Functional analysis of MKP-1 and MKP-2 in breast cancer tamoxifen sensitivity

Increased activation of ERK signaling has been reported in breast cancer models of acquired tamoxifen resistance. Here, we examined the expression of Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Phosphatases (MKPs) 1 and 2 following tamoxifen treatment and the effects of MKP-1/MKP-2 overexpression on tamoxifen sensitivity. Treatment of MCF7 breast cancer cells with tamoxifen increased MKP-2, but not MKP-1, protein levels. Overexpression of MKP-1 or MKP-2 inhibited estrogen-induced MCF7 cell proliferation compared to vector controls. MCF7-MKP-2 cells displayed significantly increased sensitivity to tamoxifen as compared to vector control or MCF7-MKP-1 cells. MKP-1 or MKP-2 overexpression eliminated ERK1/2 phosphorylation, suggesting that decreases in estrogen-induced proliferation of MKP-1 and MKP-2 overexpressing cells are due to ERK1/2 dephosphorylation. JNK1/2 activation was not detectable in any of these cells. These data suggest that tamoxifen-induced death of these cells is not dependent upon JNK signaling, but rather that ERK is the major MAPK driving their proliferation. MCF7-TAMR cells express higher levels of MKP-2 mRNA and protein than MCF7 cells. MKP-2 and phospho-ERK1/2 proteins are constitutively expressed in MCF7-TAMR cells, and activated JNK1/2 is not detectable. These data suggest that MKP-2 rather than MKP-1 is tamoxifen-regulated and that the elevated expression of MKP-2 in MCF7-TAMR cells potentially functions to restore tamoxifen sensitivity.     

Decreased response to paclitaxel versus docetaxel in HER-2/neu transfected human breast cancer cells

Taxanes are effective in the treatment of metastatic breast cancer. Docetaxel has been shown to be more potent than paclitaxel in inducing bcl-2 phosphorylation and apoptosis and is clinically active in some paclitaxel-resistant breast tumors. HER-2/neu overexpression has been shown to correlate with resistance to hormonal therapy as well as chemotherapy. Using a HER-2/neu transfected MCF-7 human breast cancer cell line, we investigated the role of HER-2/neu overexpression on resistance to paclitaxel and docetaxel treatment. A control vector transfected MCF-7 human breast cancer cell line (MCF/neo) and a HER-2/neu transfected MCF-7 line (MCF/18) were treated with various concentrations of docetaxel or paclitaxel. Cell number was assessed using the MTT tetrazolium dye assay. In the control vector transfected MCF/neo cell line, paclitaxel and docetaxel gave similar dose-dependent growth inhibition ( p = 0.175). In HER-2/neu transfected MCF/18 cells, docetaxel treatment resulted in a dose-dependent inhibition similar to that seen in MCF/neo cells. Paclitaxel, however, gave significantly less growth inhibition than docetaxel in the HER-2/neu overexpressing MCF/18 cells (p = 0.0003). These data suggest that HER-2/neu overexpression may contribute to paclitaxel resistance. In contrast, the cytotoxic effects of docetaxel in these breast carcinoma cells are not affected by HER-2/neu expression. Therefore, docetaxel may be the preferred taxane therapy in HER-2/neu overexpressing breast tumors.     

The outcome of heregulin-induced activation of ovarian cancer cells depends on the relative levels of HER-2 and HER-3 expression.

Members of the epidermal growth factor receptor family of tyrosine kinases, including epidermal growth factor receptor, c-erbB-2 (HER-2), c-erbB-3 (HER-3), and c-erbB-4 (HER-4), can be coexpressed at different levels in nonhematopoietic tissues. Amplification and overexpression of HER-2 is found in approximately one-third of cancers that arise in the breast and ovary. In our previous studies, heregulin (HRG) and anti-HER-2 antibodies inhibited proliferation, increased invasiveness, and enhanced tyrosine autophosphorylation of SKBr3 breast cancer cells that overexpressed HER-2. In the present report, the effects of HRG and anti-HER-2 antibody have been compared in six ovarian cancer cell lines. HRG inhibited anchorage-independent growth of SKOv3 cells that overexpressed HER-2 (10(5) receptors/cell) but stimulated the growth of OVCA420, OVCA429, OVCA432, OVCA433, and OVCAR-3 cells that expressed lower levels of the receptor (10(4) receptors/cell). Thus, cell lines with a high level of HER-2 relative to HER-3 or HER-4 were growth inhibited, whereas cell lines with lower levels of HER-2 were growth stimulated by HRG. Stimulation or inhibition of clonogenic growth did not correlate with endogenous expression of HRG or with the impact of exogenous HRG on phosphorylation of HER-2, HER-3, or HER-4. Anti-HER-2 antibodies inhibited the growth of SKOv3 cells but failed to affect the growth of the other cell lines. In OVCAR-3 cells that had been transfected with HER-2 cDNA to increase expression to 10(5) receptors/cell, HRG inhibited rather than stimulated growth. Conversely, when HER-2 expression by SKOv3 cells was downregulated by transfection of the viral E1A gene, HRG stimulated rather than inhibited growth. To evaluate the relative importance of HER-3 and HER-4, NIH 3T3 cells were cotransfected with HER-2 and HER-3 or with HER-2 and HER-4. HRG inhibited the growth of cells with a high ratio of HER-2:HER-3, whereas HRG stimulated the growth of cells with low levels of the two receptors. In cells that express only HER-2 and HER-4, HRG stimulated the growth of cells that expressed HER-4 independent of HER-2 levels. Anti-HER-2 antibodies inhibited the growth of transfectants with high levels of HER-2 expression independent of HER-3 or HER-4 expression. In ovarian cancer cells that express all three receptors, the relative levels of HER-2 and HER-3 appear to determine the response to HRG. Taken together, these studies support the concept that the level of HER-2 expression can modulate response to HRG, determining whether the response is stimulatory or inhibitory. In contrast, agonistic antibodies that bind to HER-2 alone inhibit anchorage-independent growth but fail to mimic HRG's ability to stimulate growth of cells with low HER-2: HER-3 ratios.     

Inhibition of heregulin mediated MCF-7 breast cancer cell growth by the ErbB3 binding protein EBP1

The ErbB2/3 heterodimer plays a critical role in breast cancer genesis and progression. EBP1, an ErbB3 binding protein, inhibits breast cancer growth but its effects on ErbB3 ligand mediated signal transduction or ErbB receptors is not known. We report here that ectopic expression of EBP1 in MCF-7 and AU565 breast cancer cell lines inhibited HRG-induced proliferation. ErbB2 protein levels were substantially decreased in EBP1 transfectants, while ErbB3 levels were unchanged. HRG-induced AKT activation was attenuated in EBP1 stable transfectants and transfection of a constitutively activated AKT partially restored the growth response to HRG. Down-regulation of EBP1 expression in MCF-7 cells by shRNA resulted in increased cell growth in response to HRG and increased cyclin D1 and ErbB2 expression. These results suggest that EBP1, by down-regulating ErbB signal transduction, attentuates HRG-mediated growth of breast cancer cells.     

Mechanisms of tumor regression and resistance to estrogen deprivation and fulvestrant in a model of estrogen receptor-positive, HER-2/neu-positive breast cancer

HER-2/neu in breast cancer is associated with tamoxifen resistance, but little data exist on its interaction with estrogen deprivation or fulvestrant. Here, we used an in vivo xenograft model of estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast cancer with HER-2/neu overexpression (MCF7/HER-2/neu-18) to investigate mechanisms of growth inhibition and treatment resistance. MCF7/HER-2/neu-18 tumors were growth inhibited by estrogen deprivation and with fulvestrant, but resistance developed in 2 to 3 months. Inhibited tumors had reductions in ER, insulin-like growth factor-I receptor (IGF-IR), phosphorylated HER-2/neu (p-HER-2/neu), and phosphorylated p42/44 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p-MAPK). p27 was increased especially in tumors sensitive to estrogen deprivation. Tumors with acquired resistance to these therapies had complete loss of ER, increased p-HER-2/neu, increased p-MAPK, and reduced p27. In contrast, IGF-IR and phosphorylated AKT (p-AKT) levels were markedly reduced in these resistant tumors. The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitor gefitinib, which can block EGFR/HER-2/neu signaling, significantly delayed the emergence of resistance to both estrogen deprivation and fulvestrant. Levels of p-MAPK and p-AKT decreased with gefitinib, whereas high ER levels were restored. Eventually, however, tumors progressed in mice treated with gefitinib combined with estrogen deprivation or fulvestrant accompanied again by loss of ER and IGF-IR, increased p-HER-2/neu, high p-MAPK, and now increased p-AKT. Thus, estrogen deprivation and fulvestrant can effectively inhibit HER-2/neu-overexpressing tumors but resistance develops quickly. EGFR/HER-2/neu inhibitors can delay resistance, but reactivation of HER-2/neu and signaling through AKT leads to tumor regrowth. Combining endocrine therapy with EGFR/HER-2/neu inhibitors should be tested in clinical breast cancer, but a more complete blockade of EGFR/HER-2/neu may be optimal.     

Acquired antiestrogen resistance in MCF-7 human breast cancer sublines is not accomplished by altered expression of receptors in the ErbB-family

Development of acquired resistance against antiestrogen treatment is a serious problem in human breast cancer, and knowledge of alterations resulting in resistance is important for selection of further treatment. To mimic the clinical situation we have established a series of MCF-7 human breast cancer cell lines by long term treatment with the antiestrogens tamoxifen, ICI 164,384, and ICI 182,780. Common for these cell lines is a decreased expression of the estrogen receptor (ER). In human breast cancer, lack of response to endocrine therapy is often associated with decreased expression of the estrogen receptor and increased expression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and/or HER-2/neu (ErbB-2). Our antiestrogen resistant cell lines did not express altered levels of EGFR, HER-2/neu, ErbB-3, or ErbB-4. Estrogen and antiestrogen regulation of HER-2/neu expression was essentially similar in parent and resistant MCF-7 cells. Treatment with antibodies to HER-2/neu (Herceptin^TM) did not affect growth of MCF-7 cells or resistant cells, indicating that in this in vitro model system, acquired antiestrogen resistance does not emerge from activation of the HER-2/neu signaling pathway. In MCF-7 cells transfected with HER-2/neu and/or ErbB-3, overexpression alone did not result in resistance. However, addition of heregulinl-1 abolished the inhibitory activity of ICI 182,780 on both vector and HER-2/neu/ErbB-3 transfected MCF-7 cells, demonstrating that activation of the HER-2/neu receptor signaling pathway can override the growth inhibitory effect of ICI 182,780.     

Synergistic inhibition of breast cancer cell lines with a dual inhibitor of EGFR-HER-2/neu and a Bcl-2 inhibitor

The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) (ErbB1) and HER-2/neu (ErbB2) are members of the ErbB family of receptor tyrosine kinases. These receptors are overexpressed in a variety of human tumors and overexpression generally correlates with poor prognosis and decreased survival. Lapatinib, a reversible inhibitor of both EGFR and HER-2/neu, has shown some success in achieving clinical responses in heavily pretreated advanced cancer patients. GW2974 is a reversible dual inhibitor similar to lapatinib, but GW2974 was not progressed to clinical trials due to pharmacokinetic issues. Bcl-2, an anti-apoptotic protein, is also overexpressed in a number of human tumors. Bcl-2 inhibitors induce apoptosis and sensitize cancer cells to other therapies. The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of combining ErbB and Bcl-2 inhibitors on the growth of human breast cancer cell lines. EGFR/HER-2/neu tyrosine kinase inhibitors (lapatinib and GW2974) were combined with Bcl-2 inhibitors (HA14-1 or GX15-070) and the anti-proliferative effects were determined by the MTT tetrazolium dye assay. Combinations were tested in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells, a HER-2/neu transfected MCF-7 cell line (MCF/18), and a tamoxifen-resistant MCF-7 cell line (MTR-3). A synergistic inhibitory effect was observed with the combination of inhibitors of EGFR-HER-2/neu (lapatinib or GW2974) and Bcl-2 (GX15-070 or HA14-1) on the growth of the MCF-7, MCF/18, and MTR-3 human breast cancer cell lines. This study suggests that simultaneously blocking the ErbB family of receptor tyrosine kinases and Bcl-2 family of proteins may be a benefit to breast cancer patients.     

miR -21通过调控 PTEN 介导乳腺癌他莫昔芬耐药的作用机制

目的：研究 miR -21在乳腺癌他莫昔芬耐药中的作用,寻求逆转他莫昔芬耐药的靶点。方法：荧光实时定量 PCR（RT - QPCR）检测乳腺癌 MCF -7细胞与乳腺癌他莫昔芬耐药细胞株 MCF -7/ TAM 细胞中miR -21的表达;将 miR -21 mimics 转染到 MCF -7细胞内,将 miR -21 inhibitors 转染到 MCF -7/ TAM 细胞内,并应用 RT - QPCR 分别检测细胞内 miR -21的表达变化,给予细胞4-羟他莫昔芬（4- hydroxytamoxifen, OHT）处理后,利用 MTT 法检测细胞增殖的变化;转染 MCF -7/ TAM 细胞 miR -21 inhibitors 及 mimics,利用RT - QPCR 检测细胞中 PTEN 的表达变化。结果：miR -21在 MCF -7/ TAM 细胞表达高于 MCF -7细胞,转染 miR -21 mimics 的 MCF -7细胞 miR -21高表达,PTEN 表达降低,转染 miR -21 inhibitors 的 MCF -7/TAM 细胞 miR -21表达降低,PTEN 表达增高;过表达 miR -21的 MCF -7细胞给予 OHT 处理后,细胞的增殖抑制不明显,而沉默 miR -21的 MCF -7/ TAM 细胞给予 OHT 处理后,细胞增殖明显受到阻滞;转染耐药细胞 miR -21 inhibitors 后,PTEN 表达增高,转染 miR -21 mimics 后,PTEN 表达降低。结论：miR -21通过调控PTEN 的表达在乳腺癌 TAM 耐药中发挥重要作用。     

Inhibition of ubiquitin conjugating enzyme UBE2C reduces proliferation and sensitizes breast cancer cells to radiation, doxorubicin, tamoxifen and letrozole

Purpose

The objective of this study was to determine radiation, doxorubicin, tamoxifen and letrozole sensitivity of breast cancer cells in response to functional inhibition of the ubiquitin conjugating enzyme UBE2C.

Methods

Taqman Real time PCR was performed to measure UBE2C levels in breast cancer cell lines and control HBL100 and HEK293T cells. A dominant negative form of UBE2C (DN-UBE2C) was used to functionally inhibit wild type UBE2C. Cell proliferation and anchorage independent growth were measured by colorimetric and soft agar assays, respectively. Radiation, doxorubicin, tamoxifen and letrozole responses of the cell lines were assessed by colorimetric and clonogenic assays.

Results

Overexpression of UBE2C was observed in all breast cancer cell lines tested using quantitative real time PCR. UBE2C expression was found to be highest in MDAMB231 and relatively lowest in MCF7 cells, compared to control cells. Both the growth rate and the anchorage independent growth of MCF7 and MDAMB231 cells transfected with DN-UBE2C were significantly reduced compared to cells transfected with vector alone. MCF7 and MDAMB231 cells expressing DN-UBE2C were significantly more sensitive to different doses of radiation and doxorubicin compared to both wild type and vector alone transfected cells. In addition, DN-UBE2C transfected MCF7 cells were more sensitive to inhibition by tamoxifen and letrozole compared to wild type and vector alone transfected cells.

Conclusions

Our results show that inhibition of UBE2C sensitizes breast cancer cells to radiation, doxorubicin and hormone blocking agents. UBE2C may, therefore, serve as a potential therapeutic target aimed at inducing radiation and chemo sensitization.     

Alteration of Y-box binding protein-1 expression modifies the response to endocrine therapy in estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer

Y-box binding protein-1 (YB-1) plays an important role in tumor progression and drug resistance. This study examined whether YB-1 is involved in the alteration of response to endocrine therapy in estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast cancer cells. MCF7 cells that stably expressed YB-1 (MCF7-YB-1) and vector control cells (MCF7-vector) were established. These cells were used to analyze the expression of the factors related to ER and growth factor receptor signaling pathways and responses to antiestrogens (tamoxifen and fulvestrant) and estrogen responsive element (ERE) activity. The effect of knocking down endogenous YB-1 expression was tested in wild-type MCF7 cells. In addition, the expression of YB-1 and the factors related to ER and growth factor receptor signaling pathways were evaluated in clinical breast cancers treated with preoperative chemotherapy. The expression of HER2, AIB1, p-Erk, and c-Myc was increased in MCF7-YB-1 cells. In contrast, knocking down of YB-1 decreased the expression of these factors but increased the expression of ERα in wild-type MCF7 cells. Furthermore, sensitivity to antiestrogens was decreased in the MCF7-YB-1 in comparison to that in MCF7-vector cells. The introduction of YB-1 into MCF7 cells inhibited apoptosis and cell cycle arrest at G1 phase induced by antiestrogens. In MCF7-YB-1 cells, the expression levels of p-Erk and c-Myc were continuously upregulated when cells were treated with either tamoxifen or fulvestrant. The ERE activity was reduced in MCF7-YB-1 cells in comparison to MCF7-vector cells, and the ERE activity in MCF7-YB-1 cells was inhibited by fulvestrant at a lower concentration than that which inhibited the ERE activity in MCF7-vector cells. In ER-positive clinical breast cancers treated with preoperative chemotherapy, significantly more number of specimens that showed increased or positive YB-1 expression after chemotherapy was positive for HER2 expression. These data suggest that alteration of YB-1 may modify the crosstalk between the ER pathway and HER2 pathway in ER-positive breast cancer cells, and consequently, may alter the response to endocrine therapy in ER-positive breast cancer cells.     

Prolactin and heregulin override DNA damage-induced growth arrest and promote phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase-dependent proliferation in breast cancer cells

Heregulin (HRG), a ligand of ErbB receptor tyrosine kinases, is a potent mitogenic factor for breast cancer cells. Prolactin (PRL) has also been reported to regulate proliferation in breast cancer cells through its receptor, a member of the type I cytokine receptor family. Cytokine receptors are potent mitogens in hematopoietic cells, where they also override DNA damage-induced growth arrest checkpoints through activation of a phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase (PI3K) signaling pathway. In this study, we assessed the effect of gamma-irradiation on the mitogenic activity of HRG and PRL in breast cancer cells. HRG and PRL enhanced the proliferation of non-irradiated breast cancer cell lines in association with their ability to activate PI3K signaling pathways. Both growth factors also overrode irradiation-induced growth arrest in T47D cells, which resulted in decreased viability after irradiation. An inhibitor of PI3K, LY294002, abrogated growth factor-induced proliferation and the activity of cell cycle-dependent kinases in non-irradiated and irradiated cells. Thus, growth factors acting through distinct receptor families share a similar PI3K-dependent ability to promote proliferation and override DNA damage-induced growth arrest in breast cancer cells. These observations also suggest that selective activation of PI3K-dependent signaling can enhance radiosensitivity in breast cancer cells.     

HER-2通过ZEB1促进乳腺癌细胞上皮间质转化

背景与目的：人类表皮生长因子受体2(human epidermal growth factor receptor-2,HER-2)是表皮生长因子受体家族中的一员,它参与细胞多个生物过程,如细胞增殖、侵袭和凋亡等。有研究表明,HER-2与细胞上皮间质转化(epithelial-mesenchymal transition,EMT)过程相关,但具体机制有待进一步探讨,本研究旨在探讨HER-2对EMT的调节机制。方法：用Transwell小室模拟细胞的迁徙侵袭能力;采用实时荧光定量聚合酶链反应(real-time lfuorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction,RTFQ-PCR)检测目的基因的表达;用活性氧检测试剂盒检测细胞活性氧的水平。结果：Transwell小室模拟实验发现,HER-2过表达能促进乳腺癌细胞的侵袭转移;机制研究表明,HER-2能上调ZEB1,用siRNA降低ZEB1表达使HER-2过表达细胞的侵袭能力受损;此外,HER-2过表达乳腺癌细胞中活性氧水平较低。结论：HER-2可以上调ZEB1的表达而赋予乳腺癌细胞EMT相关特性,ZEB1可作为进一步研究HER-2与EMT调节关系的靶点。     

Heregulin regulates the actin cytoskeleton and promotes invasive properties in breast cancer cell lines

The metastatic process requires changes in tumor cell adhesion properties, cell motility and remodeling of the extracellular matrix. The erbB2 proto-oncogene is overexpressed in approximately 30% of breast cancers and is a major prognostic parameter when present in invasive disease. A ligand for the erbB2 receptor has not yet been identified but it can be activated by heterodimerization with heregulin (HRG)-stimulated erbB3 and erbB4 receptors. The HRGs are a family of polypeptide growth factors that have been shown to play a role in embryogenesis, tumor formation, growth and differentiation of breast cancer cells. The erbB3 and erbB4 receptors are involved in transregulation of erbB2 signaling. The work presented here suggests biological roles for HRG including regulation of the actin cytoskeleton and induction of motility and invasion in breast cancer cells. HRG-expressing breast cancer cell lines are characterized by low erbB receptor levels and a high invasive and metastatic index, while those which overexpress erbB2 demonstrate minimal invasive potential in vitro and are non-tumorigenic in vivo. Treatment of the highly tumorigenic and metastatic HRG-expressing breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231 with an HRG-neutralizing antibody significantly inhibited proliferation in culture and motility in the Boyden chamber assay. Addition of exogenous HRG to non-invasive erbB2 overexpressing cells (SKBr-3) at low concentrations induced formation of pseudopodia, enhanced phagocytic activity and increased chemomigration and invasion in the Boyden chamber assay. The specificity of the chemomigration response to HRG is demonstrated by inhibition with the anti-HRG neutralizing antibody. These results suggest that either HRG can act as an autocrine or paracrine ligand to promote the invasive behavior of breast cancer cells in vitro or thus may enhance the metastatic process in vivo.     

Activation of ErbB2 by overexpression or by transmembrane neuregulin results in differential signaling and sensitivity to herceptin

The ligands of the epidermal growth factor family and their receptors, the ErbB proteins, have been linked to the development of different types of cancer. Particular attention has focused on ErbB2, whose activation may occur by receptor overexpression or by ligand-induced oligomerization with other ErbB receptors. Whether these two modes of ErbB2 activation cause the same biological responses is unknown. Here, we uncovered important differences in the signaling, proliferation rates, and the response to anti-ErbB2 antibodies when comparing MCF7 cells expressing the ligand neuregulin, to MCF7 cells overexpressing ErbB2. Expression of neuregulin caused higher proliferation than ErbB2 overexpression. Transmembrane neuregulin expression was accompanied by constitutive activation of ErbB2, ErbB3, and ErbB4 receptors. ErbB2 overexpression caused tyrosine phosphorylation of ErbB2, whereas ErbB3 and ErbB4 were only slightly tyrosine phosphorylated. Autocrine transmembrane neuregulin also caused constitutive activation of several signaling pathways, such as the Erk1/2, Erk5, and Akt routes, which have been linked to breast cancer cell proliferation. Interestingly, expression of neuregulin increased p21 levels and this was required for the proliferation of MCF7 cells. Treatment with the anti-ErbB2 receptor antibody Herceptin had an inhibitory effect on proliferation only in cells expressing neuregulin but not on cells overexpressing ErbB2, and its inhibitory activity was accompanied by a decrease in p21. These results suggest that Herceptin may also be of help in the treatment of tumors in which neuregulin feeds the tumoral tissue.     

Nicastrin and Notch4 drive endocrine therapy resistance and epithelial to mesenchymal transition in MCF7 breast cancer cells

Introduction

Resistance to anti-estrogen therapies is a major cause of disease relapse and mortality in estrogen receptor alpha (ERα)-positive breast cancers. Tamoxifen or estrogen withdrawal increases the dependence of breast cancer cells on Notch signalling. Here, we investigated the contribution of Nicastrin and Notch signalling in endocrine-resistant breast cancer cells.

Methods

We used two models of endocrine therapies resistant (ETR) breast cancer: tamoxifen-resistant (TamR) and long-term estrogen-deprived (LTED) MCF7 cells. We evaluated the migratory and invasive capacity of these cells by Transwell assays. Expression of epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) regulators as well as Notch receptors and targets were evaluated by real-time PCR and western blot analysis. Moreover, we tested in vitro anti-Nicastrin monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and gamma secretase inhibitors (GSIs) as potential EMT reversal therapeutic agents. Finally, we generated stable Nicastrin overexpessing MCF7 cells and evaluated their EMT features and response to tamoxifen.

Results

We found that ETR cells acquired an epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) phenotype and displayed increased levels of Nicastrin and Notch targets. Interestingly, we detected higher level of Notch4 but lower levels of Notch1 and Notch2 suggesting a switch to signalling through different Notch receptors after acquisition of resistance. Anti-Nicastrin monoclonal antibodies and the GSI PF03084014 were effective in blocking the Nicastrin/Notch4 axis and partially inhibiting the EMT process. As a result of this, cell migration and invasion were attenuated and the stem cell-like population was significantly reduced. Genetic silencing of Nicastrin and Notch4 led to equivalent effects. Finally, stable overexpression of Nicastrin was sufficient to make MCF7 unresponsive to tamoxifen by Notch4 activation.

Conclusions

ETR cells express high levels of Nicastrin and Notch4, whose activation ultimately drives invasive behaviour. Anti-Nicastrin mAbs and GSI PF03084014 attenuate expression of EMT molecules reducing cellular invasiveness. Nicastrin overexpression per se induces tamoxifen resistance linked to acquisition of EMT phenotype. Our finding suggest that targeting Nicastrin and/or Notch4 warrants further clinical evaluation as valid therapeutic strategies in endocrine-resistant breast cancer.     

Expression of the HER family mRNA in breast cancer tissue and association with cell cycle inhibitors p21(waf1) and p27(kip1)

BACKGROUND: The HER family of the receptor tyrosine kinases epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), HER2, HER3 and HER4 are involved in the pathogenesis of many human malignancies. Although there is extensive literature on the expression of single HER-2 and EGFR receptors in breast cancer, little is known concerning the simultaneous expression at the mRNA level of these four receptors in human breast tissue and their influence in downstream signaling pathways that control cell cycle and proliferation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The mRNA expression pattern of the four HER-receptors has been investigated and correlated with the expression of the cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) inhibitors p21(Waf1) and p27(Kip1) in 67 breast cancer specimens. RESULTS: A positive correlation between HER-3 and HER-4 mRNA levels and a negative correlation between HER-2 and HER-3 was found. Compared to normal breast tissue, all four receptors were overexpressed in breast tumors and the strongest overexpression was found for HER-3 (p = 0.001). HER-4 expression was inversely related to histopathological grading (HPG), suggesting that elevated HER-4 mRNA expressions could be a biological marker of a more differentiated phenotype. The expression of p21(Waf1) protein was higher in HER-2-negative tumors, compared to HER-2-positive breast carcinomas. Compared to normal breast tissue, p21delta, the 19 kDa degraded form of p21 protein, was markedly expressed in breast cancer (p < 0.001). Conversely, p27(Kip1) was positively associated with HER-2 receptor and inversely associated with HER-3. CONCLUSION: The HER family members are overexpressed in breast cancer. Complex patterns of HER family expression were observed and the effect on cell cycle regulation was dependent on that pattern.