miR-210 is essential to retinal homeostasis in fruit flies and mice.

BACKGROUND: miR-210 is one of the most evolutionarily conserved microRNAs. It is known to be involved in several physiological and pathological processes, including response to hypoxia, angiogenesis, cardiovascular diseases and cancer. Recently, new roles of this microRNA are emerging in the context of eye and visual system homeostasis. Recent studies in Drosophila melanogaster unveiled that the absence of miR-210 leads to a progressive retinal degeneration characterized by the accumulation of lipid droplets and disruptions in lipid metabolism. However, the possible conservation of miR-210 knock-out effect in the mammalian retina has yet to be explored. RESULTS: We further investigated lipid anabolism and catabolism in miR-210 knock-out (KO) flies, uncovering significant alterations in gene expression within these pathways. Additionally, we characterized the retinal morphology of flies overexpressing (OE) miR-210, which was not affected by the increased levels of the microRNA. For the first time, we also characterized the retinal morphology of miR-210 KO and OE mice. Similar to flies, miR-210 OE did not affect retinal homeostasis, whereas miR-210 KO mice exhibited photoreceptor degeneration. To explore other potential parallels between miR-210 KO models in flies and mice, we examined lipid metabolism, circadian behaviour, and retinal transcriptome in mice, but found no similarities. Specifically, RNA-seq confirmed the lack of involvement of lipid metabolism in the mice's pathological phenotype, revealing that the differentially expressed genes were predominantly associated with chloride channel activity and extracellular matrix homeostasis. Simultaneously, transcriptome analysis of miR-210 KO fly brains indicated that the observed alterations extend beyond the eye and may be linked to neuronal deficiencies in signal detection and transduction. CONCLUSIONS: We provide the first morphological characterization of the retina of miR-210 KO and OE mice, investigating the role of this microRNA in mammalian retinal physiology and exploring potential parallels with phenotypes observed in fly models. Although the lack of similarities in lipid metabolism, circadian behaviour, and retinal transcriptome in mice suggests divergent mechanisms of retinal degeneration between the two species, transcriptome analysis of miR-210 KO fly brains indicates the potential existence of a shared upstream mechanism contributing to retinal degeneration in both flies and mammals.

miR-15a targets the HSP90 co-chaperone Morgana in chronic myeloid leukemia.

Morgana is a ubiquitous HSP90 co-chaperone protein coded by the CHORDC1 gene. Morgana heterozygous mice develop with age a myeloid malignancy resembling human atypical myeloid leukemia (aCML), now renamed MDS/MPN with neutrophilia. Patients affected by this pathology exhibit low Morgana levels in the bone marrow (BM), suggesting that Morgana downregulation plays a causative role in the human malignancy. A decrease in Morgana expression levels is also evident in the BM of a subgroup of Philadelphia-positive (Ph+) chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients showing resistance or an incomplete response to imatinib. Despite the relevance of these data, the mechanism through which Morgana expression is downregulated in patients' bone marrow remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the possibility that Morgana expression is regulated by miRNAs and we demonstrated that Morgana is under the control of four miRNAs (miR-15a/b and miR-26a/b) and that miR-15a may account for Morgana downregulation in CML patients.

RICTOR/mTORC2 downregulation in BRAFV600E melanoma cells promotes resistance to BRAF/MEK inhibition.

BACKGROUND: The main drawback of BRAF/MEK inhibitors (BRAF/MEKi)-based targeted therapy in the management of BRAF-mutated cutaneous metastatic melanoma (MM) is the development of therapeutic resistance. We aimed to assess in this context the role of mTORC2, a signaling complex defined by the presence of the essential RICTOR subunit, regarded as an oncogenic driver in several tumor types, including MM. METHODS: After analyzing The Cancer Genome Atlas MM patients' database to explore both overall survival and molecular signatures as a function of intra-tumor RICTOR levels, we investigated the effects of RICTOR downregulation in BRAFV600E MM cell lines on their response to BRAF/MEKi. We performed proteomic screening to identify proteins modulated by changes in RICTOR expression, and Seahorse analysis to evaluate the effects of RICTOR depletion on mitochondrial respiration. The combination of BRAFi with drugs targeting proteins and processes emerged in the proteomic screening was carried out on RICTOR-deficient cells in vitro and in a xenograft setting in vivo. RESULTS: Low RICTOR levels in BRAF-mutated MM correlate with a worse clinical outcome. Gene Set Enrichment Analysis of low-RICTOR tumors display gene signatures suggestive of activation of the mitochondrial Electron Transport Chain (ETC) energy production. RICTOR-deficient BRAFV600E cells are intrinsically tolerant to BRAF/MEKi and anticipate the onset of resistance to BRAFi upon prolonged drug exposure. Moreover, in drug-naïve cells we observed a decline in RICTOR expression shortly after BRAFi exposure. In RICTOR-depleted cells, both mitochondrial respiration and expression of nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT) are enhanced, and their pharmacological inhibition restores sensitivity to BRAFi. CONCLUSIONS: Our work unveils an unforeseen tumor-suppressing role for mTORC2 in the early adaptation phase of BRAFV600E melanoma cells to targeted therapy and identifies the NAMPT-ETC axis as a potential therapeutic vulnerability of low RICTOR tumors. Importantly, our findings indicate that the evaluation of intra-tumor RICTOR levels has a prognostic value in metastatic melanoma and may help to guide therapeutic strategies in a personalized manner.

p140Cap modulates the mevalonate pathway decreasing cell migration and enhancing drug sensitivity in breast cancer cells.

p140Cap is an adaptor protein involved in assembling multi-protein complexes regulating several cellular processes. p140Cap acts as a tumor suppressor in breast cancer (BC) and neuroblastoma patients, where its expression correlates with a better prognosis. The role of p140Cap in tumor metabolism remains largely unknown. Here we study the role of p140Cap in the modulation of the mevalonate (MVA) pathway in BC cells. The MVA pathway is responsible for the biosynthesis of cholesterol and non-sterol isoprenoids and is often deregulated in cancer. We found that both in vitro and in vivo, p140Cap cells and tumors show an increased flux through the MVA pathway by positively regulating the pace-maker enzyme of the MVA pathway, the 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-coenzyme A reductase (HMGCR), via transcriptional and post-translational mechanisms. The higher cholesterol synthesis is paralleled with enhanced cholesterol efflux. Moreover, p140Cap promotes increased cholesterol localization in the plasma membrane and reduces lipid rafts-associated Rac1 signalling, impairing cell membrane fluidity and cell migration in a cholesterol-dependent manner. Finally, p140Cap BC cells exhibit decreased cell viability upon treatments with statins, alone or in combination with chemotherapeutic at low concentrations in a synergistic manner. Overall, our data highlight a new perspective point on tumor suppression in BC by establishing a previously uncharacterized role of the MVA pathway in p140Cap expressing tumors, thus paving the way to the use of p140Cap as a potent biomarker to stratify patients for better tuning therapeutic options.

The role of tumor microenvironment in drug resistance: emerging technologies to unravel breast cancer heterogeneity.

Breast cancer is a highly heterogeneous disease, at both inter- and intra-tumor levels, and this heterogeneity is a crucial determinant of malignant progression and response to treatments. In addition to genetic diversity and plasticity of cancer cells, the tumor microenvironment contributes to tumor heterogeneity shaping the physical and biological surroundings of the tumor. The activity of certain types of immune, endothelial or mesenchymal cells in the microenvironment can change the effectiveness of cancer therapies via a plethora of different mechanisms. Therefore, deciphering the interactions between the distinct cell types, their spatial organization and their specific contribution to tumor growth and drug sensitivity is still a major challenge. Dissecting intra-tumor heterogeneity is currently an urgent need to better define breast cancer biology and to develop therapeutic strategies targeting the microenvironment as helpful tools for combined and personalized treatment. In this review, we analyze the mechanisms by which the tumor microenvironment affects the characteristics of tumor heterogeneity that ultimately result in drug resistance, and we outline state of the art preclinical models and emerging technologies that will be instrumental in unraveling the impact of the tumor microenvironment on resistance to therapies.

p140Cap inhibits ß-Catenin in the breast cancer stem cell compartment instructing a protective anti-tumor immune response.

The p140Cap adaptor protein is a tumor suppressor in breast cancer associated with a favorable prognosis. Here we highlight a function of p140Cap in orchestrating local and systemic tumor-extrinsic events that eventually result in inhibition of the polymorphonuclear myeloid-derived suppressor cell function in creating an immunosuppressive tumor-promoting environment in the primary tumor, and premetastatic niches at distant sites. Integrative transcriptomic and preclinical studies unravel that p140Cap controls an epistatic axis where, through the upstream inhibition of ß-Catenin, it restricts tumorigenicity and self-renewal of tumor-initiating cells limiting the release of the inflammatory cytokine G-CSF, required for polymorphonuclear myeloid-derived suppressor cells to exert their local and systemic tumor conducive function. Mechanistically, p140Cap inhibition of ß-Catenin depends on its ability to localize in and stabilize the ß-Catenin destruction complex, promoting enhanced ß-Catenin inactivation. Clinical studies in women show that low p140Cap expression correlates with reduced presence of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes and more aggressive tumor types in a large cohort of real-life female breast cancer patients, highlighting the potential of p140Cap as a biomarker for therapeutic intervention targeting the ß-Catenin/ Tumor-initiating cells /G-CSF/ polymorphonuclear myeloid-derived suppressor cell axis to restore an efficient anti-tumor immune response.

Stroma-derived miR-214 coordinates tumor dissemination.

BACKGROUND: Tumor progression is based on a close interaction between cancer cells and Tumor MicroEnvironment (TME). Here, we focus on the role that Cancer Associated Fibroblasts (CAFs), Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) and microRNAs (miRs) play in breast cancer and melanoma malignancy. METHODS: We used public databases to investigate miR-214 expression in the stroma compartment of primary human samples and evaluated tumor formation and dissemination following tumor cell injections in miR-214 overexpressing (miR-214over) and knock out (miR-214ko) mice. In addition, we dissected the impact of Conditioned Medium (CM) or Extracellular Vesicles (EVs) derived from miR-214-rich or depleted stroma cells on cell metastatic traits. RESULTS: We evidence that the expression of miR-214 in human cancer or metastasis samples mostly correlates with stroma components and, in particular, with CAFs and MSCs. We present data revealing that the injection of tumor cells in miR-214over mice leads to increased extravasation and metastasis formation. In line, treatment of cancer cells with CM or EVs derived from miR-214-enriched stroma cells potentiate cancer cell migration/invasion in vitro. Conversely, dissemination from tumors grown in miR-214ko mice is impaired and metastatic traits significantly decreased when CM or EVs from miR-214-depleted stroma cells are used to treat cells in culture. Instead, extravasation and metastasis formation are fully re-established when miR-214ko mice are pretreated with miR-214-rich EVs of stroma origin. Mechanistically, we also show that tumor cells are able to induce miR-214 production in stroma cells, following the activation of IL-6/STAT3 signaling, which is then released via EVs subsequently up-taken by cancer cells. Here, a miR-214-dependent pro-metastatic program becomes activated. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings highlight the relevance of stroma-derived miR-214 and its release in EVs for tumor dissemination, which paves the way for miR-214-based therapeutic interventions targeting not only tumor cells but also the TME.

Targeting the bicarbonate transporter SLC4A4 overcomes immunosuppression and immunotherapy resistance in pancreatic cancer.

Solid tumors are generally characterized by an acidic tumor microenvironment (TME) that favors cancer progression, therapy resistance and immune evasion. By single-cell RNA-sequencing analysis in individuals with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), we reveal solute carrier family 4 member 4 (SLC4A4) as the most abundant bicarbonate transporter, predominantly expressed by epithelial ductal cells. Functionally, SLC4A4 inhibition in PDAC cancer cells mitigates the acidosis of the TME due to bicarbonate accumulation in the extracellular space and a decrease in lactate production by cancer cells as the result of reduced glycolysis. In PDAC-bearing mice, genetic or pharmacological SLC4A4 targeting improves T cell-mediated immune response and breaches macrophage-mediated immunosuppression, thus inhibiting tumor growth and metastases. In addition, Slc4a4 targeting in combination with immune checkpoint blockade is able to overcome immunotherapy resistance and prolong survival. Overall, our data propose SLC4A4 as a therapeutic target to unleash an antitumor immune response in PDAC.

Dihydroorotate dehydrogenase inhibition reveals metabolic vulnerability in chronic myeloid leukemia.

The development of different generations of BCR-ABL1 tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) has led to the high overall survival of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients. However, there are CML patients who show resistance to TKI therapy and are prone to progress to more advanced phases of the disease. So, implementing an alternative approach for targeting TKIs insensitive cells would be of the essence. Dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH) is an enzyme in the de novo pyrimidine biosynthesis pathway that is located in the inner membrane of mitochondria. Here, we found that CML cells are vulnerable to DHODH inhibition mediated by Meds433, a new and potent DHODH inhibitor recently developed by our group. Meds433 significantly activates the apoptotic pathway and leads to the reduction of amino acids and induction of huge metabolic stress in CML CD34+ cells. Altogether, our study shows that DHODH inhibition is a promising approach for targeting CML stem/progenitor cells and may help more patients discontinue the therapy.

miRNA-guided reprogramming of glucose and glutamine metabolism and its impact on cell adhesion/migration during solid tumor progression.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small, non-coding RNAs about 22 nucleotides in length that regulate the expression of target genes post-transcriptionally, and are highly involved in cancer progression. They are able to impact a variety of cell processes such as proliferation, apoptosis and differentiation and can consequently control tumor initiation, tumor progression and metastasis formation. miRNAs can regulate, at the same time, metabolic gene expression which, in turn, influences relevant traits of malignancy such as cell adhesion, migration and invasion. Since the interaction between metabolism and adhesion or cell movement has not, to date, been well understood, in this review, we will specifically focus on miRNA alterations that can interfere with some metabolic processes leading to the modulation of cancer cell movement. In addition, we will analyze the signaling pathways connecting metabolism and adhesion/migration, alterations that often affect cancer cell dissemination and metastasis formation.

Long-Term Effects of Alemtuzumab on CD4+ Lymphocytes in Multiple Sclerosis Patients: A 72-Month Follow-Up.

Introduction: Alemtuzumab is highly effective in the treatment of patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis (PwRMS) and selectively targets the CD52 antigen, with a consequent profound lymphopenia, particularly of CD4+ T lymphocytes. However, the immunological basis of its long-term efficacy has not been clearly elucidated. Methods: We followed up 29 alemtuzumab-treated RMS patients over a period of 72 months and studied the immunological reconstitution of their CD4+ T cell subsets by means of phenotypic and functional analysis and through mRNA-related molecule expression, comparing them to healthy subject (HS) values (rate 2:1). Results: In patients receiving only two-course alemtuzumab, the percentage of CD4+ lymphocytes decreased and returned to basal levels only at month 48. Immune reconstitution of the CD4+ subsets was characterized by a significant increase (p < 0.001) in Treg cell percentage at month 24, when compared to baseline, and was accompanied by restoration of the Treg suppressor function that increased within a range from 2- to 6.5-fold compared to baseline and that persisted through to the end of the follow-up. Furthermore, a significant decrease in self-reactive myelin basic protein-specific Th17 (p < 0.0001) and Th1 (p < 0.05) cells reaching HS values was observed starting from month 12. There was a change in mRNA of cytokines, chemokines, and transcriptional factors related to Th17, Th1, and Treg cell subset changes, consequently suggesting a shift toward immunoregulation and a reduction of T cell recruitment to the central nervous system. Conclusions: These data provide further insight into the mechanism that could contribute to the long-term 6-year persistence of the clinical effect of alemtuzumab on RMS disease activity.

Tumors carrying BRAF-mutations over-express NAMPT that is genetically amplified and possesses oncogenic properties.

BACKGROUND: Nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT), the rate-limiting enzyme in nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) biosynthesis, is up-regulated in several cancers, including metastatic melanoma (MM). The BRAF oncogene is mutated in different cancer types, among which MM and thyroid carcinoma (THCA) are prominent. Drugs targeting mutant BRAF are effective, especially in MM patients, even though resistance rapidly develops. Previous data have linked NAMPT over-expression to the acquisition of BRAF resistance, paving the way for therapeutic strategies targeting the two pathways. METHODS: Exploiting the TCGA database and a collection of MM and THCA tissue microarrays we studied the association between BRAF mutations and NAMPT expression. BRAF wild-type (wt) cell lines were genetically engineered to over-express the BRAF V600E construct to demonstrate a direct relationship between over-activation of the BRAF pathway and NAMPT expression. Responses of different cell line models to NAMPT (i)nhibitors were studied using dose-response proliferation assays. Analysis of NAMPT copy number variation was performed in the TCGA dataset. Lastly, growth and colony forming assays were used to study the tumorigenic functions of NAMPT itself. RESULTS: The first finding of this work is that tumor samples carrying BRAF-mutations over-express NAMPT, as demonstrated by analyzing the TCGA dataset, and MM and THC tissue microarrays. Importantly, BRAF wt MM and THCA cell lines modified to over-express the BRAF V600E construct up-regulated NAMPT, confirming a transcriptional regulation of NAMPT following BRAF oncogenic signaling activation. Treatment of BRAF-mutated cell lines with two different NAMPTi was followed by significant reduction of tumor growth, indicating NAMPT addiction in these cells. Lastly, we found that several tumors over-expressing the enzyme, display NAMPT gene amplification. Over-expression of NAMPT in BRAF wt MM cell line and in fibroblasts resulted in increased growth capacity, arguing in favor of oncogenic properties of NAMPT. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, the association between BRAF mutations and NAMPT expression identifies a subset of tumors more sensitive to NAMPT inhibition opening the way for novel combination therapies including NAMPTi with BRAFi/MEKi, to postpone and/or overcome drug resistance. Lastly, the over-expression of NAMPT in several tumors could be a key and broad event in tumorigenesis, substantiated by the finding of NAMPT gene amplification.

Metabolic Interplay between the Immune System and Melanoma Cells: Therapeutic Implications.

Malignant melanoma represents the most fatal skin cancer due to its aggressive biological behavior and high metastatic potential. Treatment strategies for advanced disease have dramatically changed over the last years due to the introduction of BRAF/MEK inhibitors and immunotherapy. However, many patients either display primary (i.e., innate) or eventually develop secondary (i.e., acquired) resistance to systemic treatments. Treatment resistance depends on multiple mechanisms driven by a set of rewiring processes, which involve cancer metabolism, epigenetic, gene expression, and interactions within the tumor microenvironment. Prognostic and predictive biomarkers are needed to guide patients' selection and treatment decisions. Indeed, there are no recognized clinical or biological characteristics that identify which patients will benefit more from available treatments, but several biomarkers have been studied with promising preliminary results. In this review, we will summarize novel tumor metabolic pathways and tumor-host metabolic crosstalk mechanisms leading to melanoma progression and drug resistance, with an overview on their translational potential as novel therapeutic targets.

Macrophage miR-210 induction and metabolic reprogramming in response to pathogen interaction boost life-threatening inflammation.

Unbalanced immune responses to pathogens can be life-threatening although the underlying regulatory mechanisms remain unknown. Here, we show a hypoxia-inducible factor 1α-dependent microRNA (miR)-210 up-regulation in monocytes and macrophages upon pathogen interaction. MiR-210 knockout in the hematopoietic lineage or in monocytes/macrophages mitigated the symptoms of endotoxemia, bacteremia, sepsis, and parasitosis, limiting the cytokine storm, organ damage/dysfunction, pathogen spreading, and lethality. Similarly, pharmacologic miR-210 inhibition improved the survival of septic mice. Mechanistically, miR-210 induction in activated macrophages supported a switch toward a proinflammatory state by lessening mitochondria respiration in favor of glycolysis, partly achieved by downmodulating the iron-sulfur cluster assembly enzyme ISCU. In humans, augmented miR-210 levels in circulating monocytes correlated with the incidence of sepsis, while serum levels of monocyte/macrophage-derived miR-210 were associated with sepsis mortality. Together, our data identify miR-210 as a fine-tuning regulator of macrophage metabolism and inflammatory responses, suggesting miR-210-based therapeutic and diagnostic strategies.

ESDN inhibits melanoma progression by blocking E-selectin expression in endothelial cells via STAT3.

An interactive crosstalk between tumor and stroma cells is essential for metastatic melanoma progression. We evidenced that ESDN/DCBLD2/CLCP1 plays a crucial role in endothelial cells during the spread of melanoma. Precisely, increased extravasation and metastasis formation were revealed in ESDN-null mice injected with melanoma cells, even if the primary tumor growth, vessel permeability, and angiogenesis were not enhanced. Interestingly, improved adhesion of melanoma cells to ESDN-depleted endothelial cells was observed, due to the presence of higher levels of E-selectin transcripts/proteins in ESDN-defective cells. In accordance with these results, anticorrelation was observed between ESDN and E-selectin in human endothelial cells. Most importantly, our data revealed that cimetidine, an E-selectin inhibitor, was able to block cell adhesion, extravasation, and metastasis formation in ESDN-null mice, underlying a major role of ESDN in E-selectin transcription upregulation, which according to our data, may presumably be linked to STAT3. Based on our results, we propose a protective role for ESDN during the spread of melanoma and reveal its therapeutic potential.

MicroRNA-Mediated Metabolic Shaping of the Tumor Microenvironment.

The metabolism of cancer cells is generally very different from what is found in normal counterparts. However, in a tumor mass, the continuous crosstalk and competition for nutrients and oxygen among different cells lead to metabolic alterations, not only in cancer cells, but also in the different stromal and immune cells of the tumor microenvironment (TME), which are highly relevant for tumor progression. MicroRNAs (miRs) are small non-coding RNAs that silence their mRNA targets post-transcriptionally and are involved in numerous physiological cell functions as well as in the adaptation to stress situations. Importantly, miRs can also be released via extracellular vesicles (EVs) and, consequently, take part in the bidirectional communication between tumor and surrounding cells under stress conditions. Certain miRs are abundantly expressed in stromal and immune cells where they can regulate various metabolic pathways by directly suppressing enzymes or transporters as well as by controlling important regulators (such as transcription factors) of metabolic processes. In this review, we discuss how miRs can induce metabolic reprogramming in stromal (fibroblasts and adipocytes) and immune (macrophages and T cells) cells and, in turn, how the biology of the different cells present in the TME is able to change. Finally, we debate the rebound of miR-dependent metabolic alterations on tumor progression and their implications for cancer management.

The p140Cap adaptor protein as a molecular hub to block cancer aggressiveness.

The p140Cap adaptor protein is a scaffold molecule encoded by the SRCIN1 gene, which is physiologically expressed in several epithelial tissues and in the neurons. However, p140Cap is also strongly expressed in a significant subset of cancers including breast cancer and neuroblastoma. Notably, cancer patients with high p140Cap expression in their primary tumors have a lower probability of developing a distant event and ERBB2-positive breast cancer sufferers show better survival. In neuroblastoma patients, SRCIN1 mRNA levels represent an independent risk factor, which is inversely correlated to disease aggressiveness. Consistent with clinical data, SRCIN1 gain or loss of function mouse models demonstrated that p140Cap may affect tumor growth and metastasis formation by controlling the signaling pathways involved in tumorigenesis and metastatic features. This study reviews data showing the relevance of SRCIN1/p140Cap in cancer patients, the impact of SRCIN1 status on p140Cap expression, the specific mechanisms through which p140Cap can limit cancer progression, the molecular functions regulated by p140Cap, along with the p140Cap interactome, to unveil its key role for patient stratification in clinics.

Axl-148b chimeric aptamers inhibit breast cancer and melanoma progression.

microRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs acting as negative regulators of gene expression and involved in tumor progression. We recently showed that inhibition of the pro-metastatic miR-214 and simultaneous overexpression of its downstream player, the anti-metastatic miR-148b, strongly reduced metastasis formation. To explore the therapeutic potential of miR-148b, we generated a conjugated molecule aimed to target miR-148b expression selectively to tumor cells. Precisely, we linked miR-148b to GL21.T, an aptamer able to specifically bind to AXL, an oncogenic tyrosine kinase receptor highly expressed on cancer cells. Axl-148b conjugate was able to inhibit migration and invasion of AXL-positive, but not AXL-negative, cancer cells, demonstrating high efficacy and selectivity in vitro. In parallel, expression of ALCAM and ITGA5, two miR-148b direct targets, was reduced. More importantly, axl-148b chimeric aptamers were able to inhibit formation and growth of 3D-mammospheres, to induce necrosis and apoptosis of treated xenotransplants, as well as to block breast cancer and melanoma dissemination and metastatization in mice. Relevantly, axl aptamer acted as specific delivery tool for miR-148b, but it also actively contributed to inhibit metastasis formation, together with miR-148b. In conclusion, our data show that axl-148b conjugate is able to inhibit tumor progression in an axl- and miR-148b-dependent manner, suggesting its potential development as therapeutic molecule.

The role of melatonin on miRNAs modulation in triple-negative breast cancer cells.

Melatonin, a hormone secreted by pineal gland, exerts antimetastatic effects by reducing tumor cell proliferation, migration and invasion. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small, non-coding RNAs that play a crucial role in regulation of gene expression and biological processes of the cells. Herein, we search for a link between the tumor/metastatic-suppressive actions of melatonin and miRNA expression in triple-negative breast cancer cells. We demonstrated that melatonin exerts its anti-tumor actions by reducing proliferation, migration and c-Myc expression of triple negative breast cancer cells. By using Taqman-based assays, we analyzed the expression levels of a set of miRNAs following melatonin treatment of triple negative breast cancer cells and we identified 17 differentially expressed miRNAs, 6 down-regulated and 11 up-regulated. We focused on the anti-metastatic miR-148b and the oncogenic miR-210 both up-regulated by melatonin treatment and studied the effect of their modulation on melatonin-mediated impairment of tumor progression. Surprisingly, when miR-148b or miR-210 were depleted in triple-negative breast cancer cells, using a specific miR-148b sponge or anti-miR-210, melatonin effects on migration inhibition and c-myc downregulation were still visible suggesting that the increase of miR-148b and miR-210 expression observed following melatonin treatment was not required for the efficacy of melatonin action. Nevertheless, ours results suggest that melatonin exhibit a compound for metastatic trait inhibition, especially in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells even if a direct link between modulation of expression of certain proteins or miRNAs and melatonin effects has still to be established.

Role of miRNAs in tumor and endothelial cell interactions during tumor progression.

Cancer is a multistep disease based on crucial interactions between tumor cells and the microenvironment (extracellular matrix and stroma/immune cells). In fact, during dissemination, tumor cells have to escape from the primary tumor mass, cross the basal membrane, interact with endothelial cells to enter blood vessels (intravasation), survive in the bloodstream, get in contact with endothelial cells again to exit the bloodstream (extravasation) and seed in distant organs. Interactions between tumor and stroma cells are strongly coordinated by microRNAs (miRNAs), small non-coding RNAs able to silence protein coding genes by binding to specific recognition sites, mostly located at the 3' UTR of mature mRNAs. Relevantly, miRNA expression is often altered (overexpression or downregulation) in tumor cells and influenced by stroma cells. At the same time, miRNAs are abundant and essential in stroma cells during tumor cell dissemination and their expression is influenced by tumor cells. In fact, for instance, conditional ablation of Dicer in the endothelium of tumor bearing-mice leads to reduced tumor growth and microvessel density. In this review, we specifically focus on the role of miRNAs in endothelial cells regarding their positive or negative intervention on tumor angiogenesis or lymphoangiogenesis or when tumor cells detach from the tumor mass and intravasate or extravasate in/out of the blood vessels. Examples of pro-angiogenic miRNAs are miR-9 or miR-494, often overexpressed in tumors, which accumulate in tumor cell microvescicles and, therefore, get transferred to endothelial cells where they induce migration and angiogenesis. Differently, miR-200 and miR-128 are often downregulated in tumors and inhibit angiogenesis and lymphoangiogenesis. Instead, miR-126 controls intravasation while miR-146a, miR-214, miR-148b govern extravasation, in a positive or negative manner. Finally, at the end, we summarize opportunities for therapeutic interventions based on miRNAs acting on endothelial cells.