Therapeutic Potential of a Novel αvβ₃ Antagonist to Hamper the Aggressiveness of Mesenchymal Triple Negative Breast Cancer Sub-Type.
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ABSTRACT: The mesenchymal sub-type of triple negative breast cancer (MES-TNBC) has a highly aggressive behavior and worse prognosis, due to its invasive and stem-like features, that correlate with metastatic dissemination and resistance to therapies. Furthermore, MES-TNBC is characterized by the expression of molecular markers related to the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) program and cancer stem cells (CSCs). The altered expression of αvβ₃ integrin has been well established as a driver of cancer progression, stemness, and metastasis. Here, we showed that the high levels of αvβ₃ are associated with MES-TNBC and therefore exploited the possibility to target this integrin to reduce the aggressiveness of this carcinoma. To this aim, MES-TNBC cells were treated with a novel peptide, named ψRGDechi, that we recently developed and characterized for its ability to selectively bind and inhibit αvβ₃ integrin. Notably, ψRGDechi was able to hamper adhesion, migration, and invasion of MES-TNBC cells, as well as the capability of these cells to form vascular-like structures and mammospheres. In addition, this peptide reversed EMT program inhibits mesenchymal markers. These findings show that targeting αvβ₃ integrin by ψRGDechi, it is possible to inhibit some of the malignant properties of MES-TNBC phenotype.
SUBMITTER: Hill BS
PROVIDER: S-EPMC6406933 | biostudies-literature |
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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