Endocytosis in cancer and cancer therapy.

Endocytosis is a complex process whereby cell surface proteins, lipids and fluid from the extracellular environment are packaged, sorted and internalized into cells. Endocytosis is also a mechanism of drug internalization into cells. There are multiple routes of endocytosis that determine the fate of molecules, from degradation in the lysosomes to recycling back to the plasma membrane. The overall rates of endocytosis and temporal regulation of molecules transiting through endocytic pathways are also intricately linked with signalling outcomes. This process relies on an array of factors, such as intrinsic amino acid motifs and post-translational modifications. Endocytosis is frequently disrupted in cancer. These disruptions lead to inappropriate retention of receptor tyrosine kinases on the tumour cell membrane, changes in the recycling of oncogenic molecules, defective signalling feedback loops and loss of cell polarity. In the past decade, endocytosis has emerged as a pivotal regulator of nutrient scavenging, response to and regulation of immune surveillance and tumour immune evasion, tumour metastasis and therapeutic drug delivery. This Review summarizes and integrates these advances into the understanding of endocytosis in cancer. The potential to regulate these pathways in the clinic to improve cancer therapy is also discussed.

Inhibition of the master regulator of Listeria monocytogenes virulence enables bacterial clearance from spacious replication vacuoles in infected macrophages.

A hallmark of Listeria (L.) monocytogenes pathogenesis is bacterial escape from maturing entry vacuoles, which is required for rapid bacterial replication in the host cell cytoplasm and cell-to-cell spread. The bacterial transcriptional activator PrfA controls expression of key virulence factors that enable exploitation of this intracellular niche. The transcriptional activity of PrfA within infected host cells is controlled by allosteric coactivation. Inhibitory occupation of the coactivator site has been shown to impair PrfA functions, but consequences of PrfA inhibition for L. monocytogenes infection and pathogenesis are unknown. Here we report the crystal structure of PrfA with a small molecule inhibitor occupying the coactivator site at 2.0 Å resolution. Using molecular imaging and infection studies in macrophages, we demonstrate that PrfA inhibition prevents the vacuolar escape of L. monocytogenes and enables extensive bacterial replication inside spacious vacuoles. In contrast to previously described spacious Listeria-containing vacuoles, which have been implicated in supporting chronic infection, PrfA inhibition facilitated progressive clearance of intracellular L. monocytogenes from spacious vacuoles through lysosomal degradation. Thus, inhibitory occupation of the PrfA coactivator site facilitates formation of a transient intravacuolar L. monocytogenes replication niche that licenses macrophages to effectively eliminate intracellular bacteria. Our findings encourage further exploration of PrfA as a potential target for antimicrobials and highlight that intra-vacuolar residence of L. monocytogenes in macrophages is not inevitably tied to bacterial persistence.

Germline ERBB3 mutation in familial non-small-cell lung carcinoma: expanding ErbB's role in oncogenesis.

Lung cancer is the commonest cause of cancer deaths worldwide. Although strongly associated with smoking, predisposition to lung cancer is also heritable, with multiple common risk variants identified. Rarely, dominantly inherited non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has been reported due to somatic mutations in EGFR/ErbB1 and ERBB2. Germline exome sequencing was performed in a multi-generation family with autosomal dominant NSCLC, including an affected child. Tumour samples were also sequenced. Full-length wild-type (wtErbB3) and mutant ERBB3 (mutErbB3) constructs were transfected into HeLa cells. Protein expression, stability, and subcellular localization were assessed, and cellular proliferation, pAkt/Akt and pERK levels determined. A novel germline variant in ERBB3 (c.1946 T > G: p.Iso649Arg), coding for receptor tyrosine-protein kinase erbB-3 (ErbB3), was identified, with appropriate segregation. There was no loss-of-heterozygosity in tumour samples. Both wtErbB3 and mutErbB3 were stably expressed. MutErbB3-transfected cells demonstrated an increased ratio of the 80 kDa form (which enhances proliferation) compared with the full-length (180 kDa) form. MutErbB3 and wtErbB3 had similar punctate cytoplasmic localization pre- and post-epidermal growth factor stimulation; however, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) levels decreased faster post-stimulation in mutErbB3-transfected cells, suggesting more rapid processing of the mutErbB3/EGFR heterodimer. Cellular proliferation was increased in mutErbB3-transfected cells compared with wtErbB3 transfection. MutErbB3-transfected cells also showed decreased pAkt/tAkt ratios and increased pERK/tERK 30 min post-stimulation compared with wtErbB3 transfection, demonstrating altered signalling pathway activation. Cumulatively, these results support this mutation as tumorogenic. This is the first reported family with a germline ERBB3 mutation causing heritable NSCLC, furthering understanding of the ErbB family pathway in oncogenesis.

Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Expression and Resistance Patterns to Targeted Therapy in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Review.

Globally, lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death. The majority of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) tumours express epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), which allows for precise and targeted therapy in these patients. The dysregulation of EGFR in solid epithelial cancers has two distinct mechanisms: either a kinase-activating mutation in EGFR (EGFR-mutant) and/or an overexpression of wild-type EGFR (wt-EGFR). The underlying mechanism of EGFR dysregulation influences the efficacy of anti-EGFR therapy as well as the nature of resistance patterns and secondary mutations. This review will critically analyse the mechanisms of EGFR expression in NSCLC, its relevance to currently approved targeted treatment options, and the complex nature of secondary mutations and intrinsic and acquired resistance patterns in NSCLC.

Antibody/Ligand-Target Receptor Internalization Assay Protocol Using Fresh Human or Murine Tumor Ex Vivo Samples.

We describe an ex vivo EGF ligand internalization assay using fresh patient tumor biopsies to determine how antigen targets will be trafficked before patients receive mAb treatment. This protocol facilitates a sensitive and reproducible indication as to mAbs surface retention times during treatment. EGF uptake protocols can also be used to analyze EGFR heterogeneity and localization of EGFR in both tumor and xenograft tissue. The technology can be adapted to analyze other receptors such as PD-L1 for which methods are provided. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Joseph et al. (2019) and Chew et al. (2020).

Endocytosis Inhibition in Humans to Improve Responses to ADCC-Mediating Antibodies.

A safe and controlled manipulation of endocytosis in vivo may have disruptive therapeutic potential. Here, we demonstrate that the anti-emetic/anti-psychotic prochlorperazine can be repurposed to reversibly inhibit the in vivo endocytosis of membrane proteins targeted by therapeutic monoclonal antibodies, as directly demonstrated by our human tumor ex vivo assay. Temporary endocytosis inhibition results in enhanced target availability and improved efficiency of natural killer cell-mediated antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC), a mediator of clinical responses induced by IgG1 antibodies, demonstrated here for cetuximab, trastuzumab, and avelumab. Extensive analysis of downstream signaling pathways ruled out on-target toxicities. By overcoming the heterogeneity of drug target availability that frequently characterizes poorly responsive or resistant tumors, clinical application of reversible endocytosis inhibition may considerably improve the clinical benefit of ADCC-mediating therapeutic antibodies.

An Ex Vivo Human Tumor Assay Shows Distinct Patterns of EGFR Trafficking in Squamous Cell Carcinoma Correlating to Therapeutic Outcomes.

EGFR overexpression is associated with squamous cell carcinoma development. Altered endocytosis and polarization of receptor tyrosine kinases, including EGFR, affect migration and invasion in three-dimensional culture. These studies have been completed via genetic sequencing, cell line, or three-dimensional in vitro and in vivo murine models. Here, we describe an imaging method that allows ex vivo examination of ligand-induced endocytosis of EGFR in non-dissociated human tumors. We analyzed sets of tumor samples from advanced cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, actinic keratosis, intraepidermal carcinoma, and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma. We show that EGFR endocytosis is dysregulated in advanced SCC and correlates with anti-EGFR monoclonal antibody therapy outcomes. In actinic keratosis, intraepidermal carcinoma, and well-differentiated cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma, different patterns of epidermal growth factor ligand uptake and binding were observed at the leading edge of different dysplastic lesions, suggesting that these differences in EGFR endocytosis might influence the metastatic potential of dysplastic squamous epithelium. These studies in live ex vivo human tumors confirm that endocytosis dysregulation is a physiological event in human tumors and has therapeutic implications.

Phenothiazine-derived antipsychotic drugs inhibit dynamin and clathrin-mediated endocytosis.

Chlorpromazine is a phenothiazine-derived antipsychotic drug (APD) that inhibits clathrin-mediated endocytosis (CME) in cells by an unknown mechanism. We examined whether its action and that of other APDs might be mediated by the GTPase activity of dynamin. Eight of eight phenothiazine-derived APDs inhibited dynamin I (dynI) in the 2-12 µm range, the most potent being trifluoperazine (IC50 2.6 ± 0.7 µm). They also inhibited dynamin II (dynII) at similar concentrations. Typical and atypical APDs not based on the phenothiazine scaffold were 8- to 10-fold less potent (haloperidol and clozapine) or were inactive (droperidol, olanzapine and risperidone). Kinetic analysis showed that phenothiazine-derived APDs were lipid competitive, while haloperidol was uncompetitive with lipid. Accordingly, phenothiazine-derived APDs inhibited dynI GTPase activity stimulated by lipids but not by various SH3 domains. All dynamin-active APDs also inhibited transferrin (Tfn) CME in cells at related potencies. Structure-activity relationships (SAR) revealed dynamin inhibition to be conferred by a substituent group containing a terminal tertiary amino group at the N2 position. Chlorpromazine was previously proposed to target AP-2 recruitment in the formation of clathrin-coated vesicles (CCV). However, neither chlorpromazine nor thioridazine affected AP-2 interaction with amphiphysin or clathrin. Super-resolution microscopy revealed that chlorpromazine blocks neither clathrin recruitment by AP-2, nor AP-2 recruitment, showing that CME inhibition occurs downstream of CCV formation. Overall, potent dynamin inhibition is a shared characteristic of phenothiazine-derived APDs, but not other typical or atypical APDs, and the data indicate that dynamin is their likely in-cell target in endocytosis.

Dysregulation of epidermal growth factor receptor in actinic keratosis and squamous cell carcinoma.

The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is a receptor tyrosine kinase. Its correct function is required for normal skin development and homeostasis, while dysregulation of EGFR signalling results in cellular hyper-proliferation and defects in differentiation, leading to impaired wound healing, the development of psoriasis-like lesions, structural and functional defects of hair follicles and tumourigenesis. Actinic keratosis, which is also known as solar keratosis, develops in sun-exposed areas of the skin. These are often called 'premalignant lesions' and are said to represent early squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in situ, although debate over their classification continues. Anti-EGFR therapies have been approved for the treatment of several malignancies and are undergoing trials for others [1], including advanced cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC). However, a number of questions remain regarding the treatment of CSCC with anti-EGFR inhibitors. A lower number of CSCC tumours are EGFR positive in comparison to other types of tumours, such as head and neck SCC (HNSCC), and it has been suggested that patients should be selected on the basis of high tumour EGFR expression. However, there are reports of patients with tumours showing no EGFR-positive staining responding to anti-EGFR therapy. EGFR is an oncogenic driver in many tumours. Does it drive the transformation of actinic keratosis to a tumourigenic phenotype? Many such questions remain, and here, we discuss the role of EGFR in SCC and its functions during the different stages of skin cancer development.

Active Rab11 and functional recycling endosome are required for E-cadherin trafficking and lumen formation during epithelial morphogenesis.

The correct targeting and trafficking of the adherens junction protein epithelial cadherin (E-cadherin) is a major determinant for the acquisition of epithelial cell polarity and for the maintenance of epithelial integrity. The compartments and trafficking components required to sort and transport E-cadherin to the basolateral cell surface remain to be fully defined. On the basis of previous data, we know that E-cadherin is trafficked via the recycling endosome (RE) in nonpolarized and newly polarized cells. Here we explore the role of the RE throughout epithelial morphogenesis in MDCK monolayers and cysts. Time-lapse microscopy in live cells, altering RE function biochemically, and expressing a dominant-negative form of Rab11 (DN-Rab11), each showed that the RE is always requisite for E-cadherin sorting and trafficking. The RE remained important for E-cadherin trafficking in MDCK cells from a nonpolarized state through to fully formed, polarized epithelial monolayers. During the development of epithelial cysts, DN-Rab11 disrupted E-cadherin targeting and trafficking, the subapical localization of pERM and actin, and cyst lumen formation. This final effect demonstrated an early and critical interdependence of Rab11 and the RE for E-cadherin targeting, apical membrane formation, and cell polarity in cysts.

EGF induces macropinocytosis and SNX1-modulated recycling of E-cadherin.

In epithelia, junction proteins are endocytosed for modulation of cell-cell adhesion and cell polarity. In response to growth factors, the cell-cell adhesion protein E-cadherin is internalized from the cell surface with degradation or recycling as potential fates. However, the cellular machinery involved in cadherin internalization and recycling remains controversial. Here we investigated EGF-induced E-cadherin internalization. EGF stimulation of MCF-7 cells resulted in Rac1-modulated macropinocytosis of the E-cadherin-catenin complex into endosomal compartments that colocalized with EEA1 and the sorting nexin, SNX1. Depletion of cellular SNX1 levels by siRNA resulted in increased intracellular accumulation and turnover of E-cadherin internalized from the cell surface in response to EGF. Moreover, SNX1 was also required for efficient recycling of internalized E-cadherin and re-establishment of epithelial adhesion. Together, these findings demonstrate a role for SNX1 in retrieval of E-cadherin from a degradative endosomal pathway and in membrane trafficking pathways that regulate E-cadherin recycling.

Contextual binding of p120ctn to E-cadherin at the basolateral plasma membrane in polarized epithelia.

E-cadherin-catenin complexes mediate cell-cell adhesion on the basolateral membrane of epithelial cells. The cytoplasmic tail of E-cadherin supports multiple protein interactions, including binding of beta-catenin at the C terminus and of p120ctn to the juxtamembrane domain. The temporal assembly and polarized trafficking of the complex or its individual components to the basolateral membrane are not fully understood. In Madin-Darby canine kidney cells at steady state and after treatment with cycloheximide or temperature blocks, E-cadherin and beta-catenin localized to the Golgi complex, but p120ctn was found only at the basolateral plasma membrane. We previously identified a dileucine sorting motif (Leu586-Leu587, termed S1) in the juxtamembrane domain of E-cadherin and now show that it is required to target full-length E-cadherin to the basolateral membrane. Removal of S1 resulted in missorting of E-cadherin mutants (EcadDeltaS1) to the apical membrane; beta-catenin was simultaneously missorted and appeared at the apical membrane. p120ctn was not mistargeted with EcadDeltaS1, but could be recruited to the E-cadherin-catenin complex only at the basolateral membrane. These findings help define the temporal assembly and sorting of the E-cadherin-catenin complex and show that membrane recruitment of p120ctn in polarized cells is contextual and confined to the basolateral membrane.