Abstract P1-05-12: Metastatic xenograft models of human estrogen receptor negative breast cancer primary cultures are driven by the recruitment of myeloid-derived suppressor cells
Authors: Drews-Elger K , Iorns E , Brinkman JA , Berry DL , Lippman ME , El-Ashry D 
Published: August 2014

The study of early stage and metastatic breast cancer relies heavily on the use of established cell lines often derived from metastatic lesions rather than from primary tumors, limiting our understanding of primary tumor development. Study of the mechanisms governing the metastatic process in its entirety is not always feasible with these types of cellular and xenograft models, as often the primary tumor needs to be excised, or breast cancer cells are introduced into circulation of host mice. While this approach has allowed a better understanding of metastasis, it may unintentionally enhance the colonization efficiency and pass over important events occurring in the tumor microenvironment. In order to provide a cellular model that more closely recapitulates breast cancer development and progression, we generated breast cancer cellular cultures by dissociating specimens of human estrogen receptor-negative primary breast tumors and placing them in culture. Within our group of dissociated tumor (DT) cell cultures, we had shown that five cultures are formed by breast cancer cells and these were classified by PAM50 predictor analysis as belonging to the ER−/PR−/Her2+ and triple negative subtypes. DT cells are tumorigenic in NOD/Scid and NOD/Scid gamma (NSG) mice. Our first aim was to assess the metastatic potential of the DT cells in two mouse models. We show that 3 of the 5 cultures are metastatic to lymph nodes, liver and or lungs; common sites of metastasis in breast cancer patients. Spontaneous metastases were observed without the requirement of primary tumor excision. The metastatic frequency ranged from 25–90% in NOD/Scid mice, and from 80–100% in NSG mice. Moreover, expression of key proteins such as epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) detected in primary tumors was also found in the metastatic lesions. Because the DT cells have been isolated from primary breast tumors they represent a clinically relevant and valuable model to study breast cancer and metastasis.

A critical factor influencing tumor progression and metastasis is the infiltration of immune cells including myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), which have been shown to be increased in a tumor-dependent manner in xenograft models of breast cancer. Previous work from our lab has shown that stroma of tumor-bearing mice exhibited gene expression changes, including increased expression of calcium binding proteins S100A8 and S100A9, that are consistent with myeloid immune cell infiltration. Our second aim was thus to analyze the recruitment of S100A8+ MDSCs by xenografted DT tumors. We show that the recruitment of S100A8+ MDSCs is detected in DT tumors and sites of metastasis, and more importantly, their presence was significantly greater in the tumors that metastasized compared to those that did not. These data strongly suggest that the metastatic potential of breast cancer cells may be driven at least in part by the recruitment of S100A8+ MDSCs. Taken together, our observations and our closer-to-primary xenograft models may lead to a better understanding of metastatic disease, as well as to the development and pre-clinical screening of targeted breast cancer therapeutics, particularly in the metastatic setting.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2012;72(24 Suppl):Abstract nr P1-05-12.