bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Data from Beta-Blocker Drug Use and Survival among Patients with Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma
Authors: Udumyan Ruzan , Montgomery Scott , Fang Fang , Almroth Henrik , Valdimarsdottir Unnur , Ekbom Anders , Smedby Karin E. , Fall Katja
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Preclinical studies have suggested that β-adrenergic signaling is involved in pancreatic cancer progression. Prompted by such studies, we investigated an association between beta-blocker drug use with improved cancer-specific survival in a large, general population-based cohort of patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). All patients diagnosed with a first primary PDAC in Sweden between 2006 and 2009 were identified through the Swedish Cancer Register (n = 2,394). We obtained information about use of beta-blockers and other medications through linkage with the national Prescribed Drug Register. Cancer-specific mortality was assessed using the Swedish Cause of Death Register. We used multivariable Cox regression adjusted for sociodemographic factors, tumor characteristics, comorbidity score, and other medications to estimate HRs and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for cancer-specific mortality associated with beta-blocker use during the 90-day period before cancer diagnosis. A total of 2,054 (86%) died, with pancreatic cancer recorded as the underlying cause of death during a maximum of 5-year follow-up (median 5 months). Patients who used beta-blockers (n = 522) had a lower cancer-specific mortality rate than nonusers (adjusted HR, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.70–0.90; P < 0.001). This observed rate reduction was more pronounced among patients with localized disease at diagnosis (n = 517; adjusted HR, 0.60; 95% CI, 0.43–0.83; P = 0.002), especially for users with higher daily doses (HR, 0.54; 95% CI, 0.35–0.83; P = 0.005). No clear rate differences were observed by beta-blocker receptor selectivity. Our results support the concept that beta-blocker drugs may improve the survival of PDAC patients, particularly among those with localized disease. Cancer Res; 77(13); 3700–7. ©2017 AACR.
Data from Tie2 Expression on Macrophages Is Required for Blood Vessel Reconstruction and Tumor Relapse after Chemotherapy
Authors: Chen Lin , Li Jie , Wang Fei , Dai Chengliang , Wu Fan , Liu Xiaoman , Li Taotao , Glauben Rainer , Zhang Yi , Nie Guangjun , He Yulong , Qin Zhihai
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Tumor relapse after chemotherapy is a major hurdle for successful cancer therapy. Chemotherapeutic drugs select for resistant tumor cells and reshape tumor microenvironment, including the blood supply system. Using animal models, we observed on macrophages in tumor tissue a close correlation between upregulated Tie2 expression and tumor relapse upon chemotherapy. Conditional deletion of Tie2 expression in macrophages significantly prohibited blood supply and regrowth of tumors. Tie2+ macrophages were derived from tumor-infiltrating Tie2−CD11b+ cells and hypoxia-induced Tie2 expression on these cells. Mechanistically, expression of Tie2 prevented macrophages from apoptosis in stress conditions via the AKT-dependent signaling pathway. Together, these results demonstrate that Tie2 expression by macrophages is necessary and sufficient to promote the reconstruction of blood vessels after chemotherapy, shedding new light on developing novel strategies to inhibit tumor relapse. Cancer Res; 76(23); 6828–38. ©2016 AACR.
Data from Cell Adhesion Molecule CD166 Drives Malignant Progression and Osteolytic Disease in Multiple Myeloma
Authors: Xu Linlin , Mohammad Khalid S. , Wu Hao , Crean Colin , Poteat Bradley , Cheng Yinghua , Cardoso Angelo A. , Machal Christophe , Hanenberg Helmut , Abonour Rafat , Kacena Melissa A. , Chirgwin John , Suvannasankha Attaya , Srour Edward F.
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Multiple myeloma is incurable once osteolytic lesions have seeded at skeletal sites, but factors mediating this deadly pathogenic advance remain poorly understood. Here, we report evidence of a major role for the cell adhesion molecule CD166, which we discovered to be highly expressed in multiple myeloma cell lines and primary bone marrow cells from patients. CD166+ multiple myeloma cells homed more efficiently than CD166− cells to the bone marrow of engrafted immunodeficient NSG mice. CD166 silencing in multiple myeloma cells enabled longer survival, a smaller tumor burden, and less osteolytic lesions, as compared with mice bearing control cells. CD166 deficiency in multiple myeloma cell lines or CD138+ bone marrow cells from multiple myeloma patients compromised their ability to induce bone resorption in an ex vivo organ culture system. Furthermore, CD166 deficiency in multiple myeloma cells also reduced the formation of osteolytic disease in vivo after intratibial engraftment. Mechanistic investigation revealed that CD166 expression in multiple myeloma cells inhibited osteoblastogenesis of bone marrow–derived osteoblast progenitors by suppressing Runx2 gene expression. Conversely, CD166 expression in multiple myeloma cells promoted osteoclastogenesis by activating TRAF6-dependent signaling pathways in osteoclast progenitors. Overall, our results define CD166 as a pivotal director in multiple myeloma cell homing to the bone marrow and multiple myeloma progression, rationalizing its further study as a candidate therapeutic target for multiple myeloma treatment. Cancer Res; 76(23); 6901–10. ©2016 AACR.
Data from Disrupting Androgen Receptor Signaling Induces Snail-Mediated Epithelial–Mesenchymal Plasticity in Prostate Cancer
Authors: Miao Lu , Yang Lin , Li Rui , Rodrigues Daniel N. , Crespo Mateus , Hsieh Jer-Tsong , Tilley Wayne D. , de Bono Johann , Selth Luke A. , Raj Ganesh V.
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Epithelial-to-mesenchymal plasticity (EMP) has been linked to metastasis, stemness, and drug resistance. In prostate cancer, EMP has been associated with both suppression and activation of the androgen receptor (AR) signaling. Here we investigated the effect of the potent AR antagonist enzalutamide on EMP in multiple preclinical models of prostate cancer and patient tissues. Enzalutamide treatment significantly enhanced the expression of EMP drivers (ZEB1, ZEB2, Snail, Twist, and FOXC2) and mesenchymal markers (N-cadherin, fibronectin, and vimentin) in prostate cancer cells, enhanced prostate cancer cell migration, and induced prostate cancer transformation to a spindle, fibroblast-like morphology. Enzalutamide-induced EMP required concomitant suppression of AR signaling and activation of the EMP-promoting transcription factor Snail, as evidenced by both knockdown and overexpression studies. Supporting these findings, AR signaling and Snail expression were inversely correlated in C4-2 xenografts, patient-derived castration-resistant metastases, and clinical samples. For the first time, we elucidate a mechanism explaining the inverse relationship between AR and Snail. Specifically, we found that AR directly repressed SNAI1 gene expression by binding to specific AR-responsive elements within the SNAI1 promoter. Collectively, our findings demonstrate that de-repression of Snail and induction of EMP is an adaptive response to enzalutamide with implications for therapy resistance. Cancer Res; 77(11); 3101–12. ©2017 AACR.
Data from Transcriptome Analysis of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Reveals an Integrated mRNA-lncRNA Signature with Predictive and Prognostic Value
Authors: Jiang Yi-Zhou , Liu Yi-Rong , Xu Xiao-En , Jin Xi , Hu Xin , Yu Ke-Da , Shao Zhi-Ming
Published: March 2024

Abstract
While recognized as a generally aggressive disease, triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is highly diverse in different patients with variable outcomes. In this prospective observational study, we aimed to develop an RNA signature of TNBC patients to improve risk stratification and optimize the choice of adjuvant therapy. Transcriptome microarrays for 33 paired TNBC and adjacent normal breast tissue revealed tumor-specific mRNAs and long noncoding RNAs (lncRNA) that were associated with recurrence-free survival. Using the Cox regression model, we developed an integrated mRNA-lncRNA signature based on the mRNA species for FCGR1A, RSAD2, CHRDL1, and the lncRNA species for HIF1A-AS2 and AK124454. The prognostic and predictive accuracy of this signature was evaluated in a training set of 137 TNBC patients and then validated in a second independent set of 138 TNBC patients. In addition, we enrolled 82 TNBC patients who underwent taxane-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NCT) to further verify the predictive value of the signature. In both the training and validation sets, the integrated signature had better prognostic value than clinicopathologic parameters. We also confirmed the interaction between the administration of taxane-based NCT and different risk groups. In the NCT cohort, patients in the low-risk group were more likely to achieve pathologic complete remission after taxane-based NCT (P = 0.014). Functionally, we showed that HIF1A-AS2 and AK124454 promoted cell proliferation and invasion in TNBC cells and contributed there to paclitaxel resistance. Overall, our results established an integrated mRNA-lncRNA signature as a reliable tool to predict tumor recurrence and the benefit of taxane chemotherapy in TNBC, warranting further investigation in larger populations to help frame individualized treatments for TNBC patients. Cancer Res; 76(8); 2105–14. ©2016 AACR.
Data from NRBP2 Overexpression Increases the Chemosensitivity of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells via Akt Signaling
Authors: Zhang Lixing , Ge Chao , Zhao Fangyu , Zhang Yang , Wang Xin , Yao Ming , Li Jinjun
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma is highly resistant to chemotherapy. Research data supported that cancer stem cells (CSC) may be responsible for the chemoresistance and strategies that suppress CSCs stemness could also inhibit the drug resistance. In this study, we found that nuclear receptor binding protein 2 (NRBP2) expression was downregulated in the CD133+ hepatocellular carcinoma CSCs. Most adjacent noncancerous liver tissue analyzed expressed higher level of NRBP2 compared with cancerous tissue in hepatocellular carcinoma patients, and high NRBP2 expression indicated a better prognosis. Real-time PCR results showed that NRBP2 negatively correlated with stemness-related genes, including Oct3/4, Nanog, Notch1, Ep300, and CD133 mRNA expression. High NRBP2 expression in hepatocellular carcinoma cells downregulated CK19 protein expression, inhibited tumorsphere formation, and tumorigenesis ability, indicating that high NRBP2 expression restrains the hepatocellular carcinoma cell stemness. Overexpression of NRBP2 reduced the IC50 of sorafenib in hepatocellular carcinoma cells, and NRBP2 expression was negatively correlated with hepatocellular carcinoma cell resistance to the chemotherapy agents, including cisplatin and the Akt signaling inhibitor perifosine. Coimmunoprecipitation results showed that NRBP2 could bind with Annexin A2 (ANXA2) and inhibit ANXA2 expression. Coexpression of ANXA2 restored the chemoresistant ability in NRBP2-overexpressing hepatocellular carcinoma cells. Further analysis showed that NRBP2 downregulated Akt and its downstream signaling target Bad phosphorylation level. ANXA2 coexpression partially restored the Akt phosphorylation. Analysis of the expression of Bcl2 family proteins showed that NRBP2 may increase hepatocellular carcinoma cell chemosensitivity by regulating expression of survival proteins involved in the Akt and Bcl2 pathway. These results suggest that NRBP2 plays an important role in the tumor progression and chemotherapeutic resistance of hepatocellular carcinoma. Cancer Res; 76(23); 7059–71. ©2016 AACR.
Data from Analysis of Liver Tumor-Prone Mouse Models of the Hippo Kinase Scaffold Proteins RASSF1A and SAV1
Authors: Zhang Xiaoying , Guo Cai , Wu Xiwei , Li Arthur X. , Liu Limin , Tsark Walter , Dammann Reinhard , Shen Hui , Vonderfecht Steven L. , Pfeifer Gerd P.
Published: March 2024

Abstract
The tumor suppressor gene RASSF1A is epigenetically silenced in most human cancers. As a binding partner of the kinases MST1 and MST2, the mammalian orthologs of the Drosophila Hippo kinase, RASSF1A is a potential regulator of the Hippo tumor suppressor pathway. RASSF1A shares these properties with the scaffold protein SAV1. The role of this pathway in human cancer has remained enigmatic inasmuch as Hippo pathway components are rarely mutated in tumors. Here we show that Rassf1a homozygous knockout mice develop liver tumors. However, heterozygous deletion of Sav1 or codeletion of Rassf1a and Sav1 produced liver tumors with much higher efficiency than single deletion of Rassf1a. Analysis of RASSF1A-binding partners by mass spectrometry identified the Hippo kinases MST1, MST2, and the oncogenic IκB kinase TBK1 as the most enriched RASSF1A-interacting proteins. The transcriptome of Rassf1a−/− livers was more deregulated than that of Sav1+/− livers, and the transcriptome of Rassf1a−/−, Sav1+/− livers was similar to that of Rassf1a−/− mice. We found that the levels of TBK1 protein were substantially upregulated in livers lacking Rassf1a. Furthermore, transcripts of several β-tubulin isoforms were increased in the Rassf1a-deficient livers presumably reflecting a role of RASSF1A as a microtubule-stabilizing protein. In human liver cancer, RASSF1A frequently undergoes methylation at the promoter but this was not observed for MST1, MST2, or SAV1. Our results suggest a multifactorial role of RASSF1A in suppression of liver carcinogenesis. Cancer Res; 76(9); 2824–35. ©2016 AACR.
Data from Efficacy of Cotargeting Angiopoietin-2 and the VEGF Pathway in the Adjuvant Postsurgical Setting for Early Breast, Colorectal, and Renal Cancers
Authors: Wu Florence T.H. , Man Shan , Xu Ping , Chow Annabelle , Paez-Ribes Marta , Lee Christina R. , Pirie-Shepherd Steven R. , Emmenegger Urban , Kerbel Robert S.
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Antiangiogenic tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) that target VEGF receptor-2 (VEGFR2) have not been effective as adjuvant treatments for micrometastatic disease in phase III clinical trials. Angiopoietin-2 (Ang2) is a proangiogenic and proinflammatory vascular destabilizer that cooperates with VEGF. The purpose of this study was to test whether CVX-060 (an Ang2-specific CovX-body) can be combined with VEGFR2-targeting TKIs (sunitinib or regorafenib) to successfully treat postsurgical metastatic disease in multiple orthotopically implanted human tumor xenograft and syngeneic murine tumor models. In the MDA-MB-231.LM2-4 human breast cancer model, adjuvant sunitinib was ineffective, whereas adjuvant CVX-060 delayed the progression of pulmonary or distant lymphatic metastases; however, overall survival was only improved with the adjuvant use of a VEGF-A/Ang2-bispecific CovX-body (CVX-241) but not when CVX-060 is combined with sunitinib. Adjuvant CVX-241 also showed promise in the EMT-6/CDDP murine breast cancer model, with or without an immune checkpoint inhibitor (anti-PD-L1). In the RENCA model of mouse renal cancer, however, combining CVX-060 with sunitinib in the adjuvant setting was superior to CVX-241 as treatment for postsurgical lung metastases. In the HCT116 and HT29 xenograft models of colorectal cancer, both CVX-060 and regorafenib inhibited liver metastases. Overall, our preclinical findings suggest differential strategies by which Ang2 blockers can be successfully combined with VEGF pathway targeting in the adjuvant setting to treat micrometastatic disease—particularly, in combination with VEGF-A blockers (but not VEGFR2 TKIs) in resected breast cancer; in combination with VEGFR2 TKIs in resected kidney cancer; and as single agents or with VEGFR2 TKIs in resected colorectal cancer. Cancer Res; 76(23); 6988–7000. ©2016 AACR.
Data from Genetic Polymorphisms in the Long Noncoding RNA MIR2052HG Offer a Pharmacogenomic Basis for the Response of Breast Cancer Patients to Aromatase Inhibitor Therapy
Authors: Ingle James N. , Xie Fang , Ellis Matthew J. , Goss Paul E. , Shepherd Lois E. , Chapman Judith-Anne W. , Chen Bingshu E. , Kubo Michiaki , Furukawa Yoichi , Momozawa Yukihide , Stearns Vered , Pritchard Kathleen I. , Barman Poulami , Carlson Erin E. , Goetz Matthew P. , Weinshilboum Richard M. , Kalari Krishna R. , Wang Liewei
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Genetic risks in breast cancer remain only partly understood. Here, we report the results of a genome-wide association study of germline DNA from 4,658 women, including 252 women experiencing a breast cancer recurrence, who were entered on the MA.27 adjuvant trial comparing the aromatase inhibitors (AI) anastrozole and exemestane. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) of top significance were identified in the gene encoding MIR2052HG, a long noncoding RNA of unknown function. Heterozygous or homozygous individuals for variant alleles exhibited a ∼40% or ∼63% decrease, respectively, in the hazard of breast cancer recurrence relative to homozygous wild-type individuals. Functional genomic studies in lymphoblastoid cell lines and ERα-positive breast cancer cell lines showed that expression from MIR2052HG and the ESR1 gene encoding estrogen receptor-α (ERα) was induced by estrogen and AI in a SNP-dependent manner. Variant SNP genotypes exhibited increased ERα binding to estrogen response elements, relative to wild-type genotypes, a pattern that was reversed by AI treatment. Further, variant SNPs were associated with lower expression of MIR2052HG and ERα. RNAi-mediated silencing of MIR2052HG in breast cancer cell lines decreased ERα expression, cell proliferation, and anchorage-independent colony formation. Mechanistic investigations revealed that MIR2052HG sustained ERα levels both by promoting AKT/FOXO3-mediated ESR1 transcription and by limiting ubiquitin-mediated, proteasome-dependent degradation of ERα. Taken together, our results define MIR2052HS as a functionally polymorphic gene that affects risks of breast cancer recurrence in women treated with AI. More broadly, our results offer a pharmacogenomic basis to understand differences in the response of breast cancer patients to AI therapy. Cancer Res; 76(23); 7012–23. ©2016 AACR.
Data from Differential Effects of IL6 and Activin A in the Development of Cancer-Associated Cachexia
Authors: Chen Justin L. , Walton Kelly L. , Qian Hongwei , Colgan Timothy D. , Hagg Adam , Watt Matthew J. , Harrison Craig A. , Gregorevic Paul
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Cachexia is a life-threatening wasting syndrome lacking effective treatment, which arises in many cancer patients. Although ostensibly induced by multiple tumor-produced cytokines (tumorkines), their functional contribution to initiation and progression of this syndrome has proven difficult to determine. In this study, we used adeno-associated viral vectors to elevate circulating levels of the tumorkines IL6 and/or activin A in animals in the absence of tumors as a tactic to evaluate hypothesized roles in cachexia development. Mice with elevated levels of IL6 exhibited 8.1% weight loss after 9 weeks, whereas mice with elevated levels of activin A lost 11% of their body weight. Co-elevation of both tumorkines to levels approximating those observed in cancer cachexia models induced a more rapid and profound body weight loss of 15.4%. Analysis of body composition revealed that activin A primarily triggered loss of lean mass, whereas IL6 was a major mediator of fat loss. Histologic and transcriptional analysis of affected organs/tissues (skeletal muscle, fat, and liver) identified interactions between the activin A and IL6 signaling pathways. For example, IL6 exacerbated the detrimental effects of activin A in skeletal muscle, whereas activin A curbed the IL6-induced acute-phase response in liver. This study presents a useful model to deconstruct cachexia, opening a pathway to determining which tumorkines are best targeted to slow/reverse this devastating condition in cancer patients. Cancer Res; 76(18); 5372–82. ©2016 AACR.
Data from Pancreatic Cancer Progression Relies upon Mutant p53-Induced Oncogenic Signaling Mediated by NOP14
Authors: Du Yongxing , Liu Ziwen , You Lei , Hou Pengjiao , Ren Xiaoxia , Jiao Tao , Zhao Wenjing , Li Zongze , Shu Hong , Liu Changzheng , Zhao Yupei
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Mutant p53 (mutp53) proteins promote tumor invasion and metastasis in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). However, the mechanism underlying sustained activation of mutp53 oncogenic signaling is currently unclear. In this study, we report that NOP14 nucleolar protein (NOP14) expression is upregulated in PDAC tumors and metastatic tissue specimens. NOP14 overexpression promoted cell motility, whereas NOP14 inhibition decreased invasive capacity of PDAC cells. In vivo invasion assays conducted on established subcutaneously, orthotopically, and intravenously injected tumor mouse models also indicated NOP14 as a promoter of PDAC metastasis. Mechanistically, mutp53 was validated as a functional target of NOP14; NOP14 primed tumor invasion and metastasis by increasing the stability of mutp53 mRNA. The NOP14/mutp53 axis suppressed p21 expression at both the transcriptional and posttranscriptional levels via induction of miR-17-5p in PDAC cells. In vivo, high NOP14 expression in PDAC patient tumors correlated with local metastasis and lymph invasion. Overall, our findings define a novel mechanism for understanding the function of NOP14 in the metastatic cascade of PDAC. Targeting NOP14 allows for effective suppression of tumor invasion in a mutp53-dependent manner, implicating NOP14 inhibition as a potential approach for attenuating metastasis in p53-mutant tumors. Cancer Res; 77(10); 2661–73. ©2017 AACR.
Data from Impaired Planar Germ Cell Division in the Testis, Caused by Dissociation of RHAMM from the Spindle, Results in Hypofertility and Seminoma
Authors: Li Huaibiao , Frappart Lucien , Moll Jürgen , Winkler Anne , Kroll Torsten , Hamann Jana , Kufferath Iris , Groth Marco , Taudien Stefan , Schütte Moritz , Yaspo Marie-Laure , Heuer Heike , Lange Bodo M.H. , Platzer Matthias , Zatloukal Kurt , Herrlich Peter , Ploubidou Aspasia
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Hypofertility is a risk factor for the development of testicular germ cell tumors (TGCT), but the initiating event linking these pathologies is unknown. We hypothesized that excessive planar division of undifferentiated germ cells promotes their self-renewal and TGCT development. However, our results obtained from mouse models and seminoma patients demonstrated the opposite. Defective planar divisions of undifferentiated germ cells caused their premature exit from the seminiferous tubule niche, resulting in germ cell depletion, hypofertility, intratubular germ cell neoplasias, and seminoma development. Oriented divisions of germ cells, which determine their fate, were regulated by spindle-associated RHAMM—a function we found to be abolished in 96% of human seminomas. Mechanistically, RHAMM expression is regulated by the testis-specific polyadenylation protein CFIm25, which is downregulated in the human seminomas. These results suggested that spindle misorientation is oncogenic, not by promoting self‐renewing germ cell divisions within the niche, but by prematurely displacing proliferating cells from their normal epithelial milieu. Furthermore, they suggested RHAMM loss-of-function and spindle misorientation as an initiating event underlying both hypofertility and TGCT initiation. These findings identify spindle-associated RHAMM as an intrinsic regulator of male germ cell fate and as a gatekeeper preventing initiation of TGCTs. Cancer Res; 76(21); 6382–95. ©2016 AACR.
Data from Anti-PD-L1 Efficacy Can Be Enhanced by Inhibition of Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells with a Selective Inhibitor of PI3Kδ/γ
Authors: Davis Ruth J. , Moore Ellen C. , Clavijo Paul E. , Friedman Jay , Cash Harrison , Chen Zhong , Silvin Chris , Van Waes Carter , Allen Clint
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Checkpoint inhibitors are relatively inefficacious in head and neck cancers, despite an abundance of genetic alterations and a T-cell–inflamed phenotype. One significant barrier to efficacy may be the recruitment of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) into the tumor microenvironment. Here we demonstrate functional inhibition of MDSC with IPI-145, an inhibitor of PI3Kδ and PI3Kγ isoforms, which enhances responses to PD-L1 blockade. Combination therapy induced CD8+ T lymphocyte–dependent primary tumor growth delay and prolonged survival only in T-cell–inflamed tumor models of head and neck cancers. However, higher doses of IPI-145 reversed the observed enhancement of anti-PD-L1 efficacy due to off-target suppression of the activity of tumor-infiltrating T lymphocytes. Together, our results offer a preclinical proof of concept for the low-dose use of isoform-specific PI3Kδ/γ inhibitors to suppress MDSC to enhance responses to immune checkpoint blockade. Cancer Res; 77(10); 2607–19. ©2017 AACR.
Data from Aberrant JMJD3 Expression Upregulates Slug to Promote Migration, Invasion, and Stem Cell–Like Behaviors in Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Tang Bo , Qi Guangying , Tang Fang , Yuan Shengguang , Wang Zhenran , Liang Xingsi , Li Bo , Yu Shuiping , Liu Jie , Huang Qi , Wei Yangchao , Zhai Run , Lei Biao , Yu Hongping , Tomlinson Stephen , He Songqing
Published: March 2024

Abstract
The Jumonji domain–containing chromatin remodeling factor JMJD3 has important roles in development and cancer. Here, we report a pivotal role for JMJD3 in sustaining the phenotype of aggressive hepatocellular carcinomas. Expression levels of JMJD3 in clinical specimens of hepatocellular carcinoma correlated inversely with patient survival. In hepatocellular carcinoma cells, we found that enforcing its overexpression induced epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT), invasive migration, stem cell–like traits, and metastatic properties. Conversely, silencing JMJD3 in hepatocellular carcinoma cells overexpressing it inhibited these aggressive phenotypes. Mechanistically, JMJD3 modulated H3K27me3 in the SLUG gene promoter, a histone mark associated with active SLUG transcription. SLUG silencing blocked JMJD3-induced EMT, stemness, and metastasis. Furthermore, SLUG expression in hepatocellular carcinoma clinical specimens correlated positively with JMJD3 expression. Our results establish JMJD3 as a critical driver of hepatocellular carcinoma stem cell–like and metastatic behaviors, with implications for prognosis and treatment. Cancer Res; 76(22); 6520–32. ©2016 AACR.
Data from Rapid Reprogramming of Primary Human Astrocytes into Potent Tumor-Initiating Cells with Defined Genetic Factors
Authors: Li Fang , Liu Xinjian , Sampson John H. , Bigner Darell D. , Li Chuan-Yuan
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Cancer stem-like cells (CSC) are thought to drive brain cancer, but their cellular and molecular origins remain uncertain. Here, we report the successful generation of induced CSC (iCSC) from primary human astrocytes through the expression of defined genetic factors. Combined transduction of four factors, Myc, Oct-4, p53DD, and Ras, induced efficient transformation of primary human astrocytes into malignant cells with powerful tumor-initiating capabilities. Notably, transplantation of 100 transduced cells into nude mice was sufficient for tumor formation. The cells showed unlimited self-renewal ability with robust telomerase activities. In addition, they expressed typical glioma stem-like cell markers, such as CD133, CD15, and CD90. Moreover, these cells could form spheres in culture and differentiate into neuron-like, astrocyte-like, and oligodendrocyte-like cells. Finally, they also displayed resistance to the widely used brain cancer drug temozolomide. These iCSCs could provide important tools for studies of glioma biology and therapeutics development. Cancer Res; 76(17); 5143–50. ©2016 AACR.
Data from Heterogeneous Stromal Signaling within the Tumor Microenvironment Controls the Metastasis of Pancreatic Cancer
Authors: Rucki Agnieszka A. , Foley Kelly , Zhang Pingbo , Xiao Qian , Kleponis Jennifer , Wu Annie A. , Sharma Rajni , Mo Guanglan , Liu Angen , Van Eyk Jennifer , Jaffee Elizabeth M. , Zheng Lei
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Understanding how stromal signals regulate the development of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) may suggest novel therapeutic interventions in this disease. In this study, we assessed the metastatic role of stromal signals suggested to be important in the PDAC microenvironment. Src and IGF-1R phosphorylated the prometastatic molecule Annexin A2 (AnxA2) at Y23 and Y333 in response to stromal signals HGF and IGF-1, respectively, and IGF-1 expression was regulated by the Sonic Hedgehog (Shh) pathway. Both Shh and HGF were heterogeneously expressed in PDAC stroma, and only dual inhibition of these pathways could significantly suppress AnxA2 phosphorylation, PDAC growth, and metastasis. Taken together, our results illuminate tumor–stromal interactions, which drive metastasis, and provide a mechanism-based rationale for a stroma-directed therapy for PDAC. Cancer Res; 77(1); 41–52. ©2016 AACR.
Data from Androgen Receptor Variants Mediate DNA Repair after Prostate Cancer Irradiation
Authors: Yin Yi , Li Rui , Xu Kangling , Ding Sentai , Li Jeffrey , Baek GuemHee , Ramanand Susmita G. , Ding Sam , Liu Zhao , Gao Yunpeng , Kanchwala Mohammed S. , Li Xiangyi , Hutchinson Ryan , Liu Xihui , Woldu Solomon L. , Xing Chao , Desai Neil B. , Feng Felix Y. , Burma Sandeep , de Bono Johann S. , Dehm Scott M. , Mani Ram S. , Chen Benjamin P.C. , Raj Ganesh V.
Published: March 2024

Abstract
In prostate cancer, androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) enhances the cytotoxic effects of radiotherapy. This effect is associated with weakening of the DNA damage response (DDR) normally supported by the androgen receptor. As a significant number of patients will fail combined ADT and radiotherapy, we hypothesized that DDR may be driven by androgen receptor splice variants (ARV) induced by ADT. Investigating this hypothesis, we found that ARVs increase the clonogenic survival of prostate cancer cells after irradiation in an ADT-independent manner. Notably, prostate cancer cell irradiation triggers binding of ARV to the catalytic subunit of the critical DNA repair kinase DNA-PK. Pharmacologic inhibition of DNA-PKc blocked this interaction, increased DNA damage, and elevated prostate cancer cell death after irradiation. Our findings provide a mechanistic rationale for therapeutic targeting of DNA-PK in the context of combined ADT and radiotherapy as a strategy to radiosensitize clinically localized prostate cancer. Cancer Res; 77(18); 4745–54. ©2017 AACR.
Data from LSD1-Mediated Epigenetic Reprogramming Drives CENPE Expression and Prostate Cancer Progression
Authors: Liang Yi , Ahmed Musaddeque , Guo Haiyang , Soares Fraser , Hua Junjie T. , Gao Shuai , Lu Catherine , Poon Christine , Han Wanting , Langstein Jens , Ekram Muhammad B. , Li Brian , Davicioni Elai , Takhar Mandeep , Erho Nicholas , Karnes R. Jeffrey , Chadwick Dianne , van der Kwast Theodorus , Boutros Paul C. , Arrowsmith Cheryl H. , Feng Felix Y. , Joshua Anthony M. , Zoubeidi Amina , Cai Changmeng , He Housheng H.
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Androgen receptor (AR) signaling is a key driver of prostate cancer, and androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT) is a standard treatment for patients with advanced and metastatic disease. However, patients receiving ADT eventually develop incurable castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Here, we report that the chromatin modifier LSD1, an important regulator of AR transcriptional activity, undergoes epigenetic reprogramming in CRPC. LSD1 reprogramming in this setting activated a subset of cell-cycle genes, including CENPE, a centromere binding protein and mitotic kinesin. CENPE was regulated by the co-binding of LSD1 and AR to its promoter, which was associated with loss of RB1 in CRPC. Notably, genetic deletion or pharmacological inhibition of CENPE significantly decreases tumor growth. Our findings show how LSD1-mediated epigenetic reprogramming drives CRPC, and they offer a mechanistic rationale for its therapeutic targeting in this disease. Cancer Res; 77(20); 5479–90. ©2017 AACR.
Data from Gemcitabine and Chk1 Inhibitor AZD7762 Synergistically Suppress the Growth of Lkb1-Deficient Lung Adenocarcinoma
Authors: Liu Yan , Li Yuyang , Wang Xiaoen , Liu Feiyang , Gao Peng , Quinn Max M. , Li Fei , Merlino Ashley A. , Benes Cyril , Liu Qingsong , Gray Nathanael S. , Wong Kwok-Kin
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Cells lacking the tumor suppressor gene LKB1/STK11 alter their metabolism to match the demands of accelerated growth, leaving them highly vulnerable to stress. However, targeted therapy for LKB1-deficient cancers has yet to be reported. In both Kras/p53/Lkb1 cell lines and a genetically engineered mouse model of Kras/p53/Lkb1–induced lung cancer, much higher rates of DNA damage occur, resulting in increased dependence on Chk1 checkpoint function. Here we demonstrate that short-term treatment with the Chk1 inhibitor AZD7762 reduces metabolism in pembrolizumab tumors, synergizing with the DNA-damaging drug gemcitabine to reduce tumor size in these models. Our results offer preclinical proof of concept for use of a Chk1 inhibitor to safely enhance the efficacy of gemcitabine, particularly in aggressive KRAS-driven LKB1-deficient lung adenocarcinomas. Cancer Res; 77(18); 5068–76. ©2017 AACR.
Data from Epigenetically Aberrant Stroma in MDS Propagates Disease via Wnt/β-Catenin Activation
Authors: Bhagat Tushar D. , Chen Si , Bartenstein Matthias , Barlowe A. Trevor , Von Ahrens Dagny , Choudhary Gaurav S. , Tivnan Patrick , Amin Elianna , Marcondes A. Mario , Sanders Mathijs A. , Hoogenboezem Remco M. , Kambhampati Suman , Ramachandra Nandini , Mantzaris Iaonnis , Sukrithan Vineeth , Laurence Remi , Lopez Robert , Bhagat Prafulla , Giricz Orsi , Sohal Davendra , Wickrema Amittha , Yeung Cecilia , Gritsman Kira , Aplan Peter , Hochedlinger Konrad , Yu Yiting , Pradhan Kith , Zhang Jinghang , Greally John M. , Mukherjee Siddhartha , Pellagatti Andrea , Boultwood Jacqueline , Will Britta , Steidl Ulrich , Raaijmakers Marc H.G.P. , Deeg H. Joachim , Kharas Michael G. , Verma Amit
Published: March 2024

Abstract
The bone marrow microenvironment influences malignant hematopoiesis, but how it promotes leukemogenesis has not been elucidated. In addition, the role of the bone marrow stroma in regulating clinical responses to DNA methyltransferase inhibitors (DNMTi) is also poorly understood. In this study, we conducted a DNA methylome analysis of bone marrow–derived stromal cells from myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) patients and observed widespread aberrant cytosine hypermethylation occurring preferentially outside CpG islands. Stroma derived from 5-azacytidine–treated patients lacked aberrant methylation and DNMTi treatment of primary MDS stroma enhanced its ability to support erythroid differentiation. An integrative expression analysis revealed that the WNT pathway antagonist FRZB was aberrantly hypermethylated and underexpressed in MDS stroma. This result was confirmed in an independent set of sorted, primary MDS-derived mesenchymal cells. We documented a WNT/β-catenin activation signature in CD34+ cells from advanced cases of MDS, where it associated with adverse prognosis. Constitutive activation of β-catenin in hematopoietic cells yielded lethal myeloid disease in a NUP98–HOXD13 mouse model of MDS, confirming its role in disease progression. Our results define novel epigenetic changes in the bone marrow microenvironment, which lead to β-catenin activation and disease progression of MDS. Cancer Res; 77(18); 4846–57. ©2017 AACR.
Data from Targeting Vascular Endothelial-Cadherin in Tumor-Associated Blood Vessels Promotes T-cell–Mediated Immunotherapy
Authors: Zhao Yang , Ting Ka Ka , Li Jia , Cogger Victoria C. , Chen Jinbiao , Johansson-Percival Anna , Ngiow Shin Foong , Holst Jeff , Grau Georges , Goel Shom , Muller Thorleif , Dejana Elisabetta , McCaughan Geoff , Smyth Mark J. , Ganss Ruth , Vadas Mathew A. , Gamble Jennifer R.
Published: March 2024

Abstract
T-cell infiltration of solid tumors is associated with improved prognosis and favorable responses to immunotherapy. Mechanisms that enable tumor infiltration of CD8+ T cells have not been defined, nor have drugs that assist this process been discovered. Here we address these issues with a focus on VE-cadherin, a major endothelial cell–specific junctional protein that controls vascular integrity. A decrease in VE-cadherin expression is associated with tumor pathology. We developed an oligonucleotide-based inhibitor (CD5-2), which disrupted the interaction of VE-cadherin with its regulator miR-27a, resulting in increased VE-cadherin expression. Administration of CD5-2 in tumor-bearing mice enhanced expression of VE-cadherin in tumor endothelium, activating TIE-2 and tight junction pathways and normalizing vessel structure and function. CD5-2 administration also enhanced tumor-specific T-cell infiltration and spatially redistributed CD8+ T cells within the tumor parenchyma. Finally, CD5-2 treatment enhanced the efficacy of anti-PD-1 blocking antibody. Our work establishes a role for VE-cadherin in T-cell infiltration in tumors and offers a preclinical proof of concept for CD5-2 as a therapeutic modifier of cancer immunotherapy via effects on the tumor vasculature. Cancer Res; 77(16); 4434–47. ©2017 AACR.
Data from Arl13b Promotes Gastric Tumorigenesis by Regulating Smo Trafficking and Activation of the Hedgehog Signaling Pathway
Authors: Shao Jia , Xu Linlin , Chen Limin , Lu Quqin , Xie Xinsheng , Shi Wei , Xiong Huanting , Shi Chao , Huang Xuan , Mei Jinhong , Rao Hai , Lu Hua , Lu Nonghua , Luo Shiwen
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Inhibitors of the Hedgehog (Hh) pathway transducer Smoothened (Smo) have been approved for cancer treatment, but Smo mutations often lead to tumor resistance and it remains unclear how Smo is regulated. In this study, we identified the small GTPase Arl13b as a novel partner and regulator of Smo. Arl13b regulated Smo stability, trafficking, and localization, which are each crucial for Hh signaling. In gastric cancer cells, Arl13b stimulated proliferation, migration, and invasion in vitro and in vivo. In clinical specimens of gastric cancer, Arl13b expression correlated strongly with tumor size and depth of invasion; patients with high levels of Arl13b had a poor prognosis. Our results show how Arl13b participates in Hh pathway activation in gastric cancer. Cancer Res; 77(15); 4000–13. ©2017 AACR.
Data from ETV1-Positive Cells Give Rise to BRAFV600E-Mutant Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors
Authors: Ran Leili , Murphy Devan , Sher Jessica , Cao Zhen , Wang Shangqian , Walczak Edward , Guan Youxin , Xie Yuanyuan , Shukla Shipra , Zhan Yu , Antonescu Cristina R. , Chen Yu , Chi Ping
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) is the most common subtype of sarcoma. Despite clinical advances in the treatment of KIT/PDGFRA–mutant GIST, similar progress against KIT/PDGFRA wild-type GIST, including mutant BRAF-driven tumors, has been limited by a lack of model systems. ETV1 is a master regulator in the intestinal cells of Cajal (ICC), thought to be the cells of origin of GIST. Here, we present a model in which the ETV1 promoter is used to specifically and inducibly drive Cre recombinase in ICC as a strategy to study GIST pathogenesis. Using a conditional allele for BrafV600E, a mutation observed in clinical cases of GIST, we observed that BrafV600E activation was sufficient to drive ICC hyperplasia but not GIST tumorigenesis. In contrast, combining BrafV600E activation with Trp53 loss was sufficient to drive both ICC hyperplasia and formation of multifocal GIST-like tumors in the mouse gastrointestinal tract with 100% penetrance. This mouse model of sporadic GIST model was amenable to therapeutic intervention, and it recapitulated clinical responses to RAF inhibition seen in human GIST. Our work offers a useful in vivo model of human sporadic forms of BRAF-mutant GIST to help unravel its pathogenesis and therapeutic response to novel experimental agents. Cancer Res; 77(14); 3758–65. ©2017 AACR.
Data from Targeting SRC Coactivators Blocks the Tumor-Initiating Capacity of Cancer Stem-like Cells
Authors: Rohira Aarti D. , Yan Fei , Wang Lei , Wang Jin , Zhou Suoling , Lu Andrew , Yu Yang , Xu Jianming , Lonard David M. , O'Malley Bert W.
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Tumor-initiating cells (TIC) represent cancer stem-like cell (CSC) subpopulations within tumors that are thought to give rise to recurrent cancer after therapy. Identifying key regulators of TIC/CSC maintenance is essential for the development of therapeutics designed to limit recurrence. The steroid receptor coactivator 3 (SRC-3) is overexpressed in a wide range of cancers, driving tumor initiation, cell proliferation, and metastasis. Here we report that SRC-3 supports the TIC/CSC state and induces an epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) by driving expression of the master EMT regulators and stem cell markers. We also show that inhibition of SRC-3 and SRC-1 with SI-2, a second-generation SRC-3/SRC-1 small-molecule inhibitor, targets the CSC/TIC population both in vitro and in vivo. Collectively, these results identify SRC coactivators as regulators of stem-like capacity in cancer cells and that these coactivators can serve as potential therapeutic targets to prevent the recurrence of cancer. Cancer Res; 77(16); 4293–304. ©2017 AACR.
Data from JCAD Promotes Progression of Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis to Liver Cancer by Inhibiting LATS2 Kinase Activity
Authors: Ye Juan , Li Tian-Sheng , Xu Gang , Zhao Yi-Ming , Zhang Ning-Ping , Fan Jia , Wu Jian
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis-associated hepatocellular carcinoma (NASH-HCC) is a malignancy whose incidents are rapidly increasing. However, the mechanisms that drive development of HCC in a steatotic microenvironment remain unknown. Here we report that the obesity-associated protein JCAD is expressed at significantly higher levels in human NASH-HCC specimens compared with pericarcinoma specimens. High JCAD expression was verified in multiple hepatoma cell lines. Forced overexpression of JCAD in hepatoma cells promoted tumor growth and proliferation, whereas JCAD silencing yielded opposite effects. JCAD interacted with the kinase domain of the tumor suppressor kinase LATS2, a core component of the Hippo signaling pathway. JCAD overexpression inhibited the ability of LATS2 to phosphorylate YAP in this pathway, in turn upregulating CCND1 and GLI2 to promote hepatoma cell proliferation. JCAD was induced by fatty acid overload in hepatic cells and was highly expressed in a mouse model of NASH-precarcinoma lesions, where the ratio of phospho-YAP to YAP was decreased. In human NASH-HCC specimens, JCAD expression and YAP phosphorylation patterns paralleled with the mouse model. Our findings illuminate a new role for JCAD and its critical interplay in the Hippo signaling cascade during the transition of NASH to HCC, with potential implications for therapeutic development in this setting. Cancer Res; 77(19); 5287–300. ©2017 AACR.
Data from Posttranscriptional Upregulation of IDH1 by HuR Establishes a Powerful Survival Phenotype in Pancreatic Cancer Cells
Authors: Zarei Mahsa , Lal Shruti , Parker Seth J. , Nevler Avinoam , Vaziri-Gohar Ali , Dukleska Katerina , Mambelli-Lisboa Nicole C. , Moffat Cynthia , Blanco Fernando F. , Chand Saswati N. , Jimbo Masaya , Cozzitorto Joseph A. , Jiang Wei , Yeo Charles J. , Londin Eric R. , Seifert Erin L. , Metallo Christian M. , Brody Jonathan R. , Winter Jordan M.
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Cancer aggressiveness may result from the selective pressure of a harsh nutrient-deprived microenvironment. Here we illustrate how such conditions promote chemotherapy resistance in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Glucose or glutamine withdrawal resulted in a 5- to 10-fold protective effect with chemotherapy treatment. PDAC xenografts were less sensitive to gemcitabine in hypoglycemic mice compared with hyperglycemic mice. Consistent with this observation, patients receiving adjuvant gemcitabine (n = 107) with elevated serum glucose levels (HgbA1C > 6.5%) exhibited improved survival. We identified enhanced antioxidant defense as a driver of chemoresistance in this setting. ROS levels were doubled in vitro by either nutrient withdrawal or gemcitabine treatment, but depriving PDAC cells of nutrients before gemcitabine treatment attenuated this effect. Mechanistic investigations based on RNAi or CRISPR approaches implicated the RNA binding protein HuR in preserving survival under nutrient withdrawal, with or without gemcitabine. Notably, RNA deep sequencing and functional analyses in HuR-deficient PDAC cell lines identified isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1) as the sole antioxidant enzyme under HuR regulation. HuR-deficient PDAC cells lacked the ability to engraft successfully in immunocompromised mice, but IDH1 overexpression in these cells was sufficient to fully restore chemoresistance under low nutrient conditions. Overall, our findings highlight the HuR–IDH1 regulatory axis as a critical, actionable therapeutic target in pancreatic cancer. Cancer Res; 77(16); 4460–71. ©2017 AACR.
Data from Modulation of Bax and mTOR for Cancer Therapeutics
Authors: Li Rui , Ding Chunyong , Zhang Jun , Xie Maohua , Park Dongkyoo , Ding Ye , Chen Guo , Zhang Guojing , Gilbert-Ross Melissa , Zhou Wei , Marcus Adam I. , Sun Shi-Yong , Chen Zhuo G. , Sica Gabriel L. , Ramalingam Suresh S. , Magis Andrew T. , Fu Haian , Khuri Fadlo R. , Curran Walter J. , Owonikoko Taofeek K. , Shin Dong M. , Zhou Jia , Deng Xingming
Published: March 2024

Abstract
A rationale exists for pharmacologic manipulation of the serine (S)184 phosphorylation site of the proapoptotic Bcl2 family member Bax as an anticancer strategy. Here, we report the refinement of the Bax agonist SMBA1 to generate CYD-2-11, which has characteristics of a suitable clinical lead compound. CYD-2-11 targeted the structural pocket proximal to S184 in the C-terminal region of Bax, directly activating its proapoptotic activity by inducing a conformational change enabling formation of Bax homooligomers in mitochondrial membranes. In murine models of small-cell and non–small cell lung cancers, including patient-derived xenograft and the genetically engineered mutant KRAS-driven lung cancer models, CYD-2-11 suppressed malignant growth without evident significant toxicity to normal tissues. In lung cancer patients treated with mTOR inhibitor RAD001, we observed enhanced S184 Bax phosphorylation in lung cancer cells and tissues that inactivates the propaoptotic function of Bax, contributing to rapalog resistance. Combined treatment of CYD-2-11 and RAD001 in murine lung cancer models displayed strong synergistic activity and overcame rapalog resistance in vitro and in vivo. Taken together, our findings provide preclinical evidence for a pharmacologic combination of Bax activation and mTOR inhibition as a rational strategy to improve lung cancer treatment. Cancer Res; 77(11); 3001–12. ©2017 AACR.