Dataset Information

The PDGFR?/ERK1/2 pathway regulates CDCP1 expression in triple-negative breast cancer.

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND:CDCP1, a transmembrane protein with tumor pro-metastatic activity, was recently identified as a prognostic marker in TNBC, the most aggressive breast cancer subtype still lacking an effective molecular targeted therapy. The mechanisms driving CDCP1 over-expression are not fully understood, although several stimuli derived from tumor microenvironment, such as factors present in Wound Healing Fluids (WHFs), reportedly increase CDCP1 levels. METHODS:The expression of CDCP1, PDGFR? and ERK1/2cell was tested by Western blot after stimulation of MDA-MB-231 cells with PDGF-BB and, similarly, in presence or not of ERK1/2 inhibitor in a panel of TNBC cell lines. Knock-down of PDGFR? was established in MDA-MB-231 cells to detect CDCP1 upon WHF treatment. Immunohistochemical staining was used to detect the expression of CDCP1 and PDGFR? in TNBC clinical samples. RESULTS:We discovered that PDGF-BB-mediated activation of PDGFR? increases CDCP1 protein expression through the downstream activation of ERK1/2. Inhibition of ERK1/2 activity reduced per se CDCP1 expression, evidence strengthening its role in CDCP1 expression regulation. Knock-down of PDGFR? in TNBC cells impaired CDCP1 increase induced by WHF treatment, highlighting the role if this receptor as a central player of the WHF-mediated CDCP1 induction. A significant association between CDCP1 and PDGFR? immunohistochemical staining was observed in TNBC specimens, independently of CDCP1 gene gain, thus corroborating the relevance of the PDGF-BB/PDGFR? axis in the modulation of CDCP1 expression. CONCLUSION:We have identified PDGF-BB/PDGFR?-mediated pathway as a novel player in the regulation of CDCP1 in TNCBs through ERK1/2 activation. Our results provide the basis for the potential use of PDGFR? and ERK1/2 inhibitors in targeting the aggressive features of CDCP1-positive TNBCs.

SUBMITTER: Forte L

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5967041 | biostudies-literature | 2018 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

The PDGFRβ/ERK1/2 pathway regulates CDCP1 expression in triple-negative breast cancer.

Forte Luca L Turdo Federica F Ghirelli Cristina C Aiello Piera P Casalini Patrizia P Iorio Marilena Valeria MV D'Ippolito Elvira E Gasparini Patrizia P Agresti Roberto R Belmonte Beatrice B Sozzi Gabriella G Sfondrini Lucia L Tagliabue Elda E Campiglio Manuela M Bianchi Francesca F

BMC cancer 20180523 1

<h4>Background</h4>CDCP1, a transmembrane protein with tumor pro-metastatic activity, was recently identified as a prognostic marker in TNBC, the most aggressive breast cancer subtype still lacking an effective molecular targeted therapy. The mechanisms driving CDCP1 over-expression are not fully understood, although several stimuli derived from tumor microenvironment, such as factors present in Wound Healing Fluids (WHFs), reportedly increase CDCP1 levels.<h4>Methods</h4>The expression of CDCP1 ...[more]

PMID: 29792166

Similar Datasets

Project description:While the overall mortality for breast cancer has recently declined, management of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is still challenging because of its aggressive clinical behavior and the lack of targeted therapies. Genomic profiling studies highlighted the high level of heterogeneity of this cancer, which comprises different subtypes with unique phenotypes and response to treatment. Platelet-derived growth factor receptor ? (PDGFR?) is an established mesenchymal/stem cell-specific marker in human glioblastoma and, as recently suggested, it may uniquely mark breast cancer cells with stem-like characteristics and/or that have undergone epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Methods: Immunohistochemical analysis for PDGFR? expression was performed on a human TNBC tissue microarray. Functional assays were conducted on mesenchymal-like TNBC cells to investigate the effect of a previously validated PDGFR? aptamer on invasive cell growth in three-dimensional culture conditions, migration, invasion and tube formation. The aptamer was labeled with a near-infrared (NIR) dye and its binding specificity to PDGFR? was assessed both in vitro (confocal microscopy and flow cytometry analyses) and in vivo (fluorescence molecular tomography in mice bearing TNBC xenografts). A mouse model of TNBC lung metastases formation was established and NIR-labeled PDGFR? aptamer was used to detect lung metastases in mice untreated or intravenously injected with unlabeled aptamer. Results: Here, we present novel data showing that tumor cell expression of PDGFR? identifies a subgroup of mesenchymal tumors with invasive and stem-like phenotype, and propose a previously unappreciated role for PDGFR? in driving TNBC cell invasiveness and metastases formation. We show that the PDGFR? aptamer blocked invasive growth and migration/invasion of mesenchymal TNBC cell lines and prevented TNBC lung metastases formation. Further, upon NIR-labeling, the aptamer specifically bound to TNBC xenografts and detected lung metastases. Conclusions: We propose PDGFR? as a reliable biomarker of a subgroup of mesenchymal TNBCs with invasive and stem-like phenotype as well as the use of the PDGFR? aptamer as a high efficacious tool for imaging and suppression of TNBC lung metastases. This study will allow for the significant expansion of the current repertoire of strategies for managing patients with more aggressive TNBC.

Dataset Information

The PDGFR?/ERK1/2 pathway regulates CDCP1 expression in triple-negative breast cancer.

Publications

The PDGFRβ/ERK1/2 pathway regulates CDCP1 expression in triple-negative breast cancer.

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure