An oncogenic activity of PDGF-C and its splice variant in human breast cancer.

Despite strong evidence for the involvement of PDGF signaling in breast cancer, little is known about the PDGF ligand responsible for PDGFR activation during breast cancer progression. Here, we found PDGF-C to be highly expressed in breast carcinoma cell lines. Immunohistochemical analysis of invasive breast cancer revealed an association between increased PDGF-C expression and lymph node metastases, Ki-67 proliferation index, and poor disease-free survival. We also identified a PDGF-C splice variant encoding truncated PDGF-C (t-PDGF-C) isoform lacking the signal peptide and the N-terminal CUB domain. While t-PDGF C homodimer is retained intracellularly, it can be secreted as a heterodimer with full-length PDGF-C (FL-PDGF-C). PDGF-C downregulation reduced anchorage-independent growth and matrigel invasion of MDA-MB-231 cells. Conversely, ectopic expression of t-PDGF-C enhanced phenotypic transformation and invasion in BT-549 cells expressing endogenous FL-PDGF-C. The present study provides new insights into the functional significance of PDGF-C and its splice variant in human breast cancer.

Dynamic regulation of platelet-derived growth factor D (PDGF-D) activity and extracellular spatial distribution by matriptase-mediated proteolysis.

The oncogenic roles of PDGF-D and its proteolytic activator, matriptase, have been strongly implicated in human prostate cancer. Latent full-length PDGF-D (FL-D) consists of a CUB domain, a growth factor domain (GFD), and the hinge region in between. Matriptase processes the FL-D dimer into a GFD dimer (GFD-D) in a stepwise manner, involving generation of a hemidimer (HD), an intermediate product containing one FL-D subunit and one GFD subunit. Although the HD is a pro-growth factor that can be processed into the GFD-D by matriptase, the HD can also act as a dominant-negative ligand that prevents PDGF-B-mediated ß-PDGF receptor activation in fibroblasts. The active GFD-D can be further cleaved into a smaller and yet inactive form if matriptase-mediated proteolysis persists. Through mutagenesis and functional analyses, we found that the R(340)R(341)GR(343)A (P4-P1/P1') motif within the GFD is the matriptase cleavage site through which matriptase can deactivate PDGF-D. Comparative sequence analysis based on the published crystal structure of PDGF-B predicted that the matriptase cleavage site R(340)R(341)GR(343)A is within loop III of the GFD, a critical structural element for its binding with the ß-PDGF receptor. Interestingly, we also found that matriptase processing regulates the deposition of PDGF-D dimer species into the extracellular matrix (ECM) with increased binding from the FL-D dimer, to the HD, and to the GFD-D. Furthermore, we provide evidence that R(340)R(341)GR(343)A within the GFD is critical for PDGF-D deposition and binding to the ECM. In this study, we report a structural element crucial for the biological function and ECM deposition of PDGF-D and provide molecular insight into the dynamic functional interplay between the serine protease matriptase and PDGF-D.

Discoidin domain receptor 1 is a novel transcriptional target of ZEB1 in breast epithelial cells undergoing H-Ras-induced epithelial to mesenchymal transition.

The epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process allows carcinoma cells to dissociate from the primary tumor thereby facilitating tumor cell invasion and metastasis. Ras-dependent hyperactive signaling is commonly associated with tumorigenesis, invasion, EMT, and metastasis. However, the downstream effectors by which Ras regulates EMT remain ill defined. In this study, we show that the H-Ras pathway leads to mesenchymal-like phenotypic changes in human breast epithelial cells by controlling the ZEB1/microRNA-200c axis. Moreover, H-Ras suppresses the expression of the discoidin domain receptor 1 (DDR1), a collagen receptor tyrosine kinase, via ZEB1, thus identifying ZEB1 as a novel transcriptional repressor of DDR1. Mutation studies on the putative promoter of the DDR1 gene revealed that bipartite Z- and E-box elements play a key role in transcriptional repression of DDR1 in Hs578T and MDA-MB-231 breast carcinoma cell lines by ZEB1. Furthermore, we found an inverse correlation between ZEB1 and DDR1 expression in various cancer cell lines and in human breast carcinoma tissues. Consistently, overexpression of DDR1 reduced the invasive phenotype of mesenchymal-like triple-negative breast cancer cells in 3D cultures and in vivo. Thus, ZEB1's role in maintenance of EMT in breast carcinoma cells is mediated in part by its ability to suppress DDR1 expression and consequently contribute to the activation of the invasive phenotype. Taken together, our results unveil a novel H-Ras/ZEB1/DDR1 network that contributes to breast cancer progression in triple-negative breast cancers.

Bone-induced c-kit expression in prostate cancer: a driver of intraosseous tumor growth.

Loss of BRCA2 function stimulates prostate cancer (PCa) cell invasion and is associated with more aggressive and metastatic tumors in PCa patients. Concurrently, the receptor tyrosine kinase c-kit is highly expressed in skeletal metastases of PCa patients and induced in PCa cells placed into the bone microenvironment in experimental models. However, the precise requirement of c-kit for intraosseous growth of PCa and its relation to BRCA2 expression remain unexplored. Here, we show that c-kit expression promotes migration and invasion of PCa cells. Alongside, we found that c-kit expression in PCa cells parallels BRCA2 downregulation. Gene rescue experiments with human BRCA2 transgene in c-kit-transfected PCa cells resulted in reduction of c-kit protein expression and migration and invasion, suggesting a functional significance of BRCA2 downregulation by c-kit. The inverse association between c-kit and BRCA2 gene expressions in PCa cells was confirmed using laser capture microdissection in experimental intraosseous tumors and bone metastases of PCa patients. Inhibition of bone-induced c-kit expression in PCa cells transduced with lentiviral short hairpin RNA reduced intraosseous tumor incidence and growth. Overall, our results provide evidence of a novel pathway that links bone-induced c-kit expression in PCa cells to BRCA2 downregulation and supports bone metastasis.

A novel function of HPV16-E6/E7 in epithelial-mesenchymal transition.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) 16 is among the most important etiological factors in many human cancers, including head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs) not associated with alcohol or tobacco use. HPV16-E6 and E7 oncoproteins target intracellular signaling networks, altering key molecular and cellular events during tumor progression. The present study investigates the role of HPV16-E6 and E7 oncogenes on the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), a cellular process thought to be critical for tumor cell invasion and metastasis. Using the epithelial MDCK cell line as an in vitro model, we show that the stable expression of HPV16-E6 or E7 induces morphological conversion from cobblestone-shaped epithelium to spindle-shaped mesenchyme-like phenotype. Consistent with these morphological changes, both E6 and E7 induce expression of the EMT-activating transcriptional factors Slug, Twist, ZEB1 and ZEB2, especially ZEBs, accompanied with switch from epithelial to mesenchymal markers. Importantly, E6 and E7 expression results in induction of the migratory and invasive potential, a functional hallmark of EMT. When we examined the association between HPV16 and the EMT signature in HNSCC cell lines derived from head and neck cancer patients, we found a correlation between HPV16 positivity and the expression of EMT transcription factor ZEB1. Taken together, our findings suggest HPV16 induces EMT-like processes via induction of the EMT transcription factors which may contribute to tumor progression and metastasis.

PTEN regulates PDGF ligand switch for ß-PDGFR signaling in prostate cancer.

Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) family members are potent growth factors that regulate cell proliferation, migration, and transformation. Clinical studies have shown that both PDGF receptor ß (ß-PDGFR) and its ligand PDGF D are up-regulated in primary prostate cancers and bone metastases, whereas PDGF B, a classic ligand for ß-PDGFR, is not frequently detected in clinical samples. In this study, we examined the role of the tumor suppressor phosphatase and tensin homologue deleted on chromosome 10 (PTEN) in the regulation of PDGF expression levels using both a prostate-specific, conditional PTEN-knockout mouse model and mouse prostate epithelial cell lines established from these mice. We found an increase in PDGF D and ß-PDGFR expression levels in PTEN-null tumor cells, accompanied by a decrease in PDGF B expression. Among Akt isoforms, increased Akt3 expression was most prominent in mouse PTEN-null cells, and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt activity was essential for the maintenance of increased PDGF D and ß-PDGFR expression. In vitro deletion of PTEN resulted in a PDGF ligand switch from PDGF B to PDGF D in normal mouse prostate epithelial cells, further demonstrating that PTEN regulates this ligand switch. Similar associations between PTEN status and PDGF isoforms were noted in human prostate cancer cell lines. Taken together, these results suggest a mechanism by which loss of PTEN may promote prostate cancer progression via PDGF D/ß-PDGFR signal transduction.

Platelet-derived growth factor-C (PDGF-C) activation by serine proteases: implications for breast cancer progression.

The PDGF (platelet-derived growth factor) family members are potent mitogens for cells of mesenchymal origin and serve as important regulators of cell migration, survival, apoptosis and transformation. Tumour-derived PDGF ligands are thought to function in both autocrine and paracrine manners, activating receptors on tumour and surrounding stromal cells. PDGF-C and -D are secreted as latent dimers, unlike PDGF-A and -B. Cleavage of the CUB domain from the PDGF-C and -D dimers is required for their biological activity. At present, little is known about the proteolytic processing of PDGF-C, the rate-limiting step in the regulation of PDGF-C activity. In the present study we show that the breast carcinoma cell line MCF7, engineered to overexpress PDGF-C, produces proteases capable of cleaving PDGF-C to its active form. Increased PDGF-C expression enhances cell proliferation, anchorage-independent cell growth and tumour cell motility by autocrine signalling. In addition, MCF7-produced PDGF-C induces fibroblast cell migration in a paracrine manner. Interestingly, PDGF-C enhances tumour cell invasion in the presence of fibroblasts, suggesting a role for tumour-derived PDGF-C in tumour-stromal interactions. In the present study, we identify tPA (tissue plasminogen activator) and matriptase as major proteases for processing of PDGF-C in MCF7 cells. In in vitro studies, we also show that uPA (urokinase-type plasminogen activator) is able to process PDGF-C. Furthermore, by site-directed mutagenesis, we identify the cleavage site for these proteases in PDGF-C. Lastly, we provide evidence suggesting a two-step proteolytic processing of PDGF-C involving creation of a hemidimer, followed by GFD-D (growth factor domain dimer) generation.

Cediranib inhibits both the intraosseous growth of PDGF D-positive prostate cancer cells and the associated bone reaction.

BACKGROUND: The major cause of death in prostate cancer (PCa) cases is due to distant metastatic lesions, with the bone being the most prevalent site for secondary colonization. Utilization of small molecule inhibitors to treat bone metastatic PCa have had limited success either as monotherapies or in combination with other chemotherapeutics due to intolerable toxicities. In the current study, we developed a clinically relevant in vivo intraosseous tumor model overexpressing the platelet-derived growth factor D (PDGF D) to test the efficacy of a newly characterized vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR)/PDGFR inhibitor, cediranib (also called AZD2171). METHODS: An intratibial-injection model was established utilizing DU145 cells with or without increased PDGF D expression. Tumor-bearing mice were treated by daily gavage administration of cediranib and/or weekly i.p. injection of docetaxel for 7 weeks. Tibiae were monitored by in vivo/ex vivo X-rays and histomorphometry analysis was performed to estimate tumor volume and tumor-associated trabecular bone growth. RESULTS: Cediranib reduced intraosseous growth of prostate tumors as well as tumor-associated bone responses. When compared to the standard chemotherapeutic agent docetaxel, cediranib exhibited a stronger inhibition of tumor-associated bone response. The efficacy of cediranib was further enhanced when the drug was co-administered with docetaxel. Importantly, the therapeutic benefits of cediranib and docetaxel are more prominent in intraosseous prostate tumors overexpressing PDGF D. CONCLUSION: These novel findings support the utilization of cediranib, either alone or in combination with docetaxel, to treat bone metastatic PCa exhibiting PDGF D expression.

Posttranslational regulation of membrane type 1-matrix metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP) in mouse PTEN null prostate cancer cells: Enhanced surface expression and differential O-glycosylation of MT1-MMP.

Membrane type 1 (MT1)-matrix metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP) is a membrane-tethered MMP that has been shown to play a key role in promoting cancer cell invasion. MT1-MMP is highly expressed in bone metastasis of prostate cancer (PC) patients and promotes intraosseous tumor growth of PC cells in mice. The majority of metastatic prostate cancers harbor loss-of-function mutations or deletions of the tumor suppressor PTEN (phosphatase and tensin homologue deleted on chromosome ten). However, the role of PTEN inactivation in MT1-MMP expression in PC cells has not been examined. In this study, prostate epithelial cell lines derived from mice that are either heterozygous (PTEN(+/-)) or homozygous (PTEN(-/-)) for PTEN deletion or harboring a wild-type PTEN (PTEN(+/+)) were used to investigate the expression of MT1-MMP. We found that biallelic loss of PTEN is associated with posttranslational regulation of MT1-MMP protein in mouse PC cells. PTEN(-/-) PC cells display higher levels of MT1-MMP at the cell surface when compared to PTEN(+/+) and PTEN(+/-) cells and consequently exhibited enhanced migratory and collagen-invasive activities. MT1-MMP displayed by PTEN(-/-) cells is differentially O-glycosylated and exhibits a slow rate of turnover. MT1-MMP expression in PTEN(-/-) cells is under control of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, as determined using pharmacological inhibitors. Interestingly, rapamycin, an mTOR inhibitor, upregulates MT1-MMP expression in PTEN(+/+) cells via PI3K activity. Collectively, these data in a mouse prostate cell system uncover for the first time a novel and complex relationship between PTEN loss-mediated PI3K/AKT activation and posttranslational regulation of MT1-MMP, which may play a role in PC progression.

miR-200 regulates PDGF-D-mediated epithelial-mesenchymal transition, adhesion, and invasion of prostate cancer cells.

MicroRNAs have been implicated in tumor progression. Recent studies have shown that the miR-200 family regulates epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) by targeting zinc-finger E-box binding homeobox 1 (ZEB1) and ZEB2. Emerging evidence from our laboratory and others suggests that the processes of EMT can be triggered by various growth factors, such as transforming growth factor beta and platelet-derived growth factor-D (PDGF-D). Moreover, we recently reported that overexpression of PDGF-D in prostate cancer cells (PC3 PDGF-D cells) leads to the acquisition of the EMT phenotype, and this model offers an opportunity for investigating the molecular interplay between PDGF-D signaling and EMT. Here, we report, for the first time, significant downregulation of the miR-200 family in PC3 PDGF-D cells as well as in PC3 cells exposed to purified active PDGF-D protein, resulting in the upregulation of ZEB1, ZEB2, and Snail2 expression. Interestingly, re-expression of miR-200b in PC3 PDGF-D cells led to reversal of the EMT phenotype, which was associated with the downregulation of ZEB1, ZEB2, and Snail2 expression, and these results were consistent with greater expression levels of epithelial markers. Moreover, transfection of PC3 PDGF-D cells with miR-200b inhibited cell migration and invasion, with concomitant repression of cell adhesion to the culture surface and cell detachment. From these results, we conclude that PDGF-D-induced acquisition of the EMT phenotype in PC3 cells is, in part, a result of repression of miR-200 and that any novel strategy by which miR-200 could be upregulated would become a promising approach for the treatment of invasive prostate cancer.

Establishment of Structure-Function Relationship of Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 for Its Interaction with CD63: Implication for Cancer Therapy.

Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1 (TIMP-1) is a pleiotropic protein, promoting both tumor-suppressive and tumor-promoting activities. While TIMP-1 is primarily known as an endogenous inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and thus associated with tumor cell invasion, clinical studies demonstrated increased expression of TIMP-1 and its association with poor prognosis in cancer. Non-MMP-inhibitory and oncogenic functions of TIMP-1 are mediated by induction of intracellular signaling via its cell surface receptor CD63, a tetraspanin. The present study investigates the structure-function relationship of TIMP-1 for its interaction with CD63, which may eventually help design a novel approach for targeting TIMP-1's pro-oncogenic activity without interfering its tumor suppressive MMP-inhibitory function. Importantly, our analysis includes TIMP-1/CD63 interactions at the cell surface of live cells. Here, we demonstrate that the 9 C-terminal amino acid residues of TIMP-1 and the large extracellular loop of CD63 are required for their interaction. Considering that the N-terminal half of TIMP-1 is sufficient for TIMP-1's MMP-inhibitory activity, we propose that those C-terminal amino acid residues are a potentially targetable motif of TIMP-1 oncogenic activity. As a proof of concept, we present the potential for the development of neutralizing antibodies against the C-terminal motif of TIMP-1 for disruption of TIMP-1 interaction with CD63 and the subsequent signal transduction.

Global gene expression profiling unveils S100A8/A9 as candidate markers in H-ras-mediated human breast epithelial cell invasion.

The goal of the present study is to unveil the gene expression profile specific to the biological processes of human breast epithelial cell invasion and migration using an MCF10A model genetically engineered to constitutively activate the H-ras or N-ras signaling pathway. We previously showed that H-Ras, but not N-Ras, induces MCF10A cell invasion/migration, whereas both H-Ras and N-Ras induce cell proliferation and phenotypic transformation. Thus, these cell lines provide an experimental system to separate the gene expression profile associated with cell invasion apart from cell proliferation/transformation. Analysis of whole human genome microarray revealed that 412 genes were differentially expressed among MCF10A, N-Ras MCF10A, and H-Ras MCF10A cells and hierarchical clustering separated 412 genes into four clusters. We then tested whether S100A8 and S100A9, two of the genes which are most highly up-regulated in an H-Ras-specific manner, play a causative role for H-Ras-mediated MCF10A cell invasion and migration. Importantly, small interfering RNA-mediated knockdown of S100A8/A9 expression significantly reduced H-Ras-induced invasion/migration. Conversely, the induction of S100A8/A9 expression conferred the invasive/migratory phenotype to parental MCF10A cells. Furthermore, we provided evidence of signaling cross-talk between S100A8/A9 and the mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathways essential for H-Ras-mediated cell invasion and migration. Taken together, this study revealed S100A8/A9 genes as candidate markers for metastatic potential of breast epithelial cells. Our gene profile data provide useful information which may lead to the identification of additional potential targets for the prognosis and/or therapy of metastatic breast cancer.

Platelet-derived growth factor-D overexpression contributes to epithelial-mesenchymal transition of PC3 prostate cancer cells.

The majority of human malignancies are believed to have epithelial origin, and the progression of cancer is often associated with a transient process named epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). EMT is characterized by the loss of epithelial markers and the gain of mesenchymal markers that are typical of "cancer stem-like cells," which results in increased cell invasion and metastasis in vivo. Therefore, it is important to uncover the mechanistic role of factors that may induce EMT in cancer progression. Studies have shown that platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) signaling contributes to EMT, and more recently, PDGF-D has been shown to regulate cancer cell invasion and angiogenesis. However, the mechanism by which PDGF-D promotes invasion and metastases and whether it is due to the acquisition of EMT phenotype remain elusive. For this study, we established stably transfected PC3 cells expressing high levels of PDGF-D, which resulted in the significant induction of EMT as shown by changes in cellular morphology concomitant with the loss of E-cadherin and zonula occludens-1 and gain of vimentin. We also found activation of mammalian target of rapamycin and nuclear factor-kappaB, as well as Bcl-2 overexpression, in PDGF-D PC3 cells, which was associated with enhanced adhesive and invasive behaviors. More importantly, PDGF-D-overexpressing PC3 cells showed tumor growth in SCID mice much more rapidly than PC3 cells. These results provided a novel mechanism by which PDGF-D promotes EMT, which in turn increases tumor growth, and these results further suggest that PDGF-D could be a novel therapeutic target for the prevention and/or treatment of prostate cancer. Disclosure of potential conflicts of interest is found at the end of this article.

Platelet-derived growth factor D is activated by urokinase plasminogen activator in prostate carcinoma cells.

Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) protein family members are potent mitogens and chemoattractants for mesenchymal cells. The classic PDGF ligands A and B are single-domain protein chains which are secreted as active dimers capable of activating their cognate PDGF receptors (PDGFRs). In contrast to PDGFs A and B, PDGF D contains an N-terminal complement subcomponent C1r/C1s, Uegf, and Bmp1 (CUB) domain and a C-terminal PDGF domain. PDGF D must undergo extracellular proteolytic processing, separating the CUB domain from the PDGF domain, before the PDGF domain can stimulate beta-PDGFR-mediated cell signal transduction. Here, we report that prostate carcinoma cells LNCaP and PC3 autoactivate latent full-length PDGF D into its active form under serum-independent conditions and that this autoactivation is inhibited by PAI-1, a urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA)/tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) inhibitor. Interestingly, uPA, but not the closely related protease tPA, is capable of processing recombinant latent PDGF DD into the active form. We identify the uPA cleavage site between the CUB and PDGF domains of the full-length PDGF D by mutational analysis and show that PDGF D and uPA colocalize in human prostate carcinoma. This evidence provides a direct link between uPA- and PDGF D-mediated cell signaling, which may contribute to the progression of prostate cancer.

Nuclear export of phosphorylated galectin-3 regulates its antiapoptotic activity in response to chemotherapeutic drugs.

Galectin-3 (Gal-3), a member of the beta-galactoside binding protein family containing the NWGR antideath motif of the Bcl-2 protein family, is involved in various aspects of cancer progression. Previously, it has been shown that the antiapoptotic activity of Gal-3 is regulated by the phosphorylation at Ser(6) by casein kinase 1 (CK1). Here we questioned how phosphorylation at Ser(6) regulates Gal-3 function. We have generated serine-to-alanine (S6A) and serine-to-glutamic acid (S6E) Gal-3 mutants and transfected them into the BT-549 human breast carcinoma cell line, which does not express Gal-3. BT-549 cell clones expressing wild-type (wt) and mutant Gal-3 were exposed to chemotherapeutic anticancer drugs. In response to the apoptotic insults, phosphorylated wt Gal-3 was exported from the nucleus to the cytoplasm and protected the BT-549 cells from drug-induced apoptosis while nonphosphorylated mutant Gal-3 neither was exported from the nucleus nor protected BT-549 cells from drug-induced apoptosis. Furthermore, leptomycin B, a nuclear export inhibitor, increased the cisplatin-induced apoptosis of Gal-3 expressing BT-549 cells. These results suggest that Ser(6) phosphoryaltion acts as a molecular switch for its cellular translocation from the nucleus to the cytoplasm and, as a result, regulates the antiapoptotic activity of Gal-3.

Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 protects human breast epithelial cells from extrinsic cell death: a potential oncogenic activity of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1.

Tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) inhibit matrix metalloproteinases and some members of a disintegrin and metalloproteinase domain (ADAM) family. In addition, recent studies unveiled novel functions of TIMPs in the regulation of apoptosis. TIMP-1 inhibits intrinsic apoptosis by inducing TIMP-1 specific cell survival pathways involving focal adhesion kinase (FAK). TIMP-3, however, was shown to enhance extrinsic cell death by inhibiting the shedding of the cell surface death receptors mediated by tumor necrosis factor-alpha converting enzymes (TACE/ADAM-17). Here, we examined whether TIMP-1, an inhibitor of some of the ADAM family members, enhances the tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL)-induced extrinsic apoptotic pathway. Surprisingly, we found that TIMP-1 effectively protects human breast epithelial cells from TRAIL-induced apoptosis, demonstrating opposite roles of TIMP-1 and TIMP-3 for the regulation of extrinsic apoptosis. TIMP-1 inhibition of TRAIL-induced apoptosis does not depend on its ability to inhibit matrix metalloproteinases or ADAM activities and is unrelated to its ability to stabilize active or decoy death receptors. Importantly, inhibition of PI 3-kinase signaling by wortmannin and down-regulation of FAK expression using siRNA significantly diminish TIMP-1 protection of human breast epithelial cells against TRAIL-induced extrinsic apoptosis. In addition, the in vitro three-dimensional culture studies showed that TIMP-1 inhibits lumen formation and apoptosis during morphogenesis of MCF10A acini. Taken together, these studies suggest that TIMP-1 may exert oncogenic activity in breast cancer through inhibition of both intrinsic and extrinsic apoptosis involving the FAK survival signal transduction pathway.

HPV-associated differential regulation of tumor metabolism in oropharyngeal head and neck cancer.

HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancer patients experience significantly lower locoregional recurrence and higher overall survival in comparison with HPV-negative patients, especially among those who received radiation therapy. The goal of the present study is to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying the differential radiation sensitivity between HPV-negative and HPV-positive head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Here, we show that HPV-negative HNSCC cells exhibit increased glucose metabolism as evidenced by increased production of lactate, while HPV-positive HNSCC cells effectively utilize mitochondrial respiration as evidenced by increased oxygen consumption. HPV-negative cells express HIF1α and its downstream mediators of glucose metabolism such as hexokinase II (HKII) and carbonic anhydrase IX (CAIX) at higher levels, while the expression level of cytochrome c oxidase (COX) was noticeably higher in HPV-positive HNSCC. In addition, the expression levels of pyruvate dehydrogenase kinases (PDKs), which inhibit pyruvate dehydrogenase activity, thereby preventing entry of pyruvate into the mitochondrial tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, were much higher in HPV-negative HNSCC compared to those in HPV-positive cells. Importantly, a PDK inhibitor, dichloroacetate, effectively sensitized HPV-negative cells to irradiation. Lastly, we found positive interactions between tonsil location and HPV positivity for COX intensity and COX/HKII index ratio as determined by immunohistochemical analysis. Overall survival of patients with HNSCC at the tonsil was significantly improved with an increased COX expression. Taken together, the present study provides molecular insights into the mechanistic basis for the differential responses to radiotherapy between HPV-driven vs. spontaneous or chemically induced oropharyngeal cancer.

p38 kinase is a key signaling molecule for H-Ras-induced cell motility and invasive phenotype in human breast epithelial cells.

Ras expression has been suggested as a marker for tumor aggressiveness of breast cancer,including the degrees of invasion and tumor recurrence.We showed previously that H-ras, but not N-ras, up-regulates matrix metalloproteinase 2 expression and induces invasive phenotype in MCF10A human breast epithelial cells (A. Moon, et al. Int. J. Cancer, 85: 176-181, 2000). In this study, we show that H-ras also promotes cell motility more effectively than N-ras in MCF10A cells. We have investigated H-ras-specific signaling pathway(s) critical for H-ras-mediated cell motility and invasive phenotype. Whereas neither H-ras nor N-ras activated c-Jun NH(2)-terminal kinase 1, both H-ras and N-ras effectively activated extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK) -1,2. Importantly, prominent activation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase was shown only in H-ras-activated cells but not in N-ras-activated MCF10A cells. Functional significance of H-ras-activated p38 in invasiveness and cell motility was evidenced by studies using SB203580, a chemical inhibitor of p38, and a dominant-negative construct of p38. Whereas inhibition of c-Jun NH(2)-terminal kinase 1 activity had no effect on H-ras-induced MCF10A cell invasion and motility, the inhibition of the ERK pathway using a chemical inhibitor PD98059 or dominant-negative mutant of mitogen-activated protein/ERK kinase 1, an activator of ERKs, significantly reduced H-ras-induced invasion and migration. We also provide evidence that p38 and, to a lesser degree, ERKs, are critical for H-ras-mediated up-regulation of matrix metalloproteinase 2. Taken together, the present study shows that H-ras activation of both p38 and ERKs induces cell invasion and motility, whereas N-ras activation of ERKs alone is not sufficient. This study reveals the p38 kinase as a key signaling molecule differentially regulated by H-ras and N-ras, leading to H-ras-specific cell invasive and migrative phenotypes in human breast epithelial cells.

A potential oncogenic activity of platelet-derived growth factor d in prostate cancer progression.

The platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) proteins are potent stimulators of cell proliferation/transformation and play a major role in cell-cell communication. For over two decades, PDGFs were thought to exist as three dimeric polypeptides (the homodimers AA and BB and the heterodimer AB). Recently, however, the PDGF C and D chains were discovered in a BLAST search of the expressed sequence tag databases. The PDGF CC and DD dimers have a unique two-domain structure with an NH(2)-terminal CUB (compliment subcomponents C1r/C1s, Uegf, and Bmp1) domain and a COOH-terminal PDGF/vascular endothelial growth factor domain. Whereas secreted PDGF AA, BB, and AB readily activate their cell surface receptors, it was suggested that extracellular proteolytic removal of the CUB domain is required for the PDGF/vascular endothelial growth factor domain of PDGF CC and DD to activate PDGF receptors. In the present study, we examined the processing of latent PDGF D into its active form and the effects of PDGF D expression on prostate cancer progression. We show that LNCaP cells auto-activate latent PDGF DD into the active PDGF domain, which can induce phosphorylation of the beta-PDGF receptor and stimulates LNCaP cell proliferation in an autocrine manner. Additionally, LNCaP-PDGF D-conditioned medium induces migration of the prostate fibroblast cell line 1532-FTX, indicating LNCaP-processed PDGF DD is active in a paracrine manner as well. In a severe combined immunodeficient mouse model, PDGF DD expression accelerates early onset of prostate tumor growth and drastically enhances prostate carcinoma cell interaction with surrounding stromal cells. These demonstrate a potential oncogenic activity of PDGF DD in the development and/or progression of prostate cancer.

CD29 and CD7 mediate galectin-3-induced type II T-cell apoptosis.

Galectin (Gal)-3, a M(r) 31000 member of the beta-galactoside-binding protein family, is a multifunctional protein implicated in a variety of biological functions, including tumor cell adhesion, proliferation, differentiation, angiogenesis, apoptosis, cancer progression, and metastasis. Here, we report that secreted extracellular Gal-3 can signal apoptosis of human T leukemia cell lines, human peripheral blood mononuclear cells, and activated mouse T cells after binding to cell surface glycoconjugate receptors through carbohydrate-dependent interactions because the apoptotic effect was found to be inhibited by lactose, specific sugar inhibitor, and to be dose dependent. However, the apoptosis sensitivity to Gal-3 varied among the different cell lines tested. We report that Gal-3-null Jurkat, CEM, and MOLT-4 cells were significantly more sensitive to exogenous Gal-3 than SKW6.4 and H9 cells, which express Gal-3, suggesting a cross-talk between the antiapoptotic activity of intracellular Gal-3 and proapoptotic activity of extracellular Gal-3. Furthermore, Gal-3-transfected CEM cells were found to be more resistant to C(2)-ceramide-induced apoptosis than the control CEM cells. Identification of Gal-3 cell surface receptors revealed that Gal-3 binding to CD7 and CD29 (beta(1) integrin) induced apoptosis. Gal-3 binding to its cell surface receptors results in activation of mitochondrial apoptosis events including cytochrome c release and caspase-3 activation, but not caspase-8 activation. Taken together, these results suggest that the induction of T-cell apoptosis by secreted Gal-3 may play a role in the immune escape mechanism during tumor progression through the induction of apoptosis to cancer-infiltrating T cells. The induction of T-cell apoptosis by secreted Gal-3 is dependent in part on the presence or absence of cytoplasmic Gal-3, providing a new insight for the immune escape mechanism of cancer cells.