Multi omics evaluation of cutaneous melanoma cells and their cerebral metastasis from patient derived mouse xenografts suggest individually distinct adaptation strategies

ABSTRACT: Brain metastases of melanoma are associated with therapy resistance and poor prognosis. It is not fully understood whether and how the selection of cells capable of metastasizing into the brain is accompanied by the establishment of specific features. For the investigation of these questions, we made use of previously described xenograft mouse models for primary human melanoma cells distinguishing cutaneous from cerebellar metastases from the same genetic background. Previous experiments suggested that cultured cells derived from these xenografts still maintain properties characteristic for the microenvironment of the originating metastases. Such corresponding pairs of metastatic cells were obtained from four individual donors, resulting in eight cell-lines presently investigated with regard to molecular properties characteristic for metastasis. Label free proteome profiling revealed significant alterations when comparing corresponding pairs of cutaneous and cerebellar metastases from the same donor. Molecules previously associated with metastasis such as cell adhesion molecules, immune regulators, epithelial mesenchymal transition markers, stem cell markers, redox regulators and cytokines were found differently expressed. This was also observed with regard to eicosanoids considered relevant for metastasis such as PGE2 and 12-HETE. However, no commonalities in the molecular characteristics of cerebellar metastases were identified in all four donors. Multiparametric morphological analysis of cells also revealed alterations associated with the kind of metastases, while lacking uniformity. In conclusion, here we describe that xenografted melanoma cells derived from two different microenvironments, i.e. cutaneous and cerebellar metastases, display significant alterations in the expression of molecules associated with metastastic properties. The observed lack of uniformity suggests that metastatic cells may find individual strategies to adapt to their microenvironmental challenges accompanied by the establishment of individual cell characteristics.

INSTRUMENT(S): Q Exactive

ORGANISM(S): Homo Sapiens (human)

TISSUE(S): Melanocyte, Melanoma Cell

DISEASE(S): Melanoma

SUBMITTER: Christopher Gerner  

LAB HEAD: Christopher Gerner

PROVIDER: PXD013765 | Pride | 2020-01-08

REPOSITORIES: Pride