Alterations in Wnt- and/or STAT3 signaling pathways and the immune microenvironment during metastatic progression
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ABSTRACT: Metastatic breast cancer is an extremely complex disease with limited treatment options due to the lack of information about the major characteristics of metastatic disease. There is an urgent need, therefore, to understand the changes in cellular complexity and dynamics that occur during metastatic progression. In the current study, we analyzed the cellular and molecular differences between primary tumors and paired lung metastases using a syngeneic p53-null mammary tumor model of basal-like breast cancer. Distinct subpopulations driven by the Wnt- and/or STAT3 signaling pathways were detected in vivo using a lentiviral Wnt- and STAT3 signaling reporter system. A significant increase in the overlapping populations driven by both the Wnt- and STAT3 signaling pathways was observed in the lung metastases as compared to the primary tumors. Furthermore, STAT3 signaling activity was markedly enhanced in the metastatic lesions relative to the primary tumors with minimal changes observed in Wnt reporter activity. An analysis of the unique molecular features of the lung metastases revealed a significant association with immune response signatures. Specifically, Foxp3 gene expression was markedly increased and elevated levels of Foxp3+ Treg cells were detected in close proximity to lung metastases. Collectively, these studies illustrate the importance of analyzing intratumoral heterogeneity, changes in population dynamics and the immune microenvironment during metastatic progression.
Project description:To identify altered signal transduction pathways involved in the progression and metastases of Lkb1 deficient lung tumors, we have performed an unbiased microarray analysis of primary and metastatic mouse lung tumors We used microarrays to detail the global programme of gene expression underlying metastatic progression We compared RNA expression profiles from 9 Kras and 9 Kras/Lkb1 primary tumors as well as 17 Kras/Lkb1 metastases (lymph node and distant sites)
Project description:Interleukin 6 (IL6) signaling has been associated with an aggressive and metastatic phenotype in multiple solid tumors including breast cancer, but its mechanism of action in mediating tumor progression and treatment response is not clear. By exploiting a clinically relevant intraductal xenograft model of estrogen receptor positive (ER+) breast cancer, we demonstrate that IL6 increases both primary tumor growth and distant metastases. By integrating pre-clinical models and clinical specimens, we show that signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) mediates IL6-induced activation of a metastatic gene program from enhancer-elements shared with ER and its pioneer factor FOXA1. Although IL6 activated STAT3 and ER/FOXA1 share cis-regulatory regions, STAT3 drives transcription independent of ER and FOXA1 function, and the IL6/STAT3 gene program is not influenced by ER-targeted therapies, decoupling these two important pathways. This demonstrates that ER/FOXA1 and IL6/STAT3 are two parallel, but independent actionable pathways controlling breast cancer progression.
Project description:To define the impact of STAT3-deletion on gene expresssion in primary and metastatic small cell lung cancer Gene expression was defined for cell lines derived from primary or liver metastases from independent mice by RNA-Seq
Project description:Analysis of lung and liver metastases derived from M-Wnt primary tumor. Results provide insight into genes associated with progression of triple negative breast cancer to metastatic disease.
Project description:To examine whether the local carbon ion radiotherapy affects the characteristics of the metastatic tumors, the expression profiles of the primary tumors and the lung metastases were studied in a mouse squamous cell carcinoma model by applying local radiotherapy with no irradiation (negative control), gamma-ray irradiation (reference beam), and carbon-ion irradiation. Keywords: mouse, squamous cell carcinoma, primary tumor, lung metastases, radiotherapy, carbon ion, gamma ray A highly metastatic mouse squamous cell carcinoma NR-S1 was implanted into the hind leg of synergetic C3H/HeNrs mice and irradiated with 5 Gy of carbon ion beam. 8 Gy of gamma ray was used as a reference beam. At 2 weeks after the irradiation, the lung tissue was sampled. In order to collect samples of primary tumors, the tumors were implanted in other mice and irradiated in the same manner, and the primary tumors were collected at 1 week after the irradiation. The tumor cells of the primary and metastatic tumors were collected by laser microdissection, and oligonucleotide microarray analysis of the irradiated primary tumors and the metastatic tumors were all performed in comparison to the non-irradiated primary tumor by two-color methods.
Project description:To identify altered signal transduction pathways involved in the progression and metastases of Lkb1 deficient lung tumors, we have performed an unbiased microarray analysis of primary and metastatic mouse lung tumors We used microarrays to detail the global programme of gene expression underlying metastatic progression
Project description:Chloride Intracellular Channel 4 (CLIC4) expression is elevated in the stroma of many cancers. We show that CLIC4 expression is higher in breast cancers from younger women and early stage metastatic disease, portends poor prognosis, and is linked to TGF-β expression. Two murine breast cancer models with lung metastases revealed that ablation of host Clic4 nearly eliminated lung metastases without reducing primary tumor size while Clic4 null tumor cells retained metastatic capability. Thus, CLIC4 is required for host metastatic competence. Deficiencies in circulating pro-metastatic soluble factors were detected in CLIC4 deficient hosts bearing primary tumors. Necrosis and vascular abnormalities were more abundant in primary tumors from CLIC4 deficient hosts than from CLIC4 proficient control hosts. Transcriptional profiles of lungs and primary tumors prior to the onset of metastases indicated that loss of host CLIC4 enhances an inflammatory microenvironment. Thus, CLIC4 expression in human breast cancers may serve as a prognostic biomarker, and targeting host CLIC4 could reduce metastatic competence.
Project description:Recurrent or metastatic adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) of the head and neck is rare and highly aggressive. Due to the ineffectiveness of immune checkpoint therapies, this study aims to investigate the tumor immune microenvironment of primary tumor tissues and lung metastatic tissues and to comprehend the challenges of immunotherapy. We analyzed RNA sequencing data and constructed immune landscapes from 25 primary tumors and 34 lung metastases. Compared to adjacent normal tissues, both primary and lung metastatic ACC showed low immune infiltration. Lung metastases had higher immune infiltration levels and antigen presentation scores but also higher T cell exclusion and dysfunction scores. Higher immune cell infiltration in lung metastases is countered by the presence of suppressive tumor-associated macrophages, which may limit effective anti-tumor responses.
Project description:To examine whether the local carbon ion radiotherapy affects the characteristics of the metastatic tumors, the expression profiles of the primary tumors and the lung metastases were studied in a mouse squamous cell carcinoma model by applying local radiotherapy with no irradiation (negative control), gamma-ray irradiation (reference beam), and carbon-ion irradiation. Keywords: mouse, squamous cell carcinoma, primary tumor, lung metastases, radiotherapy, carbon ion, gamma ray
Project description:To investigate the identity of the tissue origin for metastases, we compared gene expression profiles of the prostate tissues and seminal vesicles from PB-Pten-NICD mice and those of 7 lung metastases from different mice. Three respective cell lines established from primary seminal vesicle tumors, primary prostate tumors, and lung metastases in PB-Pten-NICD mice were also included in the microarray analysis. We hypothesized that the gene expression profiles of primary and metastatic tumors should resemble those of their tissue origins. We identified genes differentially expressed between the seminal vesicle and prostate tumors. The expression profiles of the two cell lines established from primary tumors resembled those of their respective tissue origins, which supports our hypothesis. The expression profile of the metastatic cell line resembled those of the prostate tumor tissues, indicating the prostate as its tissue of origin. The expression profiles of 2 metastatic specimens each resembled those of the seminal vesicle tumors and the prostate tumors, respectively, while the expression profiles of the remaining 3 samples displayed a mixed pattern. This study suggests that metastatic tumors in this model may have originated from either the prostate, or the seminal vesicles, or both.