Project description:The mechanisms that allow breast cancer cells to metabolically sustain growth are poorly understood. In breast cancer, FoxA1 transcription factor, along with estrogen receptor, regulates luminal cell specification and proliferation. Here we report that FoxA transcription factor family members FoxA1 and FoxA2 fuel cellular growth in breast cancer through the expression of a common target gene, namely the endothelial lipase (LIPG) We used microarrays to detail the genes that are under de control of FoxA transcription factors in MDA231 and MCF7 breast cancer cells
Project description:Lipid uptake occurs through caveolae, plasma membrane invaginations formed by caveolins (CAV) and caveolae-associated protein 1 (CAVIN1). Genetic alterations of CAV1N1 and CAV1 modify lipid metabolism and underpin lipodystrophy syndromes. Lipids contribute to tumorigenesis by providing fuel to cancer metabolism and supporting growth and signaling. Tumor stroma supports tumor proliferation, invasion and metastasis but how stromal lipids influence these processes remain to be defined. Here we show that stromal CAVIN1 regulates lipid abundance in the prostate cancer microenvironment and suppresses metastasis. We show that depletion of CAVIN1 in prostate stromal cells markedly reduces their lipid droplet accumulation and increases inflammation.
Project description:Carcinoma-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) consist of heterogeneous subpopulations and play a critical role in the dynamics of the tumor microenvironment. Previously, the extracellular signals of CAFs have been attributed to extracellular matrix, cytokine, cell-surface checkpoints and exosome. Here, we showed that CD10, which is a transmembrane hydrolase expressed on a subset of CAFs, supports tumor stemness and induced chemoresistance. Mechanistically, CD10 degenerates an anti-tumoral peptide, osteogenic growth peptide (OGP). OGP restrains the expression of a rate-limiting desaturase and inhibits lipid desaturation which is required for cancer stem cells (CSCs). Therapeutically, targeting CD10 significantly improves the efficacy of chemotherapy in vivo. Clinically, CD10-OGP signals are associated with the response of neo-adjuvant chemotherapy in patients of breast cancer. Overall, our data suggested that a nexus between the niche and lipid metabolism in CSCs can be a promising therapeutic target for breast cancer.
Project description:Rho-GTPases are small GTP-binding proteins that contribute to the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition by regulating several cellular processes including organization of the actin cytoskeleton, cell motility, transcription, and cell proliferation. Overexpression of RhoC-GTPases (RhoC) in breast cancer has been implicated in poor disease prognosis due to increased cancer cells invasion, migration, and motility, which warranted its consideration as a therapeutic target for inhibiting breast cancer metastasis. Using silencing RNA (siRNA) molecules to knockdown RhoC expression is a promising approach to inhibit breast cancer metastases.
Project description:FoxA transcription factors are involved in development and tumorigenesis of the gastrointestinal tract. However, the downstream programs controlled by FoxA factors remain poorly understood. The goal of this study is to understand the transcriptional responses regulated by FoxA proteins in liver and colon cancer cells. Human liver cancer cell line HepG2 and colon cancer cell line LS174T infected with lentivirus expressing shRNAs targeting human FoxA1 and FoxA2.
Project description:Androgen receptor (AR) is expressed in 60-70% of breast cancers independent of estrogen receptor (ER) expression, however its function in breast cancer is largely unknown. Our study identified the high level of AR in ERâ/HER2+ breast tumors and andorgen and AR greatly stimulated growth of MDA-MB-453 breast cancer cells. To define the genome-wide AR binding sites, we performed AR ChIP-seq using MDA-MB-453 breast cancer cells followig stimulation of DHT. We also identified FOXA1 is a crucial AR cofactor in MDA-MB-453 cells and the FOXA cistrome showed signaficant overlap with AR at both early and late time points of DHT stimulation.
Project description:Androgen receptor (AR) is expressed in 60-70% of breast cancers independent of estrogen receptor (ER) expression, however its function in breast cancer is largely unknown. Our study identified the high level of AR in ERâ??/HER2+ breast tumors and andorgen and AR greatly stimulated growth of MDA-MB-453 breast cancer cells. To define the genome-wide AR binding sites, we performed AR ChIP-seq using MDA-MB-453 breast cancer cells followig stimulation of DHT. We also identified FOXA1 is a crucial AR cofactor in MDA-MB-453 cells and the FOXA cistrome showed signaficant overlap with AR at both early and late time points of DHT stimulation. AR ChIP was performed in MDA-MB-453 breast cancer cells following 5a-dihydrotestosterone (DHT) stimulation for 4h and 16h respectively. FOXA1 ChIP-seq was performed after 4h DHT stimulation in MDA-MB-453 cells.
Project description:We investigated the role of RNA N6-adenosine methyltransferase protein METTL14 that supports breast cancer growth and progression, and we showed METTL14 knockdown inhibited long-term survival, migration as well as invasion of breast cancer cells.