bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Data from TG2 and NF-κB Signaling Coordinates the Survival of Mantle Cell Lymphoma Cells via IL6-Mediated Autophagy
Authors: Zhang Han , Chen Zheng , Miranda Roberto N. , Medeiros L. Jeffrey , McCarty Nami
Published: March 2023

Abstract
Expression of the transglutaminase TG2 has been linked to constitutive activation of NF-κB and chemotherapy resistance in mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) cells. TG2 forms complexes with NF-κB components, but mechanistic insights that could be used to leverage therapeutic responses has been lacking. In the current study, we address this issue with the discovery of an unexpected role for TG2 in triggering autophagy in drug-resistant MCL cells through induction of IL6. CRISPR-mediated silencing of TG2 delayed apoptosis while overexpressing TG2 enhanced tumor progression. Under stress, TG2 and IL6 mediate enhanced autophagy formation to promote MCL cell survival. Interestingly, the autophagy product ATG5 involved in autophagosome elongation positively regulated TG2/NF-κB/IL6 signaling, suggesting a positive feedback loop. Our results uncover an interconnected network of TG2/NF-κB and IL6/STAT3 signaling with autophagy regulation in MCL cells, the disruption of which may offer a promising therapeutic strategy. Cancer Res; 76(21); 6410–23. ©2016 AACR.
Data from Immunoregulatory Protein B7-H3 Reprograms Glucose Metabolism in Cancer Cells by ROS-Mediated Stabilization of HIF1α
Authors: Lim Sangbin , Liu Hao , da Silva Luciana Madeira , Arora Ritu , Liu Zixing , Phillips Joshua B. , Schmitt David C. , Vu Tung , McClellan Steven , Lin Yifeng , Lin Wensheng , Piazza Gary A. , Fodstad Oystein , Tan Ming
Published: March 2023

Abstract
B7-H3 is a member of B7 family of immunoregulatory transmembrane glycoproteins expressed by T cells. While B7-H3 overexpression is associated with poor outcomes in multiple cancers, it also has immune-independent roles outside T cells and its precise mechanistic contributions to cancer are unclear. In this study, we investigated the role of B7-H3 in metabolic reprogramming of cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. We found that B7-H3 promoted the Warburg effect, evidenced by increased glucose uptake and lactate production in B7-H3–expressing cells. B7-H3 also increased the protein levels of HIF1α and its downstream targets, LDHA and PDK1, key enzymes in the glycolytic pathway. Furthermore, B7-H3 promoted reactive oxygen species–dependent stabilization of HIF1α by suppressing the activity of the stress-activated transcription factor Nrf2 and its target genes, including the antioxidants SOD1, SOD2, and PRX3. Metabolic imaging of human breast cancer xenografts in mice confirmed that B7-H3 enhanced tumor glucose uptake and tumor growth. Together, our results illuminate the critical immune-independent contributions of B7-H3 to cancer metabolism, presenting a radically new perspective on B7 family immunoregulatory proteins in malignant progression. Cancer Res; 76(8); 2231–42. ©2016 AACR.
Data from Amphiregulin Is a Critical Downstream Effector of Estrogen Signaling in ERα-Positive Breast Cancer
Authors: Peterson Esther A. , Jenkins Edmund C. , Lofgren Kristopher A. , Chandiramani Natasha , Liu Hui , Aranda Evelyn , Barnett Maryia , Kenny Paraic A.
Published: March 2023

Abstract
Estrogen stimulation promotes epithelial cell proliferation in estrogen receptor (ERα)-positive breast cancer. Many ERα target genes have been enumerated, but the identities of the key effectors mediating the estrogen signal remain obscure. During mouse mammary gland development, the estrogen growth factor receptor (EGFR) ligand amphiregulin acts as an important stage-specific effector of estrogen signaling. In this study, we investigated the role of amphiregulin in breast cancer cell proliferation using human tissue samples and tumor xenografts in mice. Amphiregulin was enriched in ERα-positive human breast tumor cells and required for estrogen-dependent growth of MCF7 tumor xenografts. Furthermore, amphiregulin levels were suppressed in patients treated with endocrine therapy. Suppression of EGF receptor signaling appeared necessary for the therapeutic response in this setting. Our findings implicate amphiregulin as a critical mediator of the estrogen response in ERα-positive breast cancer, emphasizing the importance of EGF receptor signaling in breast tumor pathogenesis and therapeutic response. Cancer Res; 75(22); 4830–8. ©2015 AACR.
Data from Spatial Modeling of Drug Delivery Routes for Treatment of Disseminated Ovarian Cancer
Authors: Winner Kimberly R. Kanigel , Steinkamp Mara P. , Lee Rebecca J. , Swat Maciej , Muller Carolyn Y. , Moses Melanie E. , Jiang Yi , Wilson Bridget S.
Published: March 2023

Abstract
In ovarian cancer, metastasis is typically confined to the peritoneum. Surgical removal of the primary tumor and macroscopic secondary tumors is a common practice, but more effective strategies are needed to target microscopic spheroids persisting in the peritoneal fluid after debulking surgery. To treat this residual disease, therapeutic agents can be administered by either intravenous or intraperitoneal infusion. Here, we describe the use of a cellular Potts model to compare tumor penetration of two classes of drugs (cisplatin and pertuzumab) when delivered by these two alternative routes. The model considers the primary route when the drug is administered either intravenously or intraperitoneally, as well as the subsequent exchange into the other delivery volume as a secondary route. By accounting for these dynamics, the model revealed that intraperitoneal infusion is the markedly superior route for delivery of both small-molecule and antibody therapies into microscopic, avascular tumors typical of patients with ascites. Small tumors attached to peritoneal organs, with vascularity ranging from 2% to 10%, also show enhanced drug delivery via the intraperitoneal route, even though tumor vessels can act as sinks during the dissemination of small molecules. Furthermore, we assessed the ability of the antibody to enter the tumor by in silico and in vivo methods and suggest that optimization of antibody delivery is an important criterion underlying the efficacy of these and other biologics. The use of both delivery routes may provide the best total coverage of tumors, depending on their size and vascularity. Cancer Res; 76(6); 1320–34. ©2015 AACR.
Data from Nutritional Stress Induced by Tryptophan-Degrading Enzymes Results in ATF4-Dependent Reprogramming of the Amino Acid Transporter Profile in Tumor Cells
Authors: Timosenko Elina , Ghadbane Hemza , Silk Jonathan D. , Shepherd Dawn , Gileadi Uzi , Howson Lauren J. , Laynes Robert , Zhao Qi , Strausberg Robert L. , Olsen Lars R. , Taylor Stephen , Buffa Francesca M. , Boyd Richard , Cerundolo Vincenzo
Published: March 2023

Abstract
Tryptophan degradation is an immune escape strategy shared by many tumors. However, cancer cells' compensatory mechanisms remain unclear. We demonstrate here that a shortage of tryptophan caused by expression of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) and tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase (TDO) resulted in ATF4-dependent upregulation of several amino acid transporters, including SLC1A5 and its truncated isoforms, which in turn enhanced tryptophan and glutamine uptake. Importantly, SLC1A5 failed to be upregulated in resting human T cells kept under low tryptophan conditions but was enhanced upon cognate antigen T-cell receptor engagement. Our results highlight key differences in the ability of tumor and T cells to adapt to tryptophan starvation and provide important insights into the poor prognosis of tumors coexpressing IDO and SLC1A5. Cancer Res; 76(21); 6193–204. ©2016 AACR.
Data from Evidence Implicating Immunological Host Effects in the Efficacy of Metronomic Low-Dose Chemotherapy
Authors: Shaked Yuval , Pham Elizabeth , Hariharan Santosh , Magidey Ksenia , Beyar-Katz Ofrat , Xu Ping , Man Shan , Wu Florence T.H. , Miller Valeria , Andrews David , Kerbel Robert S.
Published: March 2023

Abstract
Conventional chemotherapy drugs administered at a maximum tolerated dose (MTD) remains the backbone for treating most cancers. Low-dose metronomic (LDM) chemotherapy, which utilizes lower, less toxic, doses given on a close regular basis over prolonged periods, is an alternative and better tolerated potential strategy to improve chemotherapy. LDM chemotherapy has been evaluated preclinically and clinically and has shown therapeutic benefit, in both early and advanced stage metastatic disease, especially when used as a maintenance therapy. However, knowledge about the antitumor mechanisms by which LDM chemotherapy acts remain limited. Here we characterized the effects of LDM and MTD capecitabine therapy on tumor and host cells using high-throughput systems approaches involving mass spectrometry flow cytometry and automated cell imaging followed by in vivo analyses of such therapies. An increase in myeloid and T regulatory cells and a decrease in NK and T cytotoxic cells were found in MTD–capecitabine–treated tumors compared with LDM-capecitbine-treated tumors. Plasma from MTD capecitabine-treated mice induced a more tumorigenic and metastatic profile in both breast and colon carcinoma cells than plasma from mice treated with LDM capecitabine. These results correlated, in part, with in vivo studies using models of human or mouse advanced metastatic disease, where the therapeutic advantage of MTD capecitabine was limited despite a substantial initial antitumor activity found in the primary tumor setting. Overall these results implicate a possible contribution of immunologic host effects in accounting for the therapeutic limitations of MTD compared with LDM capecitabine. Cancer Res; 76(20); 5983–93. ©2016 AACR.
Data from GALNT1-Mediated Glycosylation and Activation of Sonic Hedgehog Signaling Maintains the Self-Renewal and Tumor-Initiating Capacity of Bladder Cancer Stem Cells
Authors: Li Chong , Du Ying , Yang Zhao , He Luyun , Wang Yanying , Hao Lu , Ding Mingxia , Yan Ruping , Wang Jiansong , Fan Zusen
Published: March 2023

Abstract
The existence of bladder cancer stem cells (BCSC) has been suggested to underlie bladder tumor initiation and recurrence. Sonic Hedgehog (SHH) signaling has been implicated in promoting cancer stem cell (CSC) self-renewal and is activated in bladder cancer, but its impact on BCSC maintenance is unclear. In this study, we generated a mAb (BCMab1) against CD44+ human bladder cancer cells that recognizes aberrantly glycosylated integrin α3β1. The combination of BCMab1 with an anti-CD44 antibody identified a BCMab1+CD44+ cell subpopulation as BCSCs with stem cell–like properties. Gene expression analysis revealed that the hedgehog pathway was activated in the BCMab1+CD44+ subpopulation and was required for BCSC self-renewal. Furthermore, the glycotransferase GALNT1 was highly expressed in BCMab1+CD44+ cells and correlated with clinicopathologic features of bladder cancers. Mechanistically, GALNT1 mediated O-linked glycosylation of SHH to promote its activation, which was essential for the self-renewal maintenance of BCSCs and bladder tumorigenesis. Finally, intravesical instillation of GALNT1 siRNA and the SHH inhibitor cyclopamine exerted potent antitumor activity against bladder tumor growth. Taken together, our findings identify a BCSC subpopulation in human bladder tumors that appears to be responsive to the inhibition of GALNT1 and SHH signaling, and thus highlight a potential strategy for preventing the rapid recurrence typical in patients with bladder cancer. Cancer Res; 76(5); 1273–83. ©2015 AACR.
Data from DNA-PKcs and PARP1 Bind to Unresected Stalled DNA Replication Forks Where They Recruit XRCC1 to Mediate Repair
Authors: Ying Songmin , Chen Zhihui , Medhurst Annette L. , Neal Jessica A. , Bao Zhengqiang , Mortusewicz Oliver , McGouran Joanna , Song Xinming , Shen Huahao , Hamdy Freddie C. , Kessler Benedikt M. , Meek Katheryn , Helleday Thomas
Published: March 2023

Abstract
A series of critical pathways are responsible for the detection, signaling, and restart of replication forks that encounter blocks during S-phase progression. Small base lesions may obstruct replication fork progression and processing, but the link between repair of small lesions and replication forks is unclear. In this study, we investigated a hypothesized role for DNA-PK, an important enzyme in DNA repair, in cellular responses to DNA replication stress. The enzyme catalytic subunit DNA-PKcs was phosphorylated on S2056 at sites of stalled replication forks in response to short hydroxyurea treatment. Using DNA fiber experiments, we found that catalytically active DNA-PK was required for efficient replication restart of stalled forks. Furthermore, enzymatically active DNA-PK was also required for PARP-dependent recruitment of XRCC1 to stalled replication forks. This activity was enhanced by preventing Mre11-dependent DNA end resection, suggesting that XRCC1 must be recruited early to an unresected stalled fork. We also found that XRCC1 was required for effective restart of a subset of stalled replication forks. Overall, our work suggested that DNA-PK and PARP-dependent recruitment of XRCC1 is necessary to effectively protect, repair, and restart stalled replication forks, providing new insight into how genomic stability is preserved. Cancer Res; 76(5); 1078–88. ©2015 AACR.
Data from Infiltrating Macrophages Induce ERα Expression through an IL17A-mediated Epigenetic Mechanism to Sensitize Endometrial Cancer Cells to Estrogen
Authors: Ning Chengcheng , Xie Bingying , Zhang Lin , Li Chunsheng , Shan Weiwei , Yang Bingyi , Luo Xuezhen , Gu Chao , He Qizhi , Jin Hongyan , Chen Xiaojun , Zhang Zhenbo , Feng Youji
Published: March 2023

Abstract
Persistent unopposed estrogen stimulation is a central oncogenic mechanism driving the formation of type I endometrial cancer. Recent epidemiologic and clinical studies of endometrial cancer have also revealed a role for insulin resistance, clinically manifested by chronic inflammation. However, the role of inflammation in estrogen-driven endometrial cancer is not well characterized. In this study, we investigated the association between infiltrating macrophages and estrogen sensitivity in endometrial cancer. Evaluating tissue samples and serum from patients with precancerous lesions or endometrial cancer, we found that tissue macrophage infiltration, but not serum estradiol levels, correlated positively with endometrial cancer development. Furthermore, IL4/IL13-induced CD68+CD163+ macrophages enhanced the proliferative effects of estradiol in endometrial cancer cells by upregulating estrogen receptor alpha (ERα), but not ERβ. Mechanistic investigations revealed that CD68+CD163+ macrophages secreted cytokines, such as IL17A, that upregulated ERα expression through TET1-mediated epigenetic modulation of the ERα gene. Overall, our findings show how cytokines produced by infiltrating macrophages in the endometrial microenvironment can induce epigenetic upregulation of ERα expression, which in turn sensitizes endometrial cells to estrogen stimulation. The concept that inflammation-induced estrogen sensitivity in the endometrium acts as a driver of type I endometrial cancer has implications for infiltrating macrophages as a prognostic biomarker of progression in this disease setting. Cancer Res; 76(6); 1354–66. ©2016 AACR.
Data from The Ubiquitin-like Protein FAT10 Stabilizes eEF1A1 Expression to Promote Tumor Proliferation in a Complex Manner
Authors: Liu Xiuxia , Chen Leifeng , Ge Jin , Yan Chen , Huang Zixi , Hu Junwen , Wen Chongyu , Li Ming , Huang Da , Qiu Yumin , Hao Haibin , Yuan Rongfa , Lei Jun , Yu Xin , Shao Jianghua
Published: March 2023

Abstract
Human HLA-F adjacent transcript 10 (FAT10) is the only ubiquitin-like protein that can directly target substrates for degradation by proteasomes, but it can also stabilize the expression of certain substrates by antagonizing ubiquitination, through mechanisms as yet uncharacterized. In this study, we show how FAT10 stabilizes the translation elongation factor eEF1A1, which contributes to cancer cell proliferation. FAT10 overexpression increased expression of eEF1A1, which was sufficient to promote proliferation of cancer cells. Mechanistic investigations revealed that FAT10 competed with ubiquitin (Ub) for binding to the same lysines on eEF1A1 to form either FAT10–eEF1A1 or Ub–eEF1A1 complexes, respectively, such that FAT10 overexpression decreased Ub–eEF1A1 levels and increased FAT10–eEF1A1 levels. Overall, our work establishes a novel mechanism through which FAT10 stabilizes its substrates, advancing understanding of the biological function of FAT10 and its role in cancer. Cancer Res; 76(16); 4897–907. ©2016 AACR.
Data from mTORC2 Signaling Drives the Development and Progression of Pancreatic Cancer
Authors: Driscoll David R. , Karim Saadia A , Sano Makoto , Gay David M. , Jacob Wright , Yu Jun , Mizukami Yusuke , Gopinathan Aarthi , Jodrell Duncan I. , Evans T.R. Jeffry , Bardeesy Nabeel , Hall Michael N. , Quattrochi Brian J. , Klimstra David S. , Barry Simon T. , Sansom Owen J. , Lewis Brian C. , Morton Jennifer P.
Published: March 2023

Abstract
mTOR signaling controls several critical cellular functions and is deregulated in many cancers, including pancreatic cancer. To date, most efforts have focused on inhibiting the mTORC1 complex. However, clinical trials of mTORC1 inhibitors in pancreatic cancer have failed, raising questions about this therapeutic approach. We employed a genetic approach to delete the obligate mTORC2 subunit Rictor and identified the critical times during which tumorigenesis requires mTORC2 signaling. Rictor deletion resulted in profoundly delayed tumorigenesis. Whereas previous studies showed most pancreatic tumors were insensitive to rapamycin, treatment with a dual mTORC1/2 inhibitor strongly suppressed tumorigenesis. In late-stage tumor-bearing mice, combined mTORC1/2 and PI3K inhibition significantly increased survival. Thus, targeting mTOR may be a potential therapeutic strategy in pancreatic cancer. Cancer Res; 76(23); 6911–23. ©2016 AACR.
Data from LncRNA HOXA11-AS Promotes Proliferation and Invasion of Gastric Cancer by Scaffolding the Chromatin Modification Factors PRC2, LSD1, and DNMT1
Authors: Sun Ming , Nie Fengqi , Wang Yunfei , Zhang Zhihong , Hou Jiakai , He Dandan , Xie Min , Xu Lin , De Wei , Wang Zhaoxia , Wang Jun
Published: March 2023

Abstract
Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNA) have been implicated in human cancer but their mechanisms of action are mainly undocumented. In this study, we investigated lncRNA alterations that contribute to gastric cancer through an analysis of The Cancer Genome Atlas RNA sequencing data and other publicly available microarray data. Here we report the gastric cancer–associated lncRNA HOXA11-AS as a key regulator of gastric cancer development and progression. Patients with high HOXA11-AS expression had a shorter survival and poorer prognosis. In vitro and in vivo assays of HOXA11-AS alterations revealed a complex integrated phenotype affecting cell growth, migration, invasion, and apoptosis. Strikingly, high-throughput sequencing analysis after HOXA11-AS silencing highlighted alterations in cell proliferation and cell–cell adhesion pathways. Mechanistically, EZH2 along with the histone demethylase LSD1 or DNMT1 were recruited by HOXA11-AS, which functioned as a scaffold. HOXA11-AS also functioned as a molecular sponge for miR-1297, antagonizing its ability to repress EZH2 protein translation. In addition, we found that E2F1 was involved in HOXA11-AS activation in gastric cancer cells. Taken together, our findings support a model in which the EZH2/HOXA11-AS/LSD1 complex and HOXA11-AS/miR-1297/EZH2 cross-talk serve as critical effectors in gastric cancer tumorigenesis and progression, suggesting new therapeutic directions in gastric cancer. Cancer Res; 76(21); 6299–310. ©2016 AACR.
Data from Oncogenic Functions of Gli1 in Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma Are Supported by Its PRMT1-Mediated Methylation
Authors: Wang Yan , Hsu Jung-Mao , Kang Ya'an , Wei Yongkun , Lee Pei-Chih , Chang Shing-Jyh , Hsu Yi-Hsin , Hsu Jennifer L. , Wang Hung-Ling , Chang Wei-Chao , Li Chia-Wei , Liao Hsin-Wei , Chang Shih-Shin , Xia Weiya , Ko How-Wen , Chou Chao-Kai , Fleming Jason B. , Wang Huamin , Hwang Rosa F. , Chen Yue , Qin Jun , Hung Mien-Chie
Published: March 2023

Abstract
The oncogenic transcription factor Gli1 is a critical effector in the Hedgehog (Hh) pathway, which is necessary for the development and progression of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Although TGFβ and K-Ras are known regulators of Gli1 gene transcription in this setting, it is not understood how Gli1 functional activity is regulated. Here, we report the identification of Gli1 as a substrate for the protein arginine N-methyltransferase PRMT1 in PDAC. We found that PRMT1 methylates Gli1 at R597, promoting its transcriptional activity by enhancing the binding of Gli1 to its target gene promoters. Interruption of Gli1 methylation attenuates oncogenic functions of Gli1 and sensitizes PDAC cells to gemcitabine treatment. In human PDAC specimens, the levels of both total Gli1 and methylated Gli1 were correlated positively with PRMT1 protein levels. Notably, PRMT1 regulated Gli1 independently of the canonical Hh pathway as well as the TGFβ/Kras-mediated noncanonical Hh pathway, thereby signifying a novel regulatory mechanism for Gli1 transcriptional activity. Taken together, our results identified a new posttranslational modification of Gli1 that underlies its pivotal oncogenic functions in PDAC. Cancer Res; 76(23); 7049–58. ©2016 AACR.
Data from Targeting Autocrine CCL5–CCR5 Axis Reprograms Immunosuppressive Myeloid Cells and Reinvigorates Antitumor Immunity
Authors: Ban Yi , Mai Junhua , Li Xin , Mitchell-Flack Marisa , Zhang Tuo , Zhang Lixing , Chouchane Lotfi , Ferrari Mauro , Shen Haifa , Ma Xiaojing
Published: March 2023

Abstract
The tumor-promoting potential of CCL5 has been proposed but remains poorly understood. We demonstrate here that an autocrine CCL5–CCR5 axis is a major regulator of immunosuppressive myeloid cells (IMC) of both monocytic and granulocytic lineages. The absence of the autocrine CCL5 abrogated the generation of granulocytic myeloid-derived suppressor cells and tumor-associated macrophages. In parallel, enhanced maturation of intratumoral neutrophils and macrophages occurred in spite of tumor-derived CCL5. The refractory nature of ccl5-null myeloid precursors to tumor-derived CCL5 was attributable to their persistent lack of membrane-bound CCR5. The changes in the ccl5-null myeloid compartment subsequently resulted in increased tumor-infiltrating cytotoxic CD8+ T cells and decreased regulatory T cells in tumor-draining lymph nodes. An analysis of human triple-negative breast cancer specimens demonstrated an inverse correlation between "immune CCR5" levels and the maturation status of tumor-infiltrating neutrophils as well as 5-year-survival rates. Targeting the host CCL5 in bone marrow via nanoparticle-delivered expression silencing, in combination with the CCR5 inhibitor Maraviroc, resulted in strong reductions of IMC and robust antitumor immunities. Our study suggests that the myeloid CCL5–CCR5 axis is an excellent target for cancer immunotherapy. Cancer Res; 77(11); 2857–68. ©2017 AACR.
Data from NOTCH1 Signaling Regulates Self-Renewal and Platinum Chemoresistance of Cancer Stem–like Cells in Human Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer
Authors: Zhang Yun , Xu Wei , Guo Huiqin , Zhang Yanmei , He Yuexi , Lee Sau Har , Song Xin , Li Xiaoyan , Guo Yongqing , Zhao Yunlong , Ding Cheng , Ning Fei , Ma Yuanyuan , Lei Qun-Ying , Hu Xiaoyu , Li Shengnan , Guo Wei
Published: March 2023

Abstract
Cancer stem–like cells (CSC) are thought to drive tumor initiation, metastasis, relapse, and therapeutic resistance, but their specific pathogenic characters in many cancers, including non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), have yet to be well defined. Here, we develop findings that the growth factor HGF promotes CSC sphere formation in NSCLC cell populations. In patient-derived sphere-forming assays (PD-SFA) with HGF, CD49f and CD104 were defined as novel markers of lung CSC (LCSC). In particular, we isolated a subpopulation of CD166+CD49fhiCD104−Lin− LCSC present in all human specimens of NSCLC examined, regardless of their histologic subtypes or genetic driver mutations. This specific cell population was tumorigenic and capable of self-renewal, giving rise to tumor spheres in vitro and orthotopic lung tumors in immune-compromised mice. Mechanistic investigations established that NOTCH1 was preferentially expressed in this cell subpopulation and required for self-renewal via the transcription factor HES1. Through a distinct HES1-independent pathway, NOTCH1 also protected LCSCs from cisplatin-induced cell death. Notably, treatment with a γ-secretase inhibitor that blunts NOTCH1 function ablated self-renewing LCSC activity and restored platinum sensitivity in vitro and in vivo. Overall, our results define the pathogenic characters of a cancer stem–like subpopulation in lung cancer, the targeting of which may relieve platinum resistance in this disease. Cancer Res; 77(11); 3082–91. ©2017 AACR.
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 2023

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 IDH2 Mutations Define a Unique Subtype of Breast Cancer with Altered Nuclear Polarity
Authors: Chiang Sarah , Weigelt Britta , Wen Huei-Chi , Pareja Fresia , Raghavendra Ashwini , Martelotto Luciano G. , Burke Kathleen A. , Basili Thais , Li Anqi , Geyer Felipe C. , Piscuoglio Salvatore , Ng Charlotte K.Y. , Jungbluth Achim A. , Balss Jörg , Pusch Stefan , Baker Gabrielle M. , Cole Kimberly S. , von Deimling Andreas , Batten Julie M. , Marotti Jonathan D. , Soh Hwei-Choo , McCalip Benjamin L. , Serrano Jonathan , Lim Raymond S. , Siziopikou Kalliopi P. , Lu Song , Liu Xiaolong , Hammour Tarek , Brogi Edi , Snuderl Matija , Iafrate A. John , Reis-Filho Jorge S. , Schnitt Stuart J.
Published: March 2023

Abstract
Solid papillary carcinoma with reverse polarity (SPCRP) is a rare breast cancer subtype with an obscure etiology. In this study, we sought to describe its unique histopathologic features and to identify the genetic alterations that underpin SPCRP using massively parallel whole-exome and targeted sequencing. The morphologic and immunohistochemical features of SPCRP support the invasive nature of this subtype. Ten of 13 (77%) SPCRPs harbored hotspot mutations at R172 of the isocitrate dehydrogenase IDH2, of which 8 of 10 displayed concurrent pathogenic mutations affecting PIK3CA or PIK3R1. One of the IDH2 wild-type SPCRPs harbored a TET2 Q548* truncating mutation coupled with a PIK3CA H1047R hotspot mutation. Functional studies demonstrated that IDH2 and PIK3CA hotspot mutations are likely drivers of SPCRP, resulting in its reversed nuclear polarization phenotype. Our results offer a molecular definition of SPCRP as a distinct breast cancer subtype. Concurrent IDH2 and PIK3CA mutations may help diagnose SPCRP and possibly direct effective treatment. Cancer Res; 76(24); 7118–29. ©2016 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 2023

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 2023

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 Monitoring Tumor Response to Antivascular Therapy Using Non-Contrast Intravoxel Incoherent Motion Diffusion-Weighted MRI
Authors: Shi Changzheng , Liu Dexiang , Xiao Zeyu , Zhang Dong , Liu Guanfu , Liu Guanshu , Chen Hanwei , Luo Liangping
Published: March 2023

Abstract
Antivascular therapy is a promising approach to the treatment of non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), where an imaging modality capable of longitudinally monitoring treatment response could provide early prediction of the outcome. In this study, we sought to investigate the feasibility of using intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) diffusion MRI to quantitatively assess the efficacy of the treatments of a vascular-disrupting agent CA4P or its combination with bevacizumab on experimental NSCLC tumors. CA4P caused a strong but reversible effect on tumor vasculature; all perfusion-related parameters—D*, f, fD*, and Ktrans—initially showed a decrease of 30% to 60% at 2 hours and then fully recovered to baseline on day 2 for CA4P treatment or on days 4 to 8 for CA4P + bevacizumab treatment; the diffusion coefficient in tumors decreased initially at 2 hours and then increased from day 2 to day 8. We observed a good correlation between IVIM parameters and dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI; Ktrans). We also found that the relative change in f and fD* at 2 hours correlated well with changes in tumor volume on day 8. In conclusion, our results suggest that IVIM is a promising alternative to DCE-MRI for the assessment of the change in tumor perfusion as a result of antivascular agents and can be used to predict the efficacy of antivascular therapies without the need for contrast media injection. Cancer Res; 77(13); 3491–501. ©2017 AACR.
Data from CBX4 Suppresses Metastasis via Recruitment of HDAC3 to the Runx2 Promoter in Colorectal Carcinoma
Authors: Wang Xin , Li Liping , Wu Yuanzhong , Zhang Ruhua , Zhang Meifang , Liao Dan , Wang Gang , Qin Ge , Xu Rui-hua , Kang Tiebang
Published: March 2023

Abstract
Polycomb chromobox (CBX) proteins participate in the polycomb repressive complex (PRC1) that mediates epigenetic gene silencing and endows PRC1 with distinct oncogenic or tumor suppressor functions in a cell-type–dependent manner. In this study, we report that inhibition of cell migration, invasion, and metastasis in colorectal carcinoma requires CBX4-mediated repression of Runx2, a key transcription factor that promotes colorectal carcinoma metastasis. CBX4 inversely correlated with Runx2 expression in colorectal carcinoma tissues, and the combination of high CBX4 expression and low Runx2 expression significantly correlated with overall survival, more so than either CBX4 or Runx2 expression alone. Mechanistically, CBX4 maintained recruited histone deacetylase 3 (HDAC3) to the Runx2 promoter, which maintained a deacetylated histone H3K27 state to suppress Runx2 expression. This function of CBX4 was dependent on its interaction with HDAC3, but not on its SUMO E3 ligase, its chromodomain, or the PRC1 complex. Disrupting the CBX4–HDAC3 interaction abolished Runx2 inhibition as well as the inhibition of cell migration and invasion. Collectively, our data show that CBX4 may act as a tumor suppressor in colorectal carcinoma, and strategies that stabilize the interaction of CBX4 with HDAC3 may benefit the colorectal carcinoma patients with metastases. Cancer Res; 76(24); 7277–89. ©2016 AACR.
Data from A Hyaluronidase-Responsive Nanoparticle-Based Drug Delivery System for Targeting Colon Cancer Cells
Authors: Zhang Mingzhen , Xu Changlong , Wen Liuqing , Han Moon Kwon , Xiao Bo , Zhou Jun , Zhang Yuchen , Zhang Zhan , Viennois Emilie , Merlin Didier
Published: March 2023

Abstract
The ability of nanoparticles to target tumors and to enable site-specific drug release provides a unique system for the delivery of effective therapy with reduced toxic side effects. In this study, we used mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSN) to fabricate a targeted drug delivery system that is responsive to hyaluronidase (HAase). Following engraftment of desthiobiotin onto the surface of MSN, a streptavidin complex was generated, which was functionalized with biotin-modified hyaluronic acid (HA) to enable controlled drug release at cancer cells expressing HAase. Various technologies were used to confirm the successful fabrication of this MSN-based nanocarrier system for targeted drug delivery. In vitro analyses showed that the release of doxorubicin hydrochloride (Dox) was accelerated significantly in the presence of biotin or HAase and accelerated further in the presence of biotin and HAase. Uptake by cancer cells was mediated efficiently by CD44 receptor–mediated endocytosis and the MSN exhibited good biocompatibility in vitro and in vivo. MSN-HA/Dox nanoparticles induced apoptosis in cancer cells more efficiently than free doxorubicin and inhibited tumor growth with minimal systemic toxicity in vivo. Collectively, our findings offered a preclinical proof of concept for a novel targeted drug delivery carrier system for cancer therapy. Cancer Res; 76(24); 7208–18. ©2016 AACR.
Data from Micellar Delivery of miR-34a Modulator Rubone and Paclitaxel in Resistant Prostate Cancer
Authors: Wen Di , Peng Yang , Lin Feng , Singh Rakesh K. , Mahato Ram I.
Published: March 2023

Abstract
Treatment of prostate cancer with paclitaxel often fails due to the development of chemoresistance caused by downregulation of the tumor suppressor gene miR-34a. In this study, we demonstrate that codelivery of paclitaxel and 2'-hydroxy-2,4,4',5,6'-pentamethoxychalcone (termed rubone) drives upregulation of miR-34a and chemosensitizes paclitaxel-resistant prostate cancer cells, killing both cancer stem–like cells (CSC) and bulk tumor cells. Rubone upregulated miR-34a and reversed its downstream target genes in DU145-TXR and PC3-TXR cells. Paclitaxel and rubone combination therapy inhibited tumor cell growth, migration, and CSC population growth. We synthesized poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(2-methyl-2-carboxyl-propylene carbonate-graft-dodecanol; PEG-PCD) to prepare micelles. The drug-loading capacities were 9.70% ± 0.10% and 5.34% ± 0.02% for paclitaxel and rubone, respectively, controlling a drug release of 60.20% ± 2.67% and 60.62% ± 4.35% release of paclitaxel and rubone at 24 hours. Delivery of miR-34a and rubone decreased PC3-TXR cell viability with increasing paclitaxel concentration. Coincubation with a miR-34a inhibitor diminished the effect of rubone. Paclitaxel IC50 in PC3 and PC3-TXR cells was 55.6 and 2,580 nmol/L, respectively, but decreased to 49.8 and 93.2 nmol/L when treated in combination with rubone, demonstrating a reversal of paclitaxel resistance by rubone. Systemic administration of micelles carrying paclitaxel and rubone inhibited orthotopic prostate tumor growth in nude mice, compared with monotherapy, by reversing the expression of miR-34a, SIRT1, cyclin D1, and E-cadherin. In summary, our results showed how rubone acts as an efficient small-molecule modulator of miR-34a to reverse chemoresistance and further enhance the therapeutic efficacy of paclitaxel in paclitaxel-resistant prostate cancer. Cancer Res; 77(12); 3244–54. ©2017 AACR.
Data from PTEN Signaling in the Postnatal Perivascular Progenitor Niche Drives Medulloblastoma Formation
Authors: Zhu Guo , Rankin Sherri L. , Larson Jon D. , Zhu Xiaoyan , Chow Lionel M.L. , Qu Chunxu , Zhang Jinghui , Ellison David W. , Baker Suzanne J.
Published: March 2023

Abstract
Loss of the tumor suppressor gene PTEN exerts diverse outcomes on cancer in different developmental contexts. To gain insight into the effect of its loss on outcomes in the brain, we conditionally inactivated the murine Pten gene in neonatal neural stem/progenitor cells. Pten inactivation created an abnormal perivascular proliferative niche in the cerebellum that persisted in adult animals but did not progress to malignancy. Proliferating cells showed undifferentiated morphology and expressed the progenitor marker Nestin but not Math1, a marker of committed granule neuron progenitors. Codeletion of Pten and Trp53 resulted in fully penetrant medulloblastoma originating from the perivascular niche, which exhibited abnormal blood vessel networks and advanced neuronal differentiation of tumor cells. EdU pulse-chase experiments demonstrated a perivascular cancer stem cell population in Pten/Trp53 double mutant medulloblastomas. Genetic analyses revealed recurrent somatic inactivations of the tumor suppressor gene Ptch1 and a recapitulation of the sonic hedgehog subgroup of human medulloblastomas. Overall, our results showed that PTEN acts to prevent the proliferation of a progenitor niche in postnatal cerebellum predisposed to oncogenic induction of medulloblastoma. Cancer Res; 77(1); 123–33. ©2016 AACR.
Data from IL33 Promotes Colon Cancer Cell Stemness via JNK Activation and Macrophage Recruitment
Authors: Fang Min , Li Yongkui , Huang Kai , Qi Shanshan , Zhang Jian , Zgodzinski Witold , Majewski Marek , Wallner Grzegorz , Gozdz Stanislaw , Macek Pawel , Kowalik Artur , Pasiarski Marcin , Grywalska Ewelina , Vatan Linda , Nagarsheth Nisha , Li Wei , Zhao Lili , Kryczek Ilona , Wang Guobin , Wang Zheng , Zou Weiping , Wang Lin
Published: March 2023

Abstract
The expression and biological role of IL33 in colon cancer is poorly understood. In this study, we show that IL33 is expressed by vascular endothelial cells and tumor cells in the human colon cancer microenvironment. Administration of human IL33 and overexpression of murine IL33 enhanced human and murine colon cancer cell growth in vivo, respectively. IL33 stimulated cell sphere formation and prevented chemotherapy-induced tumor apoptosis. Mechanistically, IL33 activated core stem cell genes NANOG, NOTCH3, and OCT3/4 via the ST2 signaling pathway, and induced phosphorylation of c-Jun N terminal kinase (JNK) activation and enhanced binding of c-Jun to the promoters of the core stem cell genes. Moreover, IL33 recruited macrophages into the cancer microenvironment and stimulated them to produce prostaglandin E2, which supported colon cancer stemness and tumor growth. Clinically, tumor IL33 expression associated with poor survival in patients with metastatic colon cancer. Thus, IL33 dually targets tumor cells and macrophages and endows stem-like qualities to colon cancer cells to promote carcinogenesis. Collectively, our work reveals an immune-associated mechanism that extrinsically confers cancer cell stemness properties. Targeting the IL33 signaling pathway may offer an opportunity to treat patients with metastatic cancer. Cancer Res; 77(10); 2735–45. ©2017 AACR.
Data from Preclinical Efficacy of the Auristatin-Based Antibody–Drug Conjugate BAY 1187982 for the Treatment of FGFR2-Positive Solid Tumors
Authors: Sommer Anette , Kopitz Charlotte , Schatz Christoph A. , Nising Carl F. , Mahlert Christoph , Lerchen Hans-Georg , Stelte-Ludwig Beatrix , Hammer Stefanie , Greven Simone , Schuhmacher Joachim , Braun Manuela , Zierz Ruprecht , Wittemer-Rump Sabine , Harrenga Axel , Dittmer Frank , Reetz Frank , Apeler Heiner , Jautelat Rolf , Huynh Hung , Ziegelbauer Karl , Kreft Bertolt
Published: March 2023

Abstract
The fibroblast growth factor receptor FGFR2 is overexpressed in a variety of solid tumors, including breast, gastric, and ovarian tumors, where it offers a potential therapeutic target. In this study, we present evidence of the preclinical efficacy of BAY 1187982, a novel antibody–drug conjugate (ADC). It consists of a fully human FGFR2 monoclonal antibody (mAb BAY 1179470), which binds to the FGFR2 isoforms FGFR2-IIIb and FGFR2-IIIc, conjugated through a noncleavable linker to a novel derivative of the microtubule-disrupting cytotoxic drug auristatin (FGFR2-ADC). In FGFR2-expressing cancer cell lines, this FGFR2-ADC exhibited potency in the low nanomolar to subnanomolar range and was more than 100-fold selective against FGFR2-negative cell lines. High expression levels of FGFR2 in cells correlated with efficient internalization, efficacy, and cytotoxic effects in vitro. Pharmacokinetic analyses in mice bearing FGFR2-positive NCI-H716 tumors indicated that the toxophore metabolite of FGFR2-ADC was enriched more than 30-fold in tumors compared with healthy tissues. Efficacy studies demonstrated that FGFR2-ADC treatment leads to a significant tumor growth inhibition or tumor regression of cell line–based or patient-derived xenograft models of human gastric or breast cancer. Furthermore, FGFR2 amplification or mRNA overexpression predicted high efficacy in both of these types of in vivo model systems. Taken together, our results strongly support the clinical evaluation of BAY 1187982 in cancer patients and a phase I study (NCT02368951) has been initiated. Cancer Res; 76(21); 6331–9. ©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 2023

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.