this report, we found that nutlin-3a can induce senescence in normal human fibroblasts. Nutlin-3a activated and repressed a large number of p53-dependent genes, including those encoding microRNAs. mir-34a, mir-34b, and mir-34c, which have recently been shown to be downstream effectors of p53-mediated senescence, were up-regulated, and inhibitor of growth 2 (ING2) expression was suppressed by nutlin-3a treatment. Two candidates for a p53-DNA binding consensus sequence were found in the ING2 promoter regulatory region; thus, we performed chromatin immunoprecipitation and electrophoretic mobility shift assays and confirmed p53 binding directly to those sites. In addition, the luciferase activity of a construct containing the ING2 regulatory region was repressed after p53 activation. Antisense knockdown of ING2 induces p53-independent senescence, whereas overexpression of ING2 induces p53-dependent senescence. Taken together, we conclude that nutlin-3a induces senescence through p53 activation in normal human fibroblasts, and p53-mediated mir34a, mir34b, and mir34c up-regulation and ING2 down-regulation may be involved in the senescence pathway. [Cancer Res 2008;68(9):3193–203]
CD151 Accelerates Breast Cancer by Regulating α6 Integrin Function, Signaling, and Molecular Organization
Authors: Yang Xiuwei H. , Richardson Andrea L. , Torres-Arzayus Maria I. , Zhou Pengcheng , Sharma Chandan , Kazarov Alexander R. , Andzelm Milena M. , Strominger Jack L. , Brown Myles , Hemler Martin E.
Published: May 2008

CD151, a master regulator of laminin-binding integrins (α6β4, α6β1, and α3β1), assembles these integrins into complexes called tetraspanin-enriched microdomains. CD151 protein expression is elevated in 31% of human breast cancers and is even more elevated in high-grade (40%) and estrogen receptor–negative (45%) subtypes. The latter includes triple-negative (estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and HER2 negative) basal-like tumors. CD151 ablation markedly reduced basal-like mammary cell migration, invasion, spreading, and signaling (through FAK, Rac1, and lck) while disrupting epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-α6 integrin collaboration. Underlying these defects, CD151 ablation redistributed α6β4 integrins subcellularly and severed molecular links between integrins and tetraspanin-enriched microdomains. In a prototypical basal-like mammary tumor line, CD151 ablation notably delayed tumor progression in ectopic and orthotopic xenograft models. These results (a) establish that CD151-α6 integrin complexes play a functional role in basal-like mammary tumor progression; (b) emphasize that α6 integrins function via CD151 linkage in the context of tetraspanin-enriched microdomains; and (c) point to potential relevance of CD151 as a high-priority therapeutic target, with relative selectivity (compared with laminin-binding integrins) for pathologic rather than normal physiology. [Cancer Res 2008;68(9):3204–13]
Targeting Src Family Kinases Inhibits Growth and Lymph Node Metastases of Prostate Cancer in an Orthotopic Nude Mouse Model
Authors: Park Serk In , Zhang Jing , Phillips Kacy A. , Araujo John C. , Najjar Amer M. , Volgin Andrei Y. , Gelovani Juri G. , Kim Sun-Jin , Wang Zhengxin , Gallick Gary E.
Published: May 2008

Aberrant expression and/or activity of members of the Src family of nonreceptor protein tyrosine kinases (SFK) are commonly observed in progressive stages of human tumors. In prostate cancer, two SFKs (Src and Lyn) have been specifically implicated in tumor growth and progression. However, there are no data in preclinical models demonstrating potential efficacy of Src inhibitors against prostate cancer growth and/or metastasis. In this study, we used the small molecule SFK/Abl kinase inhibitor dasatinib, currently in clinical trials for solid tumors, to examine in vitro and in vivo effects of inhibiting SFKs in prostate tumor cells. In vitro, dasatinib inhibits both Src and Lyn activity, resulting in decreased cellular proliferation, migration, and invasion. In orthotopic nude mouse models, dasatinib treatment effectively inhibits expression of activated SFKs, resulting in inhibition of both tumor growth and development of lymph node metastases in both androgen-sensitive and androgen-resistant tumors. In primary tumors, SFK inhibition leads to decreased cellular proliferation (determined by immunohistochemistry for proliferating cell nuclear antigen). In vitro, small interfering RNA (siRNA)–mediated inhibition of Lyn affects cellular proliferation; siRNA inhibition of Src affects primarily cellular migration. Therefore, we conclude that SFKs are promising therapeutic targets for treatment of human prostate cancer and that Src and Lyn activities affect different cellular functions required for prostate tumor growth and progression. [Cancer Res 2008;68(9):3323–33]
Quantitative Spatiotemporal Analysis of Antibody Fragment Diffusion and Endocytic Consumption in Tumor Spheroids
Authors: Thurber Greg M. , Wittrup K. Dane
Published: May 2008

Antibody-based cancer treatment depends upon distribution of the targeting macromolecule throughout tumor tissue, and spatial heterogeneity could significantly limit efficacy in many cases. Antibody distribution in tumor tissue is a function of drug dosage, antigen concentration, binding affinity, antigen internalization, drug extravasation from blood vessels, diffusion in the tumor extracellular matrix, and systemic clearance rates. We have isolated the effects of a subset of these variables by live-cell microscopic imaging of single-chain antibody fragments against carcinoembryonic antigen in LS174T tumor spheroids. The measured rates of scFv penetration and retention were compared with theoretical predictions based on simple scaling criteria. The theory predicts that antibody dose must be large enough to drive a sufficient diffusive flux of antibody to overcome cellular internalization, and exposure time must be long enough to allow penetration to the spheroid center. The experimental results in spheroids are quantitatively consistent with these predictions. Therefore, simple scaling criteria can be applied to accurately predict antibody and antibody fragment penetration distance in tumor tissue. [Cancer Res 2008;68(9):3334–41]
Pituitary Tumor-Transforming 1 Increases Cell Motility and Promotes Lymph Node Metastasis in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Ito Tetsuo , Shimada Yutaka , Kan Takatsugu , David Stefan , Cheng Yulan , Mori Yuriko , Agarwal Rachana , Paun Bogdan , Jin Zhe , Olaru Alexandru , Hamilton James P. , Yang Jian , Abraham John M. , Meltzer Stephen J. , Sato Fumiaki
Published: May 2008

Human pituitary tumor-transforming 1 (PTTG1)/securin is a putative oncoprotein that is overexpressed in various tumor types. However, the involvement of PTTG1 in gastrointestinal cancer development and progression remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the clinical significance and biological effects of PTTG1 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Immunohistochemical studies performed on 113 primary ESCC specimens revealed a high prevalence of PTTG1 overexpression (60.2%), which was significantly associated with lymph node metastasis (regional, P = 0.042; distant, P = 0.005), advanced tumor stage (P = 0.028), and poorer overall survival (P = 0.017, log-rank test; P = 0.044, Cox proportional hazard model). Eleven ESCC cell lines expressed PTTG1 protein at levels 2.4 to 6.6 times higher than those in normal esophageal epithelial cells (HEEpiC). PTTG1 protein expression was confined to the nucleus in HEEpiC cells but present in both the cytoplasm and nucleus in ESCC cells. Two small interfering RNAs (siRNA) inhibited PTTG1 mRNA and protein expression in three ESCC cell lines by 77% to 97%. In addition, PTTG1 down-regulation by these siRNAs significantly reduced cell motility in all three ESCC cell lines (P < 0.01) in vitro, as well as popliteal lymph node metastases of ESCC cells in nude mice (P = 0.020). Global gene expression profiling suggested that several members of the Ras and Rho gene families, including RRAS, RHOG, ARHGAP1, and ARHGADIA, represented potential downstream genes in the PTTG1 pathway. Taken together, these findings suggest that PTTG1 overexpression promotes cell motility and lymph node metastasis in ESCC patients, leading to poorer survival. Thus, PTTG1 constitutes a potential biomarker and therapeutic target in ESCCs with lymph node metastases. [Cancer Res 2008;68(9):3214–24]
The Estrogen Receptor Pathway in Rhabdomyosarcoma: A Role for Estrogen Receptor-β in Proliferation and Response to the Antiestrogen 4′OH-Tamoxifen
Authors: Greenberg Joshua A. , Somme Stig , Russnes Hege E. , Durbin Adam D. , Malkin David
Published: May 2008

Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is the most common soft tissue sarcoma in children. Highly malignant, RMS frequently fails to respond to conventional aggressive multimodal radiation, surgery, and chemotherapy treatment protocols that also cause significant sequelae in the growing child. Other tumors of mesenchymal origin, such as locally aggressive fibromatoses and desmoid tumors, have been successfully treated with a selective estrogen receptor (ER) modulator, tamoxifen. In an effort to identify new targets for RMS therapy, our group investigated the previously uncharacterized ER pathway in RMS cell culture and primary tumors. We detected ER isoform β (ERβ), but not isoform α, RNA, and protein in five RMS cell lines. Immunohistochemical staining of primary RMS tumor sections confirmed high levels of ERβ but not ERα protein. RMS cell growth was dramatically inhibited in steroid-free conditions, and this growth inhibition was rescued with 17-β-estradiol (E2) supplementation. Exposure of RMS cells to 4′OH-tamoxifen (4OHT) decreased cell viability and inhibited colony formation as detected by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide and colony-forming assays. 4OHT also induced apoptotic signaling in RMS cells as detected by cleavage of caspase-3 and poly(ADP)ribose polymerase. This effect increased 3- to 8-fold in steroid-deprived conditions but was rescued by supplementation with E2. Immunofluorescence studies detected a change in the subcellular localization of ERβ in response to 4OHT. Together, these data suggest an active ERβ-mediated signal transduction pathway in RMS. The ability of 4OHT to induce apoptotic signaling and disrupt estradiol-mediated proliferation provides a rationale to explore a role for selective ER modulators in the treatment of RMS. [Cancer Res 2008;68(9):3476–85]
Targeted Deletion of Hepatic Igf1 in TRAMP Mice Leads to Dramatic Alterations in the Circulating Insulin-Like Growth Factor Axis but Does Not Reduce Tumor Progression
Authors: Anzo Makoto , Cobb Laura J. , Hwang David L. , Mehta Hemal , Said Jonathan W. , Yakar Shoshana , LeRoith Derek , Cohen Pinchas
Published: May 2008

The role of systemic and local insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) in the development of prostate cancer is still controversial. Transgenic adenocarcinoma mouse prostate (TRAMP) mice express the SV40 T-antigen under the control of the probasin promoter, and spontaneously develop prostate cancer. We crossed TRAMP mice with liver IGF–deficient (LID) mice to produce LID-TRAMP mice, a mouse model of prostate cancer with low serum IGF-I, to allow us to study the effect of circulatory IGF-I levels on the development of prostate cancer. LID mice have a targeted deletion of the hepatic Igf1 gene but retain normal expression of Igf1 in extrahepatic tissues. Serum IGF-I and IGFBP-3 levels in LID and LID-TRAMP mice were measured using novel assays, which showed that they are ∼10% and 60% of control L/L− mice, respectively. Serum growth hormone (GH) levels of LID-TRAMP mice were 3.5-fold elevated relative to L/L-TRAMP mice (P < 0.001), but IGFBP-2 levels were not different. Surprisingly, rates of survival, metastasis, and the ratio of genitourinary tissue weight to body weight were not significantly different between LID-TRAMP and L/L-TRAMP mice. There was also no difference in the pathologic stage of the prostate cancer between the two groups at 9 to 19 weeks of age. LID-TRAMP tumors displayed increased levels of GH receptors and increased Akt phosphorylation. These results are in striking contrast with the published model of the GH-deficient lit/lit-TRAMP, which has smaller tumors and improved survival, and indicate that the reduction in systemic IGF-I is not sufficient to inhibit prostate cancer tumor progression in the TRAMP model, which may require a reduction of GH levels as well. [Cancer Res 2008;68(9):3342–9]
Frzb, a Secreted Wnt Antagonist, Decreases Growth and Invasiveness of Fibrosarcoma Cells Associated with Inhibition of Met Signaling
Authors: Guo Yi , Xie Jun , Rubin Elyssa , Tang Ya-Xiong , Lin Fritz , Zi Xiaolin , Hoang Bang H.
Published: May 2008

Soft tissue sarcomas (STS) have a strong propensity for aggressive growth and metastasis. We showed that the secreted Wnt antagonist Frzb exhibited potent antitumor activity against prostate cancer, an epithelial type of malignancy. In this study, we further showed the antitumor efficacy of Frzb in STS, a mesenchymal group of cancer. Frzb transfection of HT1080 (fibrosarcoma) and SW872 (liposarcoma) cell lines and their conditioned media resulted in a significant reduction in cellular invasion, motility, and colony formation in soft agar compared with vector control–transfected cells. In a xenograft mouse model, Frzb dramatically suppressed tumor growth of HT1080 cells in nude mice. In a tail-vein injection metastatic model, Frzb-transfected HT1080 cells formed fewer and smaller lung nodules than vector control cells. In addition, we identified new mechanisms for Frzb antitumor activities. Frzb reduced c-Met expression and inhibited Met-mediated signaling, associated with up-regulation of epithelial markers (i.e., keratins 8 and 18) and down-regulation of mesenchymal markers (i.e., vimentin, N-cadherin, fibronectin, Slug, and Twist). Similar to Frzb, silencing of c-Met by short hairpin RNA or using a dominant-negative LRP5 receptor also suppressed Met signaling, leading to reduced cellular motility, invasion, and in vivo tumor growth. Given recent studies indicating an important role of c-Met in sarcoma development and progression, our data showed that Frzb expression was significantly inversely correlated with Met expression in both STS cell lines and tissues. These results suggested the usefulness of Frzb in modulating Met signaling as a new treatment strategy for STS. [Cancer Res 2008;68(9):3350–60]
Oncogene Addiction
Authors: Weinstein I. Bernard , Joe Andrew
Published: May 2008

Cancer cells contain multiple genetic and epigenetic abnormalities. Despite this complexity, their growth and survival can often be impaired by the inactivation of a single oncogene. This phenomenon, called “oncogene addiction,” provides a rationale for molecular targeted therapy. The efficacy of this strategy requires novel methods, including integrative genomics and systems biology, to identify the state of oncogene addiction (i.e., the “Achilles heel”) in specific cancers. Combination therapy may also be required to prevent the escape of cancers from a given state of oncogene addiction. [Cancer Res 2008;68(9):3077–80]
Exuberated Numbers of Tumor-Specific T Cells Result in Tumor Escape
Authors: Goldberger Ofir , Volovitz Ilan , Machlenkin Arthur , Vadai Ezra , Tzehoval Esther , Eisenbach Lea
Published: May 2008

Cytotoxic T cells (CTL) play a major role in tumor rejection. Expansion of CTLs, either by immunization or adoptive transfer, is a prominent goal in current immunotherapy. The antigen-specific nature of these expansion processes inevitably initiates a clonotypic attack on the tumor. By injecting an Ovalbumin-expressing melanoma into OT-I mice, in which >90% of CTLs recognize an Ovalbumin peptide, we show that an increased number of tumor-specific CTLs causes emergence of escape variants. We show that these escape variants are a result of antigen silencing via a yet undetermined epigenetic mechanism, which occurs frequently and is spontaneously reversible. We further show that an increase in the time of tumor onset in OT-I compared with C57BL/6J is a result of immune selection. [Cancer Res 2008;68(9):3450–7]
Androgens Transduce the Gαs-Mediated Activation of Protein Kinase A in Prostate Cells
Authors: Bagchi Gargi , Wu Juanjuan , French John , Kim Jae , Moniri Nader H. , Daaka Yehia
Published: May 2008

Androgens regulate the development and function of male reproductive organs and play a crucial role in the onset and progression of prostate cancer. Androgen action is primarily mediated through the nuclear androgen receptor (AR) which acts as a ligand-dependent transcription factor. This mode of androgen action takes hours to manifest and is called the genomic pathway. The androgen-mediated genomic responses require activity of cyclic AMP (cAMP)-dependent protein kinase (PKA). Androgens also act through nongenomic pathways in certain cell types to evoke rapid responses (manifested in minutes) that are mediated through changes in ion currents and second messengers. Here, we show that androgen causes the rapid and cAMP-dependent activation of PKA in prostate cells. The androgen-induced PKA activation is not inhibited by nuclear AR antagonist bicalutamide and can be observed in cells that do not express nuclear AR gene. Reduction of Gαs expression with siRNA attenuates the androgen-mediated activation of PKA, which is required for the androgen-induced prostate cell proliferation. We conclude that androgen actively evokes a nongenomic signaling pathway to activate PKA that is needed for the genomic functioning of nuclear AR. The inhibition of PKA activation, together with standard AR-targeted therapies, may be more efficacious for treatment of patients with prostate cancer. [Cancer Res 2008;68(9):3225–31]
Restoration of Tumor Immunosurveillance via Targeting of Interleukin-13 Receptor-α2
Authors: Fichtner-Feigl Stefan , Terabe Masaki , Kitani Atsushi , Young Cheryl A. , Fuss Ivan , Geissler Edward K. , Schlitt Hans-Jürgen , Berzofsky Jay A. , Strober Warren
Published: May 2008

In previous studies, we described a “counter-immunosurveillance” mechanism initiated by tumor-activated, interleukin-13 (IL-13)–producing natural killer T cells that signal Gr-1+ cells to produce transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), a cytokine that suppresses the activity of tumor-inhibiting cytolytic CD8+ T cells. Here, we show that in two tumor models (the CT-26 metastatic colon cancer and the 15-12RM fibrosarcoma regressor models), this counter-surveillance mechanism requires the expression of a novel IL-13 receptor, IL-13Rα2, on Gr-1intermediate cells, because down-regulation of IL-13Rα2 expression or the activator protein-1 signal generated by the receptor via in vivo administration of specific small interfering RNA or decoy oligonucleotides leads to loss of TGF-β1 production. Furthermore, acting on prior studies showing that IL-13Rα2 expression is induced (in part) by tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), we show that receptor expression and TGF-β1 production is inhibited by administration of a TNF-α–neutralizing substance, TNF-αR-Fc (etanercept). Taking advantage of this latter fact, we then show in the CT-26 model that counter-immunosurveillance can be inhibited, anti-CT-26–specific CD8+ cytolytic activity can be restored, and CT-26 metastatic tumor nodules can be greatly decreased by administration of TNF-αR-Fc. Corroborative data were obtained using the 15-12RM fibrosarcoma model. These studies point to the prevention of metastatic cancer with an available agent with already known clinically acceptable adverse effects and toxicity. [Cancer Res 2008;68(9):3467–75]
Transforming Growth Factor β Induces Apoptosis through Repressing the Phosphoinositide 3-Kinase/AKT/Survivin Pathway in Colon Cancer Cells
Authors: Wang Jing , Yang Limin , Yang Junhua , Kuropatwinski Karen , Wang Wang , Liu Xiao-Qiong , Hauser Jennie , Brattain Michael G.
Published: May 2008

FET cells, derived from an early-stage colon carcinoma, are nontumorigenic in athymic mice. Stable transfection of a dominant-negative transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) type II receptor (DNRII) into FET cells that express autocrine TGFβ shows loss of TGFβ signaling and increased tumorigenicity in vivo indicating tumor suppressor activity of TGFβ signaling in this model. The ability of tumorigenic cells to withstand growth factor and nutrient deprivation stress (GFDS) is widely regarded as a key attribute for tumor formation and progression. We hypothesized that increased tumorigenicity of FET/DNRII cells was due to loss of participation of autocrine TGFβ in a “fail-safe” mechanism to generate cell death in response to this stress. Here, we document that loss of autocrine TGFβ in FET/DNRII cells resulted in greater endogenous cell survival in response to GFDS due to activation of the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt/survivin pathway. Treatment of FET DNRII cells with a PI3K inhibitor (LY294002) inhibited Akt phosphorylation and reduced survivin expression resulting in increased apoptosis in FET/DNRII cells. We also show that exogenous TGFβ increased apoptosis in FET cells through repression of the PI3K/Akt/survivin pathway during GFDS. These results indicate that the PI3K/Akt/survivin pathway is blocked by TGFβ signaling and that loss of autocrine TGFβ leads to increased cell survival during GFDS through the novel linkage of TGFβ-mediated repression of survivin expression. Inhibition of survivin function by dominant-negative approaches showed that this inhibitor of apoptosis family member is critical to cell survival in the FET/DNRII cells, thus indicating the importance of this target for TGFβ-mediated apoptosis. [Cancer Res 2008;68(9):3152–60]
Cancer Stem Cells Contribute to Cisplatin Resistance in Brca1/p53–Mediated Mouse Mammary Tumors
Authors: Shafee Norazizah , Smith Christopher R. , Wei Shuanzeng , Kim Yoon , Mills Gordon B. , Hortobagyi Gabriel N. , Stanbridge Eric J. , Lee Eva Y-H. P.
Published: May 2008

The majority of BRCA1-associated breast cancers are basal cell–like, which is associated with a poor outcome. Using a spontaneous mouse mammary tumor model, we show that platinum compounds, which generate DNA breaks during the repair process, are more effective than doxorubicin in Brca1/p53–mutated tumors. At 0.5 mg/kg of daily cisplatin treatment, 80% primary tumors (n = 8) show complete pathologic response. At greater dosages, 100% show complete response (n = 19). However, after 2 to 3 months of complete remission following platinum treatment, tumors relapse and become refractory to successive rounds of treatment. Approximately 3.8% to 8.0% (mean, 5.9%) of tumor cells express the normal mammary stem cell markers, CD29hi24med, and these cells are tumorigenic, whereas CD29med24−/lo and CD29med24hi cells have diminished tumorigenicity or are nontumorigenic, respectively. In partially platinum-responsive primary transplants, 6.6% to 11.0% (mean, 8.8%) tumor cells are CD29hi24med; these populations significantly increase to 16.5% to 29.2% (mean, 22.8%; P < 0.05) in platinum-refractory secondary tumor transplants. Further, refractory tumor cells have greater colony-forming ability than the primary transplant–derived cells in the presence of cisplatin. Expression of a normal stem cell marker, Nanog, is decreased in the CD29hi24med populations in the secondary transplants. Top2A expression is also down-regulated in secondary drug-resistant tumor populations and, in one case, was accompanied by genomic deletion of Top2A. These studies identify distinct cancer cell populations for therapeutic targeting in breast cancer and implicate clonal evolution and expansion of cancer stem-like cells as a potential cause of chemoresistance. [Cancer Res 2008;68(9):3243–50]
Subtypes of Breast Cancer Show Preferential Site of Relapse
Authors: Smid Marcel , Wang Yixin , Zhang Yi , Sieuwerts Anieta M. , Yu Jack , Klijn Jan G.M. , Foekens John A. , Martens John W.M.
Published: May 2008

We explored whether the five previously reported molecular subtypes in breast cancer show a preference for organ-specific relapse and searched for molecular pathways involved. The “intrinsic” gene list describing the subtypes was used to classify 344 primary breast tumors of lymph node–negative patients. Fisher exact tests were used to determine the association between a tumor subtype and a particular site of distant relapse in these patients who only received local treatment. Modulated genes and pathways were identified in the various groups using Significance Analysis of Microarrays and Global Testing. Bone relapse patients were most abundant in the luminal subtypes but were found less than expected in the basal subtype. The reverse was true for lung and brain relapse patients with the remark that absence of lung relapse was luminal A specific. Finally, a pleura relapse, although rare, was found almost exclusively in both luminal subtypes. Many differentially expressed genes were identified, of which several were in common in a subtype and the site to which the subtype preferentially relapsed. WNT signaling was up-regulated in the basal subtype and in brain-specific relapse, and down-modulated in the luminal B subtype and in bone-specific relapse. Focal adhesion was found up-regulated in the luminal A subtype but down-regulated in lung relapse. The five major molecular subtypes in breast cancer are evidently different with regard to their ability to metastasize to distant organ(s), and share biological features and pathways with their preferred distant metastatic site. [Cancer Res 2008;68(9):3108–14]
MS4A12 Is a Colon-Selective Store-Operated Calcium Channel Promoting Malignant Cell Processes
Authors: Koslowski Michael , Sahin Ugur , Dhaene Karl , Huber Christoph , Türeci Özlem
Published: May 2008

Using a data mining approach for the discovery of new targets for antibody therapy of colon cancer, we identified MS4A12, a sequence homologue of CD20. We show that MS4A12 is a cell surface protein. Expression analysis and immunohistochemistry revealed MS4A12 to be a colonic epithelial cell lineage gene confined to the apical membrane of colonocytes with strict transcriptional repression in all other normal tissue types. Expression is maintained upon malignant transformation in 63% of colon cancers. Ca2+ flux analyses disclosed that MS4A12 is a novel component of store-operated Ca2+ entry in intestinal cells. Using RNAi-mediated gene silencing, we show that loss of MS4A12 in LoVo colon cancer cells attenuates epidermal growth factor receptor–mediated effects. In particular, proliferation, cell motility, and chemotactic invasion of cells are significantly impaired. Cancer cells expressing MS4A12, in contrast, are sensitized and respond to lower concentrations of epidermal growth factor. In summary, these findings have implications for both the physiology of colonic epithelium as well as for the biology and treatment of colon cancer. [Cancer Res 2008;68(9):3458–66]
Sequential Transcription Factor Targeting for Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphomas
Authors: Cerchietti Leandro C. , Polo Jose M. , Da Silva Gustavo F. , Farinha Pedro , Shaknovich Rita , Gascoyne Randy D. , Dowdy Steven F. , Melnick Ari
Published: May 2008

Transcription factors play a central role in malignant transformation by activating or repressing waves of downstream target genes. Therapeutic targeting of transcription factors can reprogram cancer cells to lose their advantages in growth and survival. The BCL6 transcriptional repressor plays a central role in the pathogenesis of diffuse large B-cell lymphomas (DLBCL) and controls downstream checkpoints, including the p53 tumor suppressor gene. We report that a specific inhibitor of BCL6 called BPI can trigger a p53 response in DLBCL cells. This was partially due to induction of p53 activity and partially due to relief of direct repression by BCL6 of p53 target genes. BPI could thus induce a p53-like response even in the presence of mutant p53. Moreover, sequential BCL6 peptide inhibitors followed by p53 peptide or small-molecule activators provided a more powerful antilymphoma effect than either treatment alone by maximally restoring p53 target gene expression. Therefore, tandem targeting of the overlapping BCL6 and p53 transcriptional programs can correct aberrant survival pathways in DLBCL and might provide an effective therapeutic approach to lymphoma therapy. [Cancer Res 2008;68(9):3361–9]
ABT-263: A Potent and Orally Bioavailable Bcl-2 Family Inhibitor
Authors: Tse Christin , Shoemaker Alexander R. , Adickes Jessica , Anderson Mark G. , Chen Jun , Jin Sha , Johnson Eric F. , Marsh Kennan C. , Mitten Michael J. , Nimmer Paul , Roberts Lisa , Tahir Stephen K. , Xiao Yu , Yang Xiufen , Zhang Haichao , Fesik Stephen , Rosenberg Saul H. , Elmore Steven W.
Published: May 2008

Overexpression of the prosurvival Bcl-2 family members (Bcl-2, Bcl-xL, and Mcl-1) is commonly associated with tumor maintenance, progression, and chemoresistance. We previously reported the discovery of ABT-737, a potent, small-molecule Bcl-2 family protein inhibitor. A major limitation of ABT-737 is that it is not orally bioavailable, which would limit chronic single agent therapy and flexibility to dose in combination regimens. Here we report the biological properties of ABT-263, a potent, orally bioavailable Bad-like BH3 mimetic (Ki's of <1 nmol/L for Bcl-2, Bcl-xL, and Bcl-w). The oral bioavailability of ABT-263 in preclinical animal models is 20% to 50%, depending on formulation. ABT-263 disrupts Bcl-2/Bcl-xL interactions with pro-death proteins (e.g., Bim), leading to the initiation of apoptosis within 2 hours posttreatment. In human tumor cells, ABT-263 induces Bax translocation, cytochrome c release, and subsequent apoptosis. Oral administration of ABT-263 alone induces complete tumor regressions in xenograft models of small-cell lung cancer and acute lymphoblastic leukemia. In xenograft models of aggressive B-cell lymphoma and multiple myeloma where ABT-263 exhibits modest or no single agent activity, it significantly enhances the efficacy of clinically relevant therapeutic regimens. These data provide the rationale for clinical trials evaluating ABT-263 in small-cell lung cancer and B-cell malignancies. The oral efficacy of ABT-263 should provide dosing flexibility to maximize clinical utility both as a single agent and in combination regimens. [Cancer Res 2008;68(9):3421–8]
Akt3 and Mutant V600EB-Raf Cooperate to Promote Early Melanoma Development
Authors: Cheung Mitchell , Sharma Arati , Madhunapantula SubbaRao V. , Robertson Gavin P.
Published: May 2008

B-Raf is the most mutated gene in melanoma; however, the mechanism through which it promotes early melanomas remains uncertain. Most nevi contain activated V600EB-Raf but few develop into melanoma, and expression in melanocytes is inhibitory with low protein levels present in surviving cells, suggesting unknown cooperative oncogenic events are necessary for melanoma development. Because many melanomas have V600EB-Raf and active Akt3, it is possible that these proteins cooperatively facilitate melanocyte transformation. In this study, Akt3 is shown to phosphorylate V600EB-Raf to lower its activity as well as that of the downstream mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway to levels promoting early melanoma development. Expression of active Akt3 in early melanoma cells containing V600EB-Raf reduced MAPK signaling and promoted anchorage-independent growth. Furthermore, expression of both V600EB-Raf and active Akt3 in melanocytes promoted a transformed phenotype. Mechanistically, aberrant Akt3 activity in early melanomas serves to phosphorylate Ser364 and Ser428 on V600EB-Raf to reduce activity of V600EB-Raf to levels that promote rather than inhibit proliferation, which aids melanocytic transformation. Inhibition of V600EB-Raf or Akt3 in advanced melanoma cells in which both pathways were active reduced anchorage-independent growth and tumor development in a cooperatively acting manner. Inhibition of Akt3 alone in these cells led to increased MAPK signaling. In summary, these results suggest that activating B-Raf mutations initially promote nevi development, but the resulting high, intense activation of the MAPK pathway inhibits further tumor progression requiring Akt3 activation to bypass this barrier and aid melanoma development. [Cancer Res 2008;68(9):3429–39]
TRIM68 Regulates Ligand-Dependent Transcription of Androgen Receptor in Prostate Cancer Cells
Authors: Miyajima Naoto , Maruyama Satoru , Bohgaki Miyuki , Kano Satoshi , Shigemura Masahiko , Shinohara Nobuo , Nonomura Katsuya , Hatakeyama Shigetsugu
Published: May 2008

The androgen receptor (AR) is a transcription factor belonging to the family of nuclear receptors that mediate the action of androgen. AR plays an important role in normal development of the prostate, as well as in the progression of prostate cancer. AR is regulated by several posttranslational modifications, including phosphorylation, acetylation, and ubiquitination. In this study, we found that the putative E3 ubiquitin ligase TRIM68, which is preferentially expressed in prostate cancer cells, interacts with AR and enhances transcriptional activity of the AR in the presence of dihydrotestosterone. We also found that TRIM68 functionally interacts with TIP60 and p300, which act as coactivators of AR, and synergizes in the transactivation of AR. Overexpression of TRIM68 in prostate cancer cells caused an increase in secretion of prostate-specific antigen (PSA), one of the most reliable diagnostic markers for prostate cancer, whereas knockdown of TRIM68 attenuated the secretion of PSA and inhibited cell growth and colony-forming ability. Moreover, we showed that TRIM68 expression is significantly up-regulated in human prostate cancers compared with the expression in adjacent normal tissues. These results indicate that TRIM68 functions as a cofactor for AR-mediated transcription and is likely to be a novel diagnostic tool and a potentially therapeutic target for prostate cancer. [Cancer Res 2008;68(9):3486–94]
Genetic Deletion of mPGES-1 Suppresses Intestinal Tumorigenesis
Authors: Nakanishi Masako , Montrose David C. , Clark Patsy , Nambiar Prashant R. , Belinsky Glenn S. , Claffey Kevin P. , Xu Daigen , Rosenberg Daniel W.
Published: May 2008

Elevated levels of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) are often found in colorectal cancers. Thus, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, including selective cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors, are among the most promising chemopreventive agents for colorectal cancer. However, their long-term use is restricted by the occurrence of adverse events believed to be associated with a global reduction in prostaglandin production. In the present study, we evaluated the chemopreventive efficacy of targeting the terminal synthase microsomal PGE2 synthase 1 (mPGES-1), which is responsible for generating PGE2, in two murine models of intestinal cancer. We report for the first time that genetic deletion of mPGES-1 in Apc-mutant mice results in marked and persistent suppression of intestinal cancer growth by 66%, whereas suppression of large adenomas (>3 mm) was almost 95%. This effect occurred despite loss of Apc heterozygosity and β-catenin activation. However, we found that mPGES-1 deficiency was associated with a disorganized vascular pattern within primary adenomas as determined by CD31 immunostaining. We also examined the effect of mPGES-1 deletion on carcinogen-induced colon cancer. The absence of mPGES-1 reduced the size and number of preneoplastic aberrant crypt foci (ACF). Importantly, mPGES-1 deletion also blocked the nuclear accumulation of β-catenin in ACF, confirming that β-catenin is a critical target of PGE2 procarcinogenic signaling in the colon. Our data show the feasibility of targeting mPGES-1 for cancer chemoprevention with the potential for improved tolerability over traditional nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and selective COX-2 inhibitors. [Cancer Res 2008;68(9):3251–9]
Bortezomib (Velcade) Induces p27Kip1 Expression through S-Phase Kinase Protein 2 Degradation in Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Uddin Shahab , Ahmed Maqbool , Bavi Prashant , El-Sayed Raafat , Al-Sanea Nasser , AbdulJabbar Alaa , Ashari Luai H. , Alhomoud Samar , Al-Dayel Fouad , Hussain Azhar R. , Al-Kuraya Khawla S.
Published: May 2008

S-phase kinase protein 2 (SKP2), an F-box protein, targets cell cycle regulators including cycle-dependent kinase inhibitor p27Kip1 via ubiquitin-mediated degradation. SKP2 is frequently overexpressed in a variety of cancers. We investigated the role of SKP2 and its ubiquitin-proteasome pathway in colorectal carcinoma using a panel of cell lines, clinical samples, and the NUDE mouse model. Using immunohistochemical analysis on a large tissue microarray of 448 samples, an inverse association of SKP2 expression with p27Kip1 protein levels was seen. A colorectal cancer (CRC) subset with high level of SKP2 and low level of p27Kip1 showed a decreased overall survival (P = 0.0057). Treatment of CRC cell lines with bortezomib or expression of small interfering RNA of SKP2 causes down-regulation of SKP2 and accumulation of p27Kip1. Furthermore, treatment of CRC cells with bortezomib causes apoptosis by involving the mitochondrial pathway and activation of caspases. In addition, treatment of CRC cells with bortezomib down-regulated the expression of XIAP, cIAP1, and survivin. Finally, treatment of CRC cell line xenografts with bortezomib resulted in growth inhibition of tumors in NUDE mice via down-regulation of SKP2 and accumulation of p27Kip1. Altogether, our results suggest that SKP2 and the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway may be potential targets for therapeutic intervention for treatment of CRC. [Cancer Res 2008;68(9):3379–88]
Estrogen Receptor Regulation of Carbonic Anhydrase XII through a Distal Enhancer in Breast Cancer
Authors: Barnett Daniel H. , Sheng Shubin , Howe Charn Tze , Waheed Abdul , Sly William S. , Lin Chin-Yo , Liu Edison T. , Katzenellenbogen Benita S.
Published: May 2008

The expression of carbonic anhydrase XII (CA12), a gene that encodes a zinc metalloenzyme responsible for acidification of the microenvironment of cancer cells, is highly correlated with estrogen receptor α (ERα) in human breast tumors. Here, we show that CA12 is robustly regulated by estrogen via ERα in breast cancer cells, and that this regulation involves a distal estrogen-responsive enhancer region. Upon the addition of estradiol, ERα binds directly to this distal enhancer in vivo, resulting in the recruitment of RNA polymerase II and steroid receptor coactivators SRC-2 and SRC-3, and changes in histone acetylation. Mutagenesis of an imperfect estrogen-responsive element within this enhancer region abolishes estrogen-dependent activity, and chromosome conformation capture and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays show that this distal enhancer communicates with the transcriptional start site of the CA12 gene via intrachromosomal looping upon hormone treatment. This distal enhancer element is observed in the homologous mouse genomic sequence, and the expression of the mouse homologue, Car12, is rapidly and robustly stimulated by estradiol in the mouse uterus in vivo, suggesting that the ER regulation of CA12 is mechanistically and evolutionarily conserved. Our findings highlight the crucial role of ER in the regulation of the CA12 gene, and provide insight into the transcriptional regulatory mechanism that accounts for the strong association of CA12 and ER in human breast cancers. [Cancer Res 2008;68(9):3505–15]
Genomic Alterations of Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase May Sensitize Tumors to Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase Inhibitors
Authors: McDermott Ultan , Iafrate A. John , Gray Nathanael S. , Shioda Toshi , Classon Marie , Maheswaran Shyamala , Zhou Wenjun , Choi Hwan Geun , Smith Shannon L. , Dowell Lori , Ulkus Lindsey E. , Kuhlmann Georgiana , Greninger Patricia , Christensen James G. , Haber Daniel A. , Settleman Jeffrey
Published: May 2008

Selective kinase inhibitors have had a substantial impact on the field of medical oncology. Whereas these agents can elicit dramatic clinical responses in some settings, their activity is generally limited to a subset of treated patients whose tumor cells harbor a specific genetic lesion. We have established an automated platform for examining the sensitivity to various molecularly targeted inhibitors across a large panel of human tumor-derived cell lines to identify additional genotype-correlated responses that may be clinically relevant. Among the inhibitors tested in a panel of 602 cell lines derived from a variety of human cancers, we found that a selective inhibitor of the anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) potently suppressed growth of a small subset of tumor cells. This subset included lines derived from anaplastic large cell lymphomas, non–small-cell lung cancers, and neuroblastomas. ALK is a receptor tyrosine kinase that was first identified as part of a protein fusion derived from a chromosomal translocation detected in the majority of anaplastic large cell lymphoma patients, and has recently been implicated as an oncogene in a small fraction of non–small-cell lung cancers and neuroblastomas. Significantly, sensitivity in these cell lines was well correlated with specific ALK genomic rearrangements, including chromosomal translocations and gene amplification. Moreover, in such cell lines, ALK kinase inhibition can lead to potent suppression of downstream survival signaling and an apoptotic response. These findings suggest that a subset of lung cancers, lymphomas, and neuroblastomas that harbor genomic ALK alterations may be clinically responsive to pharmacologic ALK inhibition. [Cancer Res 2008;68(9):3389–95]
Dual Function of Pancreatic Endoplasmic Reticulum Kinase in Tumor Cell Growth Arrest and Survival
Authors: Ranganathan Aparna C. , Ojha Shishir , Kourtidis Antonis , Conklin Douglas S. , Aguirre-Ghiso Julio A.
Published: May 2008

Pancreatic endoplasmic reticulum kinase (PERK)-eIF2α signaling, a component of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress response, has been proposed as a therapeutic target due to its importance to cell survival in hypoxic tumors. In this study, we show that in addition to promoting survival, PERK can also suppress tumor growth of advanced carcinomas. Our results show that in squamous carcinoma T-HEp3 cells, which display low PERK-eIF2α signaling, inducible activation of an Fv2E-PERK fusion protein results in a strong G0-G1 arrest in vitro. Most importantly, Fv2E-PERK activation, in addition to promoting survival in vitro, inhibits T-HEp3 and SW620 colon carcinoma growth in vivo. Increased PERK activation is linked to enhanced p-eIF2α levels, translational repression, and a decrease in Ki67, pH 3, and cycD1/D3 levels, but not to changes in angiogenesis or apoptosis. Experimental reduction of PERK activity, or overexpression of GADD34 in a spontaneously arising in vivo quiescent variant of HEp3 cells that displays strong basal PERK-eIF2α activation, reverts their quiescent phenotype. We conclude that the growth-inhibitory function of PERK is preserved in tumors and upon proper reactivation can severely inhibit tumor growth through induction of quiescence. This is an important consideration in the development of PERK-based therapies, as its inhibition may facilitate the proliferation of slow-cycling or dormant tumor cells. [Cancer Res 2008;68(9):3260–8]
Temozolomide-Mediated Radiosensitization of Human Glioma Cells in a Zebrafish Embryonic System
Authors: Geiger Geoffrey A. , Fu Weili , Kao Gary D.
Published: May 2008

The zebrafish (Danio rerio) is a popular vertebrate model for biomedical research. The rapid development, transparency, and experimental accessibility of the embryo offer opportunities for assessing the developmental effects of anticancer treatment strategies. We therefore systematically investigated parameters for growing U251 human glioma cells expressing red fluorescent protein (U251-RFP) in zebrafish embryos. Factors optimized include injection volume, number of cells injected, anatomic site of injection, age of the embryo at the time of injection, and postinjection incubation temperature. After injection into the embryos, the U251-RFP cells proliferated and the resultant tumors, and even individual cells, could be visualized in real-time via fluorescence microscopy without the need for sacrifice. These tumors recruited host zebrafish vasculature, suggesting cancer cell–host tissue interactions. Having optimized parameters for introducing and growing these human cells in the zebrafish embryos, we exposed both embryos and transplanted cancer cells to ionizing radiation and temozolomide, either alone or in combination. The human tumors in each embryo were substantially diminished following exposure to ionizing radiation and the decrease was further enhanced by pretreatment with temozolomide. In contrast, temozolomide had no discernible effects on embryonic development. These results together support the relative safety of temozolomide during embryonic development, as well as its anticancer efficacy when combined with radiation. These results suggest the value of the zebrafish model for in vivo testing of the efficacy and safety of anticancer strategies, especially on the very young. [Cancer Res 2008;68(9):3396–404]