Effect of eribulin on epithelial–mesenchymal transition plasticity in metastatic breast cancer: An exploratory,prospective study

Epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) plays a pivotal role in cancer metastasis and treatment resistance, which worsens prognosis. In phase III trials, eribulin improved overall survival in metastatic breast cancer (MBC) patients. In preclinical studies, eribulin suppressed EMT. However, clinical data on the use of eribulin for MBC patients are limited. In this exploratory, prospective study, we examined the effect of eribulin on EMT in MBC patients. Twenty-two patients aged 44–82 years with recurrent breast cancer or MBC were treated with eribulin. Breast cancer tissue samples were obtained before treatment and on Day 15 ± 5 of the first cycle of eribulin treatment. EMT markers (E-cadherin, claudin-3, vimentin, and N-cadherin) were analyzed using western blotting. EMT changes were evaluated based on the ratio of epithelial to mesenchymal markers before and after treatment in individual tumors. E-cadherin/vimentin, claudin-3/vimentin, E-cadherin/N-cadherin, and claudin-3/N-cadherin ratios were significantly higher after treatment (p = .007, p = .005, p = .006, and p = .011, respectively). Based on E-cadherin/vimentin, 65.0% of tumors shifted to an epithelial phenotype, as compared to 66.7% based on claudin-3/vimentin, 84.6% based on E-cadherin/N-cadherin, and 71.4% based on claudin-3/N-cadherin ratios. Thus, our results showed that eribulin suppressed EMT in breast cancer tissues.     

Altered expression of adhesion molecules and epithelial-mesenchymal transition in silica-induced rat lung carcinogenesis

Loss of the epithelial phenotype and disruption of adhesion molecules is a hallmark in the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) reported in several types of cancer. Most of the studies about the relevance of adhesion and junction molecules in lung cancer have been performed using established tumors or in vitro models. The sequential molecular events leading to EMT during lung cancer progression are still not well understood. We have used a rat model for multistep lung carcinogenesis to study the status of adherens and tight junction proteins and mesenchymal markers during EMT. After silica-induced chronic inflammation, rats sequentially develop epithelial hyperplasia, preneoplastic lesions, and tumors such as adenocarcinomas and squamous cell carcinomas. In comparison with normal and hyperplastic bronchiolar epithelium and with hyperplastic alveolar type II cells, the expression levels of E-cadherin, alpha-catenin and beta-catenin were significantly reduced in adenomatoid preneoplastic lesions and in late tumors. The loss of E-cadherin in tumors was associated with its promoter hypermethylation. alpha- and beta-catenin dysregulation lead to cytoplasmic accumulation in some carcinomas. No nuclear beta-catenin localization was found at any stage of any preneoplastic or neoplastic lesion. Zonula occludens protein-1 was markedly decreased in 66% of adenocarcinomas and in 100% squamous cell carcinomas. The mesenchymal-associated proteins N-cadherin and vimentin were analyzed as markers for EMT. N-cadherin was de novo expressed in 32% of adenocarcinomas and 33% of squamous cell carcinomas. Vimentin-positive tumor cells were found in 35% of adenocarcinomas and 88% of squamous cell carcinomas. Mesenchymal markers were absent in precursor lesions, both hyperplastic and adenomatoid. The present results show that silica-induced rat lung carcinogenesis is a good model to study EMT in vivo, and also provide in vivo evidence suggesting that the changes in cell-cell adhesion molecules are an early event in lung carcinogenesis, while EMT occurs at a later stage.     

Effect of CD133 overexpression on the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in oral cancer cell lines

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is one of the most common cancers in the world. In OSCC, CD133 promotes tumor invasion and metastasis by inducing the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). A small subset of cancer cells known as cancer stem cells (CSCs) are thought to give rise to differentiated tumor cells and to predict tumor recurrence and metastases, i.e., CSCs may be metastatic precursors. In this study, we show that ectopic overexpression of CD133 in OSCC cell lines KB, YD9, and YD10B cells significantly promotes the EMT and acquisition of stemness properties. CSC properties were analyzed by colony-formation assay and measurement of OCT4, SOX2, and NANOG expression, and the EMT was monitored by cell migration, a cell invasion assay, and analysis of E-cadherin, N-cadherin, and vimentin expression. CD133 overexpression led to formation of irregular spheroid colonies consistent with a stem cell phenotype and increased the expression of OCT4, SOX2, NANOG, N-cadherin, and vimentin. Taken together, these findings show that elevated levels of CD133 lead to OSCC invasiveness and metastasis, associated with the upregulation of EMT and stemness markers.     

舌鳞状细胞癌中Survivin的表达及与上皮细胞-间质转化的关系

目的探讨Survivin在舌鳞状细胞癌(tongue squamous cell carcinoma,TSCC)中的表达及其与上皮细胞-间质转化(epithelial-mesenchymal transition,EMT)的关系。方法采用免疫组化EnVision法检测63例TSCC及相应癌旁正常组织中Survivin和EMT标志物的表达,分析Survivin表达与TSCC临床病理特征的关系及其与EMT标志物的相关性。应用Western blot法检测8例TSCC新鲜组织中Survivin、E-cadherin和N-cadherin的表达。结果TSCC组织中Survivin阳性率为81.0%,明显高于相应癌旁正常组织中(15.9%);Survivin表达与TSCC临床分期、病理分级及淋巴结转移有明显相关性。E-cadherin和N-cadherin在TSCC组织中阳性率分别为42.9%和69.8%;Survivin与E-cadherin的表达呈负相关,与N-cadherin表达呈正相关。Western blot实验结果也证实,Survivin和N-cadherin在TSCC组织中呈高表达,而E-cadherin呈低表达。结论Survivin表达与TSCC组织EMT标志物有关,Survivin可能通过诱导TSCC细胞发生EMT,从而促进TSCC的侵袭和转移。     

Fibromatosis-like metaplastic carcinoma of the breast has a claudin-low immunohistochemical phenotype

Fibromatosis-like metaplastic carcinoma (FLMCa) of the breast is a rare low-grade spindle cell carcinoma, of which the biological characteristics have not been well studied. This study aims to assess, in FLMCa, immunohistochemical expression of claudins (CLDN) and features connected with the claudin-low subtype, such as the presence of tumor initiating cells (TIC), epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) phenotype, as well as EGFR activating mutations. Three cases of FLMCa were retrieved from our hospital archives. Histological and immunohistochemical characteristics were reviewed. Expression of CLDN-1, CLDN-3, CLDN-4 and CLDN-7, CD44 and CD24 (TIC phenotype), and vimentin and E-cadherin (EMT features) were studied. EGFR mutations on exons 18, 19, 20, and 21 were investigated by real-time PCR. In all cases, the low-grade spindle cell component was predominant, with two cases presenting <5 % of epithelioid and squamous areas. The tumors expressed basal cytokeratins and vimentin and were hormone receptor and ERBB2 negative. CLDN membrane expression was negative in the spindle cell component. The epithelioid areas were CLDN-1 positive. Nuclear/cytoplasmatic expression of CLDN-4 was observed in all components, except in one case in which it was strongly expressed in the non-spindle areas. All three cases were CD44+/CD24?. E-cadherin was focally expressed in epithelioid cells, only in the squamous areas. Activating EGFR mutations were not found. One patient developed local recurrences, metastases and died. FLMCa have the immunohistochemical profile of claudin-low breast tumors, with low expression of adhesion molecules, presence of TIC and EMT phenotype. No EGFR activating mutations were found.     

同期放化疗诱导人结直肠癌细胞发生上皮-间质转化

目的:探讨放化疗抵抗的结直肠癌细胞发生上皮-间质转化(epithelial-mesenchymal transition,EMT)的意义.方法:采用5-FU化疗同期进行放疗对人结直肠癌野生型细胞(HCTll6)进行干预,诱导放化疗共同抵抗的细胞株(HCT1 16CRR)并采用克隆形成实验进行放化疗抵抗性的鉴定.高倍显微镜下观察细胞形态学变化.采用Real-time PCR和Western印迹,检测上皮表型标志物E-cadherin,间质表型标志物N-cadherin、波形蛋白(vimentin)、核转录因子(Snail)mRNA及其蛋白的表达.结果:放化疗抵抗的结直肠癌细胞发生与EMT相符的形态学改变,细胞呈纺锤体状,极性消失,并出现伪足;Real-time PCR和Western印迹结果显示E-cadherin mRNA及蛋白表达下调;N-cadherin,vimentin,Snail mRNA及蛋白表达上调,差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05).结论:放化疗抵抗后的人结直肠癌细胞发生EMT,其与结直肠癌的治疗抵抗相关.     

Immunohistochemical characteristics of proliferative and metaplastic lesions in bronchial mucosa

To elucidate the characteristics of metaplastic changes of bronchial mucosa, the distribution of four epithelial antigens and two subtypes of enolases was studied immunohistochemically. The authors classified the metaplastic changes into three types: basal cell hyperplasia, stratification, and squamous metaplasia. Secretory component (SC) was detected in all lesions with stratification and in three of ten lesions of squamous metaplasia. Epithelial membrane antigen (EMA) was localized not only on the luminal surfaces but also among the stratified layers of metaplastic epithelium. No carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) was detectable in normal epithelium, whereas almost all metaplastic lesions had both nonspecific cross-reacting antigen (NCA) and CEA immunoreactivity. In normal mucosa, basal cells were strongly positive for alpha-enolase but negative for gamma-enolase, and columnar cells expressed both enolases. In areas of metaplasia, alpha-enolase was present throughout the layer, but gamma-enolase was absent. These immunohistochemical findings suggest that metaplastic squamous epithelial cells have glandular differentiation and that several biochemical and metabolic aberrations occur during the process of metaplasia.     

Possible involvement of ΔNp63 downregulation in the invasion and metastasis of oral squamous cell carcinoma via induction of a mesenchymal phenotype

Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), an essential developmental program, is involved in tumor progression. ΔNp63, a homolog of p53, is associated with the EMT program, but the detailed mechanism remains to be elucidated. In this study, we investigated the role of ΔNp63 in EMT during progression of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Five OSCC cell lines and specimens from 78 patients with OSCC were used. The expressions of ΔNp63, p63α, p63β and epithelial markers (cytokeratins 5 and 14) was detected in the OSCC cells, but not in SQUU-B cells (high metastatic potential). E-cadherin was expressed in all OSCC cells. Mesenchymal markers were strongly expressed in the SQUU-B cells. Knockdown of endogenous ΔNp63 in HSC-2 cells induced morphological changes to the spindle shape, decreased the expression of epithelial markers, increased the expression of mesenchymal markers, increased migration and reduced proliferation. By contrast, SQUU-B cells overexpressing ΔNp63β showed changed their morphology from stromal cell-like to epithelial cells. However, E-cadherin expression was not affected by ΔNp63 knockdown or overexpression. Immunohistochemical staining revealed that cancer cells expressing vimentin were found at the invasive front in the OSCC specimens. The intensity of ΔNp63 expression was also decreased in these cells. Interestingly, the vimentin positivity or decreased intensity of ΔNp63 was positively associated with metastases and poor prognosis in the OSCC patients. These results indicated that ΔNp63 downregulation in cancer cells induces a mesenchymal phenotype that is related to tumor progression of OSCC.     

Inhibitor of growth 4 (ING4) inhibits hypoxia-induced EMT by decreasing HIF-1α and snail in HK2 cells

Renal fibrosis is a common mechanism that leads to all kidney diseases and Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is considered as one of the potential mechanisms of renal fibrosis. Inhibitor of growth 4 (ING4) was reported to involve in several diseases; especially it was negatively correlated with lung fibrogenesis parameters. However, the role of ING4 and underlying mechanisms in EMT are still unknown. In this study, we used a UUO rat model to mimic renal fibrosis, which was examined by Masson and HE staining analysis. To explore the effects of ING4 on hypoxia-induced EMT, HK2 cells were treated with hypoxia to induce EMT and ING4 was over-expressed in hypoxia-treated HK2 cells by transfection of pEGFP-N1-ING4. MTT assay was used to describe the cell viability of HK2 cells under the hypoxic condition. The expression levels of ING4, hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α), and EMT markers (E-cadherin, N-cadherin and vimentin) were examined in vivo and in vitro by western blot, qRT-PCR, immunohistochemical staining or Immunofluorescence. Our results showed that, in a UUO rat model, ING4 was decreased and EMT was developed with reduction in E-cadherin and increase in N-cadherin and vimentin, suggesting a significant association between ING4 expression and EMT. Under hypoxia, E-cadherin was down-regulated and N-cadherin and vimentin were up-regulated, indicating that hypoxia induced EMT in HK2 cells. Nonetheless, changes in the expression of EMT biomarkers were inhibited by over-expression of ING4. Moreover, over-expressing ING4 decreased the expression of HIF-1α and snail in HK2 cells. These findings suggest that ING4 may inhibit hypoxia-induced EMT via decreasing HIF-1α and snail in HK2 cells, indicating the potential of ING4 as a therapeutic target for renal fibrosis.     

紫草素对HGF诱导的人肺癌细胞上皮-间充质转化的逆转作用

目的:探讨紫草素(shikonin)对肝细胞生长因子(HGF)诱导的人非小细胞肺癌PC9细胞迁移、侵袭及上皮-间充质转化(EMT)的影响。方法:用HGF诱导PC9细胞建立EMT模型,采用不同剂量的shikonin干预24 h后,MTT法检测细胞活力;划痕愈合实验检测细胞的迁移能力;Transwell小室实验检测细胞的侵袭能力;Western blot法检测细胞中上皮型钙黏蛋白(E-cadherin)、神经型钙黏蛋白(N-cadherin)和波形蛋白(vimentin)的蛋白表达水平。结果:Shikonin可显著抑制PC9细胞的活力(P0.01),随着给药剂量的增加,shikonin对细胞的生长抑制率显著上升,并呈一定的剂量依赖关系,IC_(50)为9.364μmol/L。HGF可诱导PC9细胞发生迁移和侵袭;划痕愈合实验和Transwell小室实验显示,shikonin能明显抑制由HGF诱导的肺癌PC9细胞迁移和侵袭(P0.01)。Western blot检测结果显示HGF可诱导PC9细胞的EMT标志物E-cadherin蛋白表达下调,N-cadherin和vimentin蛋白表达上调,使其发生EMT;shikonin则可逆转由HGF诱导的PC9细胞E-cadherin蛋白表达下调及N-cadherin和vimentin蛋白表达上调(P0.01)。结论:Shikonin能逆转由HGF诱导的肺癌PC9细胞EMT,同时抑制其迁移和侵袭。     

Inhibition of tobacco smoke-induced bladder MAPK activation and epithelial-mesenchymal transition in mice by curcumin

Tobacco smoke (TS) has been shown to cause bladder cancer. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a crucial pathophysiological process in cancer development. MAPK pathways play central roles in tumorigenesis including EMT process. Curcumin is a promising chemopreventive agent for several types of cancers. In the present study we investigated the effects of TS on MAPK pathway activation and EMT alterations in the bladder of mice, and the preventive effect of curcumin was further examined. Results showed that exposure of mice to TS for 12 weeks resulted in activation of ERK1/2, JNK, p38 and ERK5 MAPK pathways as well as AP-1 proteins in bladder. TS reduced mRNA and protein expression levels of epithelial markers E-cadherin and ZO-1, while mRNA and protein expression levels of the mesenchymal markers vimentin and N-cadherin were increased. Curcumin treatment effectively attenuated TS-triggered activation of ERK1/2, JNK and p38 MAPK pathways, AP-1 proteins and EMT alterations in bladder tissue. These results suggest the protective effects of curcumin in TS-induced MAPK activation and EMT, thus providing new insights into the chemoprevention of TS-associated bladder cancer.     

二苯乙烯苷通过PI3K/AKT通路抑制TGFβ诱导的结直肠癌上皮间质转换

目的:探讨二苯乙烯苷(2,3,5,4'-tetrahydroxy stilbene-2-Ο-β-D-glucoside,THSG)对TGFβ诱导的结直肠癌细胞上皮间质转换(epithelial-mesenchymal transition,EMT)的影响及可能的分子机制.方法:通过转化生长因子(transforming growth factorβ,TGFβ)诱导HCT116细胞发生EMT,倒置显微镜观察细胞形态变化,Western印迹检测EMT相关分子标志物的表达;划痕实验、细胞迁移实验、倒置显微镜观察不同浓度THSG干预TGFβ刺激对HCT116细胞运动、迁移能力以及形态学的影响,Western印迹检测EMT相关标志物及PI3K/AKT通路的改变.结果:TGFβ刺激HCT116细胞后,细胞由圆形变为长梭形,E-cadherin表达降低,vimentin和N-cadherin表达增加;与对照组相比,THSG可增加E-cadherin和PTEN的表达,降低vimentin和N-cadherin和p-AKT表达,同时抑制细胞的迁移及运动(F=454.723,P<0.001;F=412.161,P<0.001).结论:THSG可通过PI3K/AKT通路抑制TGFβ诱导的HCT116细胞EMT,并降低其运动迁移能力.     

SphK1和FAK对人结肠癌HCT116细胞上皮间质转化的影响

 目的: 研究鞘氨醇激酶1(sphingosine kinase l,SphK1)和黏着斑激酶(focal adhesion kinase,FAK)对人结肠癌HCT116细胞上皮间质转化(epithelial-mesenchymal transition,EMT)的影响。方法: 将人结肠癌HCT116细胞分成3组:采用SphK1抑制剂N,N-二甲基鞘胺醇(N,N-dimethylsphingosine,DMS)、FAK抑制剂PF573228和相同体积的培养基分别处理细胞。MTT法检测细胞活力,Western blot方法检测SphK1、FAK、E-cadherin、N-cadherin、vimentin和基质金属蛋白酶2(MMP2)蛋白的表达,real-time PCR检测SphK1、鞘氨醇1-磷酸(S1P)、FAK、E-cadherin和vimentin mRNA的表达,并应用细胞划痕实验检测肿瘤细胞的迁移能力。结果: PF573228和DMS均明显抑制人结肠癌HCT116细胞的活力,并呈时间剂量依赖性。DMS抑制SphK1的表达,同时下调FAK、N-cadherin、vimentin和MMP2蛋白的表达,而上调E-cadherin蛋白表达上调。PF573228明显抑制FAK的表达,同时抑制SphK1、N-cadherin、vimentin和MMP2的表达,上调E-cadherin蛋白的表达(P<0.01)。划痕实验显示PF573228和DMS显著抑制HCT116细胞的迁移能力(P<0.01)。与对照组比较,PF573228组和DMS组FAK、SphK1、S1P以及vimentin mRNA的表达明显下调,而E-cadherin mRNA的表达则明显上调(P<0.05)。结论: SphK1和FAK信号通路可能在结肠癌HTC116细胞上皮间质转化过程中发挥重要作用。     

Role of Cripto-1 during epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in development and cancer

Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a critical multistep process that converts epithelial cells to more motile and invasive mesenchymal cells, contributing to body patterning and morphogenesis during embryonic development. In addition, both epithelial plasticity and increased motility and invasiveness are essential for the branching morphogenesis that occurs during development of the mammary gland and during tumor formation, allowing cancer cells to escape from the primary tumor. Cripto-1, a member of the epidermal growth factor-Cripto-1/FRL-1/Cryptic (EGF/CFC) gene family, together with the transforming growth factor (TGF)-β family ligand Nodal, regulates both cell movement and EMT during embryonic development. During postnatal development, Cripto-1 regulates the branching morphogenesis of the mouse mammary gland and enhances both the invasive and migratory properties of mammary epithelial cells in vitro. Furthermore, transgenic mouse models have shown that Cripto-1 promotes the formation of mammary tumors that display properties of EMT, including the down-regulation of the cell surface adherens junctional protein E-cadherin and the up-regulation of mesenchymal markers, such as vimentin, N-cadherin, and Snail. Interestingly, Cripto-1 is enriched in a subpopulation of embryonal, melanoma, prostate, and pancreatic cancer cells that possess stem-like characteristics. Therefore, Cripto-1 may play a role during developmental EMT, and it may also be involved in the reprogramming of differentiated tumor cells into cancer stem cells through the induction of an EMT program.     

TGF-β1诱导大鼠肝星状细胞系HSC-T6活化及上皮间质转换

目的探讨转化生长因子-β1(TGF-β1)在大鼠肝星状细胞系(HSC-T6)活化及上皮间质转换(EMT)中的作用。方法体外培养HSC-T6,用MTT法筛选TGF-β1对HSC-T6作用的最佳浓度;用10μg/L TGF-β1处理HSC-T6 24 h,相差倒置显微镜下观察细胞形态改变,免疫荧光染色法检测细胞骨架结构F-actin蛋白的表达,RT-q PCR法检测肌动蛋白α-SMA及代表上皮间质转换的神经黏附素(N-cadherin)、波形蛋白(vimentin)和上皮黏附素(E-cadherin)基因表达;用不同浓度(0、5和10μg/L)的TGF-β1处理HSC-T6 24 h,Western blot检测α-SMA、N-cadherin、vimentin和E-cadherin蛋白表达。结果 10μg/L TGF-β1干预HSC-T6 24 h有最好的细胞存活率;TGF-β1刺激HSC-T6后,细胞拉伸,伪足增多呈星形,细胞间连接疏松,呈显著活化状态;F-actin聚集形成应力纤维丝,沿细胞长轴分布;实验组α-SMA mRNA及vimentin mRNA的表达量明显高于对照组(P0.05),而E-cadherin mRNA的表达量明显降低(P0.05);在不同浓度的TGF-β1呈剂量依赖性致α-SMA及N-cadherin和vimentin的蛋白表达量增多,而E-cadherin的蛋白表达量减少。结论 TGF-β1可诱导HSC-T6活化及上皮间质转换。     

Bmi-1 regulates epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition to promote migration and invasion of breast cancer cells

Breast cancer is a highly invasive and metastatic disease. Recent studies report that breast cancer cells that have undergo epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) obtain malignant characteristic, however, the molecular mechanism underlying this transition are poorly understood. Here, we found that over-expression associated with the process of breast cancer and that high B-cell-specific moloney murine leukemia virus insertion site 1 (Bmi-1) levels predict shorter survival of breast cancer patients. We demonstrate that Bmi-1 regulates EMT and the migration of breast cancer cells. RNA interference-mediated knockdown Bmi-1 expression restored E-cadherin expression and cell-cell junction formation in breast cancer cells, suppressing cell migration and invasion. In contrast, the over-expression of Bmi-1 decreased the expression of the epithelial mark (E-cadherin) but increased the mesenchymal makers (N-cadherin and vimentin) in breast cancer cells.