Project description:Genetic aberrations, including mutations or deletions in KRAS, TP53, SMAD4, and CDKN2A, are common causes of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA). Recent large-scale transcriptomic studies demonstrated that heterogeneous gene expressions played an essential role in determining molecular subtypes of PDA, although it remains unclear what the biological cues and consequences of distinct transcriptional programs are. Here, we describe an anoikis-induction-based experimental model that enforces the transition toward a squamous subtype of PDA cells. Characteristics of the squamous subtype, represented by aggressive behaviors, are faithfully recapitulated in vitro and in vivo, demonstrating the physiological relevance of this model. Integrated analysis of epigenome and transcriptome reveals that squamous subtype PDA cells acquire pro-angiogenic enhancer activity of which is sustained by the transcription factor TEAD2. Genetic and pharmacological inhibition of TEAD2 of these tumor cells impairs their pro-angiogenic phenotypes in vitro and cancer progression in vivo. Furthermore, we found that CD109 is a critical TEAD2 target that retains activated JAK-STAT signaling. Together, our findings implicate a TEAD2-CD109-JAK/STAT axis as a potential therapeutic vulnerability concealed in the squamous subtype-associated epigenome of pancreatic cancer cells.
Project description:Genetic aberrations, including mutations or deletions in KRAS, TP53, SMAD4, and CDKN2A, are common causes of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA). Recent large-scale transcriptomic studies demonstrated that heterogeneous gene expressions played an essential role in determining molecular subtypes of PDA, although it remains unclear what the biological cues and consequences of distinct transcriptional programs are. Here, we describe an anoikis-induction-based experimental model that enforces the transition toward a squamous subtype of PDA cells. Characteristics of the squamous subtype, represented by aggressive behaviors, are faithfully recapitulated in vitro and in vivo, demonstrating the physiological relevance of this model. Integrated analysis of epigenome and transcriptome reveals that squamous subtype PDA cells acquire pro-angiogenic enhancer activity of which is sustained by the transcription factor TEAD2. Genetic and pharmacological inhibition of TEAD2 of these tumor cells impairs their pro-angiogenic phenotypes in vitro and cancer progression in vivo. Furthermore, we found that CD109 is a critical TEAD2 target that retains activated JAK-STAT signaling. Together, our findings implicate a TEAD2-CD109-JAK/STAT axis as a potential therapeutic vulnerability concealed in the squamous subtype-associated epigenome of pancreatic cancer cells.
Project description:Genetic aberrations, including mutations or deletions in KRAS, TP53, SMAD4, and CDKN2A, are common causes of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA). Recent large-scale transcriptomic studies demonstrated that heterogeneous gene expressions played an essential role in determining molecular subtypes of PDA, although it remains unclear what the biological cues and consequences of distinct transcriptional programs are. Here, we describe an anoikis-induction-based experimental model that enforces the transition toward a squamous subtype of PDA cells. Characteristics of the squamous subtype, represented by aggressive behaviors, are faithfully recapitulated in vitro and in vivo, demonstrating the physiological relevance of this model. Integrated analysis of epigenome and transcriptome reveals that squamous subtype PDA cells acquire pro-angiogenic enhancer activity of which is sustained by the transcription factor TEAD2. Genetic and pharmacological inhibition of TEAD2 of these tumor cells impairs their pro-angiogenic phenotypes in vitro and cancer progression in vivo. Furthermore, we found that CD109 is a critical TEAD2 target that retains activated JAK-STAT signaling. Together, our findings implicate a TEAD2-CD109-JAK/STAT axis as a potential therapeutic vulnerability concealed in the squamous subtype-associated epigenome of pancreatic cancer cells.
Project description:To investigate potential molecular targets that regulate metastasis and metabolism in anoikis-resistance of prostate cancer cells, we have establised anoikis-resistant prostate PC-3 cells with ultra-low attachment 6-well plates (Corning) and employed whole genome microarray expression profiling as a discovery platform to identify differentially expressed genes between anoikis-resistant PC-3 cells and corresponding parental cells.
Project description:Anoikis (detachment-induced cell death) is a specific type of programmed cell death which occurs in response to the loss of the correct extracellular matrix connections. Anoikis resistance is an important mechanism in cancer invasiveness and metastatic behavior. Autophagy, on the other hand, involves the degradation of damaged organelles and the recycling of misfolded proteins and intracellular components. However, the intersection of these two cellular responses in lung cancer cells has not been extensively studied. Here, we identified that upon matrix deprivation, the lymphocyte lineage-specific Ets transcription factor SPIB was activated and directly enhanced SNAP47 transcription in certain lung cancer cells. Loss of attachment-induced autophagy significantly increased anoikis resistance by SPIB activation. Consistent with this function, SPIB depletion by short hairpin RNA abrogated SNAP47 transcriptional activation upon matrix deprivation. Therefore, these data delineate an important role of SPIB in autophagy-mediated anoikis resistance in lung cancer cells. Accordingly, these findings suggest that manipulating SPIB-regulated pathways in vivo and evaluating the impact of anoikis resistance warrant further investigation.