A novel splice variant of HER2 with increased transformation activity

The HER2 proto-oncogene (also known as neu or c-erbB-2) belongs to the epidermal growth factor receptor family. HER2 is frequently amplified in human carcinomas. Gene amplification or overexpression of HER2 has been correlated with poor prognosis in several human cancers. Point mutation in the rat HER2 homolog, neu, is involved in the formation of rat neuroblastomas. However, no similar mutation in HER2 has been found in human cancers. Here we report the identification of a novel alternative splicing form of HER2 (ΔHER2) in human cell lines. An exon 16 amino acids long in the extracellular domain was deleted in ΔHER2. Deletion mutations in the corresponding region were shown previously to be involved in the formation of mammary carcinomas in transgenic mice. In the focus-formation assay, ΔHER2 showed much stronger transformation activity than did wild-type HER2. This result suggests that the deleted 16–amino acid exon may play a regulatory role in HER2 transformation activity. Mol. Carcinog. 23:62–68, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Expression of truncated HER2 and its prognostic value in HER2-positive breast cancer patients

Purpose

The purpose of this work was to assess the truncated form of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) such as p95-HER2 expression in HER2-positive breast cancer (BC) patients who developed metastatic disease after adjuvant treatment with a trastuzumab-containing regimen.

Update on HER-2 as a target for cancer therapy: HER2/neu peptides as tumour vaccines for T cell recognition

During the past decade there has been renewed interest in the use of vaccine immunotherapy for the treatment of cancer. This review focuses on HER2/neu, a tumour-associated antigen that is overexpressed in 10–40% of breast cancers and other carcinomata. Several immunogenic HER2/neu peptides recognized by T lymphocytes have been identified to be included in cancer vaccines. Some of these peptides have been assessed in clinical trials of patients with breast and ovarian cancer. Although it has been possible to detect immunological responses against the peptides in the immunized patients, no clinical responses have so far been described. Immunological tolerance to self-antigens like HER2/neu may limit the functional immune responses against them. It will be of interest to determine whether immune responses against HER2/neu epitopes can be of relevance to cancer treatment.     

Identification of a caspase-2 isoform that behaves as an endogenous inhibitor of the caspase cascade

Procaspase-2 is one of the aspartate-specific cysteine proteases that are activated in response to various apoptotic stimuli. Two isoforms of human procaspase-2 have been described initially. Overexpression of the long isoform (caspase-2L) promotes cell death whereas the short isoform (caspase-2S) antagonizes some apoptotic pathways. In the present study, we identified two additional CASP-2 mRNAs, designated CASP-2L-Pro and CASP-2s-Pro. The proteins encoded by these isoforms corresponded to the prodomain of procaspase-2L and -2S, in which the last alpha-helix of their caspase recruitment domains was deleted. Caspase-2L-Pro mRNA and protein were detected in a series of human tissues and cell lines. Yeast 2-hybrid assays and immunoprecipitation studies indicated that caspase-2L-Pro can interact with procaspase-2L and the adaptor protein RAIDD/CRADD, but not with FADD/MORT1 or APAF-1 adaptor proteins. The addition of recombinant caspase-2L-Pro negatively interfered with cytochrome c/dATP-mediated activation of the caspase cascade in a cell-free system. In transient expression studies of human B lymphoma Namalwa cells, overexpression of caspase-2L-Pro weakly induced apoptosis, which was prevented by a D83A/E87A double mutation. In stable selected CASP-2L-Pro-transfected Namalwa cells, overexpression of caspase-2L-Pro delayed apoptotic DNA fragmentation induced by death receptor agonists (anti-Fas antibodies, tumor necrosis factor-alpha) and DNA topoisomerase I- (camptothecin) and II- (etoposide) inhibitors, and prevented etoposide-induced activation of the caspase cascade. These inhibitory effects were not observed in stable transfected cells expressing the D83A/E87A double mutant. Altogether, these data indicated that the caspase-2L-Pro isoform functions as an endogenous apoptosis inhibitory protein that antagonizes caspase activation and cell death.     

Adenosine acts as an inhibitor of lymphoma cell growth: a major role for the A3 adenosine receptor

In this study, we demonstrated several mechanisms exploring the inhibitory effect of low-dose adenosine on lymphoma cell growth. Adenosine, a purine nucleoside present in plasma and other extracellular fluids, acts as a regulatory molecule, by binding to G-protein associated cell-surface receptors, A1, A2 and A3. Recently we showed that low-dose adenosine released by muscle cells, inhibits tumour cell growth and thus attributes to the rarity of muscle metastases. In the present work, a cytostatic effect of adenosine on the proliferation of the Nb2-11C rat lymphoma cell line was demonstrated. This effect was mediated through the induction of cell cycle arrest in the G0/G1 phase and by decreasing the telomeric signal in these cells. Adenosine was found to exert its antiproliferative effect mainly through binding to its A3 receptor. The cytostatic anticancer activity, mediated through the A3 adenosine receptor, turns it into a potential target for the development of anticancer therapies.     

Effects of the EGFR/HER2 kinase inhibitor GW572016 on EGFR- and HER2-overexpressing breast cancer cell line proliferation, radiosensitization, and resistance

PURPOSE: Two members of the epidermal growth factor receptor family, EGFR and HER2, have been implicated in radioresistance in breast cancer and other malignancies. To gauge the potential clinical utility of targeting both EGFR and HER2 to control growth and radiosensitize human breast cancers, we examined the effect of a dual EGFR/HER2 inhibitor, GW572016, on the proliferation and radiation response of either EGFR- or HER2-overexpressing human breast cancer cell lines. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Primary human breast cancer cell lines that endogenously overexpress EGFR or HER2 and luminal mammary epithelial H16N2 cells stably transfected with HER2 were evaluated for the effect of GW572016 on inhibition of ligand-induced or constitutive receptor phosphorylation, proliferation, radiosensitization, and inhibition of downstream signaling. RESULTS: GW572016 inhibited constitutive and/or ligand-induced EGFR or HER2 tyrosine phosphorylation of all five cell lines, which correlated with the antiproliferative response in all but one cell line. GW572016 radiosensitized EGFR-overexpressing cell lines, but HER2-overexpressing cells were unable to form colonies after brief exposure to GW572016 even in the absence of radiation, and thus could not be evaluated for radiosensitization. One cell line was resistant to the antiproliferative and radiosensitizing effects of GW572016, despite receptor inhibition. Exploration of potential mechanisms of resistance in SUM185 cells revealed failure of GW572016 to inhibit downstream ERK and Akt activation, despite inhibition of HER2 phosphorylation. In contrast, sensitive HER2-overexpressing cell lines demonstrated inhibition of both ERK and Akt phosphorylation. CONCLUSION: GW572016 potently inhibits receptor phosphorylation in either EGFR- or HER2-overexpressing cell lines and has both antiproliferative and radiosensitizing effects. Resistance to GW572016 was not due to a lack of receptor inhibition, but rather with a lack of inhibition of ERK and Akt, suggesting that measurement of inhibition of crucial signaling pathways may better predict response than inhibition of receptor phosphorylation. The SUM185 cell line provides a valuable model for studying mechanisms of resistance of EGFR/HER2 inhibitor therapy.     

HER2、COX-2在非小细胞肺癌中的表达意义

目的：探讨人表皮生长因子受体2（human epidermal growth factor receptor 2,HER2）和环氧化酶2（cyclooxygenase-2,COX-2）在非小细胞肺癌（non-small cell lung cancer,NSCLC）中的表达,其各自与临床特征之间的关系及二者在NSCLC中表达的相互关系。方法采用免疫组化链霉菌抗生物素蛋白-过氧化物酶（streptavidin-peroxidase,SP）法检测72例NSCLC中HER2、COX-2的表达情况。结果①72例NSCLC中, HER2、COX-2的阳性表达率分别为55.6%、65.3%;②HER2在NSCLC中的阳性表达与组织学类型、分化程度、肿块大小、淋巴结转移及临床分期相关（P＜0.05）,而与性别、年龄、吸烟、病变部位无关（P＞0.05）;③COX-2的阳性表达与年龄、组织学类型、肿块大小、淋巴结转移及临床分期相关（P＜0.05）,而与性别、吸烟、病变部位及分化程度无关（P＞0.05）;④HER2、COX-2在NSCLC中的阳性表达呈正相关关系。结论 HER2、COX-2可以作为判断NSCLC恶性程度的生物学指标。     

Chmp1A acts as a tumor suppressor gene that inhibits proliferation of renal cell carcinoma

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is a highly malignant and often fatal disease of the kidney. Chmp1A is a member of the Endosomal Sorting Complex Required for Transport (ESCRT-III) family, and plays a role in the cytoplasm in sorting proteins to the multivesicular body (MVB). Chmp1A functions as a tumor suppressor gene and has been reported in pancreatic tumor cells. Here, we examined the expression level of Chmp1A in human RCC tissues and renal tumor cells by real-time quantitative RT-PCR and western blot. We found that the expression level of Chmp1A is significantly lower in RCC tissues and renal tumor cells compared with adjacent non-tumorous tissues and normal renal cells. Additionally, inhibition of Chmp1A expression by shRNA induced tumor formation in normal renal cells. However, inhibition of Chmp1A did not significantly affect tumor cell proliferation in vitro and tumor progression in vivo. Interestingly, overexpression of Chmp1A using a eukaryotic plasmid inhibited the proliferation of renal tumor cells in vitro and the growth of renal tumor in vivo. Thus, our results demonstrate that Chmp1A functions as a tumor suppressor gene in renal cells and may be a useful target for treatment of RCC.     

Antisense experiments demonstrate an exon 4 minus splice variant mRNA as the basis for expression of tNOX, a cancer-specific cell surface protein

A novel hydroquinone and NADH oxidase with protein disulfide-thiol interchange activity (designated ENOX2 or tNOX), associated exclusively with the outer leaflet of the plasma membrane at the surface of cancer cells and in sera of cancer patients, is absent from the surface of noncancer cells and from sera from healthy individuals. Transfection of HeLa (human cervical carcinoma) cells with antisense oligonucleotides and measurement of mRNA levels by real-time quantitative PCR and growth and drug response by in vitro cytotoxicity assays were combined to demonstrate encoding of a cancer-specific and growth-related cell surface protein, tNOX, via an exon 4 minus splice variant. tNOX mRNA levels of HeLa cells were determined following transfection with antisense relative to control cells transfected with Lipofectamine using the cycle threshold method normalized for GAPDH mRNA. Antisense to tNOX exon 4 mRNA blocked generation of full-length tNOX mRNA but not of exon 4 minus mRNA. Antisense to exon 5 mRNA inhibited the production of exon 4 minus mRNA and full-length tNOX mRNA. Scrambled antisense to exon 5 mRNA was without effect. Antisense to exon 5 mRNA decreased the amount of tNOX protein on the surface of cancer cells. As a control, antisense-mediated downregulation of exon 5 minus mRNA of tNOX also was demonstrated as detected using exon 4/exon 6 primers. Exon 5 antisense blocked the cell surface expression of tNOX whereas exon 4 antisense was without effect. In contrast to nontransfected HeLa cells, cells transfected with exon 5 antisense were not inhibited by the green tea catechin, (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate. A relationship of tNOX to unregulated growth of cancer cells was provided by data where growth of HeLa cells was inhibited by transfection with the exon 5 antisense oligonucleotides. Growth inhibition was followed by apoptosis in greater than 70% of the transfected cells.     

89Zr-trastuzumab PET visualises HER2 downregulation by the HSP90 inhibitor NVP-AUY922 in a human tumour xenograft

NVP-AUY922, a potent heat shock protein (HSP) 90 inhibitor, downregulates the expression of many oncogenic proteins, including the human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2). Because HER2 downregulation is a potential biomarker for early response to HSP90-targeted therapies, we used the ⁸⁹Zr-labelled HER2 antibody trastuzumab to quantify the alterations in HER2 expression after NVP-AUY922 treatment with HER2 positron emission tomography (PET) imaging.The HER2 overexpressing human SKOV-3 ovarian tumour cell line was used for in vitro experiments and as xenograft model in nude athymic mice. In vitro HER2 membrane expression was assessed by flow cytometry and a radio-immuno assay with ⁸⁹Zr-trastuzumab. For in vivo evaluation, mice received 50 mg/kg NVP-AUY922 intraperitoneally every other day. ⁸⁹Zr-trastuzumab was injected intravenously 6 d before NVP-AUY922 treatment and after 3 NVP-AUY922 doses. MicroPET imaging was performed at 24, 72 and 144 h post tracer injection followed by ex-vivo biodistribution and immunohistochemical staining.After 24 h NVP-AUY922 treatment HER2 membrane expression showed profound reduction with flow cytometry (80%) and radio-immuno assay (75%). PET tumour quantification, showed a mean reduction of 41% (p = 0.0001) in ⁸⁹Zr-trastuzumab uptake at 144 h post tracer injection after NVP-AUY922 treatment. PET results were confirmed by ex-vivo ⁸⁹Zr-trastuzumab biodistribution and HER2 immunohistochemical staining.NVP-AUY922 effectively downregulates HER2, which can be monitored and quantified in vivo non-invasively with ⁸⁹Zr-trastuzumab PET. This technique is currently under clinical evaluation and might serve as an early biomarker for HSP90 inhibition in HER2 positive metastatic breast cancer patients.     

Atiprimod is an inhibitor of cancer cell proliferation and angiogenesis

Atiprimod, a novel compound belonging to the azaspirane class of cationic amphiphilic drugs, exhibits both anti-proliferative and anti-angiogenic activities. Atiprimod inhibited proliferation of all human cancer cell lines included in the National Cancer Institute panel with IC50 values in the low micromolar range. Notably, metastatic cell lines were more sensitive to the compound compared to the non-metastatic cell lines derived from the same tumor tissue types. Atiprimod also induced apoptosis and activated both caspase-9 and caspase-3 in T84 colon carcinoma cells. Hence, the anti-proliferative activity could partly be due to its pro-apoptotic activity. Regarding angiogenesis in vitro, atiprimod inhibited both bFGF and VEGF induced proliferation and migration of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), resulting in disruption of cord formation. In addition, atiprimod also suppressed formation of new blood vessels in a chorioallantoic membrane assay. Previous studies have also shown that atiprimod treatment reduced production of IL-6, VEGF and inhibited activation of Stat3, a constitutively activated protein in majority of human cancers. Together these findings suggest that atiprimod acts on several molecules that are essential for tumor growth, invasion and metastasis.     

The fibroblast growth factor receptor FGFR-4 acts as a ligand dependent modulator of erythroid cell proliferation

Receptor and non-receptor tyrosine kinases constitute a large family of proteins that play a pivotal role in hematopoiesis. Here we conducted a comprehensive survey of tyrosine kinase gene expression in primary erythroid progenitor cells from bone marrow by employing a PCR-based strategy that targets the conserved kinase encoding region. We demonstrate that erythroid progenitor cells express several receptor and non-receptor tyrosine kinases, like c-kit, Jak1, Ryk, FAK, Syk, Arg, Csk and members of the insulin receptor family. Specific changes in the expression profile of tyrosine kinases were observed following differentiation induction. We also report on the identification of a new ligand dependent modulator of erythropoiesis, fibroblast growth factor receptor-4 (FGFR-4). FGFR-4 is effectively expressed in erythroid progenitors and downregulated when cells differentiate. Furthermore, the FGFR-4 ligand, basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), enhanced erythroid cell proliferation induced by SCF or insulin, and thus modulated both erythroid proliferation and differentiation in vitro.     

Orthovanadate, an inhibitor of protein tyrosine phosphatases, acts more potently as a promoter than as an initiator in the BALB/3T3 cell transformation

The phosphorylation and dephosphorylation of proteins are critical in cellular signal transduction. Phorbol esters and okadaic acid, which affect protein phosphorylation, are potent promoters in mouse skin carcinogenesis and cell transformation in vitro. Orthovanadate inhibits protein tyrosine phosphatases and causes hyperphosphorylation of cellular proteins. We have performed two-stage transformation assays using BALB/3T3 cells to determine the major activity of orthovanadate (1-10 microM) for transformation. This chemical acted as a weak initiator because its initiating treatment produced a significant, though small, number of transformed foci in the presence of promoting treatment by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) but not in the absence of TPA. Promoting treatment by orthovanadate markedly enhanced the transformation of the cells pretreated by a subthreshold dose of 3- methylcholanthrene (MCA) but not of non-pretreated cells. Superiority of promoting over initiating activity of orthovanadate was confirmed by an assay carried out in the reversed treatment sequence (orthovanadate and then MCA), where the transformation frequency was conspicuously decreased compared with the regular treatment sequence. The transformed foci in the cultures treated by orthovanadate, following MCA treatment, continued to grow in normal medium, showing cell proliferation independent of orthovanadate. Orthovanadate, in addition to TPA and okadaic acid, will be a useful reagent for studying the signaling cascades responsible for tumor promotion.