Fused in sarcoma (FUS) inhibits milk production efficiency in mammals.

Efficient milk production in mammals confers evolutionary advantages by facilitating the transmission of energy from mother to offspring. However, the regulatory mechanism responsible for the gradual establishment of milk production efficiency in mammals, from marsupials to eutherians, remains elusive. Here, we find that mammary gland of the marsupial sugar glider contained milk components during adolescence, and that mammary gland development is less dynamically cyclic compared to that in placental mammals. Furthermore, fused in sarcoma (FUS) is found to be partially responsible for this establishment of low efficiency. In mouse model, FUS inhibit mammary epithelial cell differentiation through the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p57Kip2, leading to lactation failure and pup starvation. Clinically, FUS levels are negatively correlated with milk production in lactating women. Overall, our results shed light on FUS as a negative regulator of milk production, providing a potential mechanism for the establishment of milk production from marsupial to eutherian mammals.

The role of TGF-ß signaling in muscle atrophy, sarcopenia and cancer cachexia.

Skeletal muscle, comprising a significant proportion (40 to 50 percent) of total body weight in humans, plays a critical role in maintaining normal physiological conditions. Muscle atrophy occurs when the rate of protein degradation exceeds protein synthesis. Sarcopenia refers to age-related muscle atrophy, while cachexia represents a more complex form of muscle wasting associated with various diseases such as cancer, heart failure, and AIDS. Recent research has highlighted the involvement of signaling pathways, including IGF1-Akt-mTOR, MuRF1-MAFbx, and FOXO, in regulating the delicate balance between muscle protein synthesis and breakdown. Myostatin, a member of the TGF-ß superfamily, negatively regulates muscle growth and promotes muscle atrophy by activating Smad2 and Smad3. It also interacts with other signaling pathways in cachexia and sarcopenia. Inhibition of myostatin has emerged as a promising therapeutic approach for sarcopenia and cachexia. Additionally, other TGF-ß family members, such as TGF-ß1, activin A, and GDF11, have been implicated in the regulation of skeletal muscle mass. Furthermore, myostatin cooperates with these family members to impair muscle differentiation and contribute to muscle loss. This review provides an overview of the significance of myostatin and other TGF-ß signaling pathway members in muscular dystrophy, sarcopenia, and cachexia. It also discusses potential novel therapeutic strategies targeting myostatin and TGF-ß signaling for the treatment of muscle atrophy.

Mcam inhibits macrophage-mediated development of mammary gland through non-canonical Wnt signaling.

While canonical Wnt signaling is well recognized for its crucial regulatory functions in cell fate decisions, the role of non-canonical Wnt signaling in adult stem cells remains elusive and contradictory. Here, we identified Mcam, a potential member of the non-canonical Wnt signaling, as an important negative regulator of mammary gland epithelial cells (MECs) by genome-scale CRISPR-Cas9 knockout (GeCKO) library screening. Loss of Mcam increases the clonogenicity and regenerative capacity of MECs, and promotes the proliferation, differentiation, and ductal morphogenesis of mammary epithelial in knockout mice. Mechanically, Mcam knockout recruits and polarizes macrophages through the Il4-Stat6 axis, thereby promoting secretion of the non-canonical Wnt ligand Wnt5a and its binding to the non-canonical Wnt signaling receptor Ryk to induce the above phenotypes. These findings reveal Mcam roles in mammary gland development by orchestrating communications between MECs and macrophages via a Wnt5a/Ryk axis, providing evidences for non-canonical Wnt signaling in mammary development.

Excessive nucleic acid R-loops induce mitochondria-dependent epithelial cell necroptosis and drive spontaneous intestinal inflammation.

Oxidative stress, which can be activated by a variety of environmental risk factors, has been implicated as an important pathogenic factor for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). However, how oxidative stress drives IBD onset remains elusive. Here, we found that oxidative stress was strongly activated in inflamed tissues from both ulcerative colitis patients and Crohn's disease patients, and it caused nuclear-to-cytosolic TDP-43 transport and a reduction in the TDP-43 protein level. To investigate the function of TDP-43 in IBD, we inducibly deleted exons 2 to 3 of Tardbp (encoding Tdp-43) in mouse intestinal epithelium, which disrupted its nuclear localization and RNA-processing function. The deletion gave rise to spontaneous intestinal inflammation by inducing epithelial cell necroptosis. Suppression of the necroptotic pathway with deletion of Mlkl or the RIP1 inhibitor Nec-1 rescued colitis phenotypes. Mechanistically, disruption of nuclear TDP-43 caused excessive R-loop accumulation, which triggered DNA damage and genome instability and thereby induced PARP1 hyperactivation, leading to subsequent NAD+ depletion and ATP loss, consequently activating mitochondrion-dependent necroptosis in intestinal epithelial cells. Importantly, restoration of cellular NAD+ levels with NAD+ or NMN supplementation, as well as suppression of ALKBH7, an α-ketoglutarate dioxygenase in mitochondria, rescued TDP-43 deficiency-induced cell death and intestinal inflammation. Furthermore, TDP-43 protein levels were significantly inversely correlated with γ-H2A.X and p-MLKL levels in clinical IBD samples, suggesting the clinical relevance of TDP-43 deficiency-induced mitochondrion-dependent necroptosis. Taken together, these findings identify a unique pathogenic mechanism that links oxidative stress to intestinal inflammation and provide a potent and valid strategy for IBD intervention.

Targeting cuproptosis by zinc pyrithione in triple-negative breast cancer.

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) poses a considerable challenge due to its aggressive nature. Notably, metal ion-induced cell death, such as ferroptosis, has garnered significant attention and demonstrated potential implications for cancer. Recently, cuproptosis, a potent cell death pathway reliant on copper, has been identified. However, whether cuproptosis can be targeted for cancer treatment remains uncertain. Here, we screened the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved drug library and identified zinc pyrithione (ZnPT) as a compound that significantly inhibited TNBC progression. RNA sequencing revealed that ZnPT disrupted copper homeostasis. Furthermore, ZnPT facilitated the oligomerization of dihydrolipoamide S-acetyltransferase, a landmark molecule of cuproptosis. Clinically, high expression levels of cuproptosis-related proteins were significantly correlated with poor prognosis in TNBC patients. Collectively, these findings indicate that ZnPT can induce cell death by targeting and disrupting copper homeostasis, providing a potential experimental foundation for exploring cuproptosis as a target in drug discovery for TNBC patients.

Implications of TDP-43 in non-neuronal systems.

TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43) is a versatile RNA/DNA-binding protein with multifaceted processes. While TDP-43 has been extensively studied in the context of degenerative diseases, recent evidence has also highlighted its crucial involvement in diverse life processes beyond neurodegeneration. Here, we mainly reviewed the function of TDP-43 in non-neurodegenerative physiological and pathological processes, including spermatogenesis, embryonic development, mammary gland development, tumor formation, and viral infection, highlighting its importance as a key regulatory factor for the maintenance of normal functions throughout life. TDP-43 exhibits diverse and sometimes opposite functionality across different cell types through various mechanisms, and its roles can shift at distinct stages within the same biological system. Consequently, TDP-43 operates in both a context-dependent and a stage-specific manner in response to a variety of internal and external stimuli. Video Abstract.

SGCE promotes breast cancer stemness by promoting the transcription of FGF-BP1 by Sp1.

Breast cancer stem cells are mainly responsible for poor prognosis, especially in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). In a previous study, we demonstrated that ε-Sarcoglycan (SGCE), a type Ⅰ single-transmembrane protein, is a potential oncogene that promotes TNBC stemness by stabilizing EGFR. Here, we further found that SGCE depletion reduces breast cancer stem cells, partially through inhibiting the transcription of FGF-BP1, a secreted oncoprotein. Mechanistically, we demonstrate that SGCE could interact with the specific protein 1 transcription factor and translocate into the nucleus, which leads to an increase in the transcription of FGF-BP1, and the secreted FBF-BP1 activates FGF-FGFR signaling to promote cancer cell stemness. The novel SGCE-Sp1-FGF-BP1 axis provides novel potential candidate diagnostic markers and therapeutic targets for TNBC.

Changes in the mammary gland during aging and its links with breast diseases.

The functional capacity of organisms declines in the process of aging. In the case of breast tissue, abnormal mammary gland development can lead to dysfunction in milk secretion, a primary function, as well as the onset of various diseases, such as breast cancer. In the process of aging, the terminal duct lobular units (TDLUs) within the breast undergo gradual degeneration, while the proportion of adipose tissue in the breast continues to increase and hormonal levels in the breast change accordingly. Here, we review changes in morphology, internal structure, and cellular composition that occur in the mammary gland during aging. We also explore the emerging mechanisms of breast aging and the relationship between changes during aging and breast-related diseases, as well as potential interventions for delaying mammary gland aging and preventing breast disease.

Src homology 3 domain binding kinase 1 protects against hepatic steatosis and insulin resistance through the Nur77-FGF21 pathway.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Metabolism in the liver is dysregulated in obesity, contributing to various health problems including steatosis and insulin resistance. While the pathogenesis of lipid accumulation has been extensively studied, the protective mechanism against lipid challenge in the liver remains unclear. Here, we report that Src homology 3 domain binding kinase 1 (SBK1) is a regulator of hepatic lipid metabolism and systemic insulin sensitivity in response to obesity. APPROACH AND RESULTS: Enhanced Sbk1 expression was found in the liver of high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mice and fatty acid (FA)-challenged hepatocytes. SBK1 knockdown in mouse liver cells augmented FA uptake and lipid accumulation. Similarly, liver-specific SBK1 knockout ( Lsko ) mice displayed more severe hepatosteatosis and higher expression of genes in FA uptake and lipogenesis than the Flox/Flox ( Fl/Fl ) control mice when fed the HFD. The HFD-fed Lsko mice also showed symptoms of hyperglycemia, poor systemic glucose tolerance, and lower insulin sensitivity than the Fl/Fl mice. On the other hand, hepatic Sbk1 overexpression alleviated the high-fructose diet-induced hepatosteatosis, hyperlipidemia, and hyperglycemia in mice. White adipose tissue browning was also observed in hepatic SBK1 -overexpressed mice. Moreover, we found that SBK1 was a positive regulator of FGF21 in the liver during energy surplus conditions. Mechanistically, SBK1 phosphorylates the orphan nuclear receptor 4A1 (Nur77) on serine 344 to promote hepatic FGF21 expression and inhibit the transcription of genes involved in lipid anabolism. CONCLUSIONS: Collectively, our data suggest that SBK1 is a regulator of the metabolic adaption against obesity through the Nur77-FGF21 pathway.

Analysis of ancient and modern horse genomes reveals the critical impact of lncRNA-mediated epigenetic regulation on horse domestication.

Background: The domestication of horses has played critical roles in human civilizations. The excavation of ancient horse DNA provides crucial data for studying horse domestication. Studies of horse domestication can shed light on the general mechanisms of animal domestication. Objective: We wish to explore the gene transcription regulation by long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) that influence horse domestication. Methods: First, we assembled the ancient DNA sequences of multiple horses at different times and the genomes of horses, donkeys, and Przewalski horses. Second, we extracted sequences of lncRNA genes shared in ancient horses and sequences of lncRNA genes and the promoter regions of domestication-critical genes shared in modern horses, modern donkeys, and Przewalski horses to form two sample groups. Third, we used the LongTarget program to predict potential regulatory interactions between these lncRNAs and these domestication-critical genes and analyzed the differences between the regulation in ancient/modern horses and between horses/donkeys/Przewalski horses. Fourth, we performed functional enrichment analyses of genes that exhibit differences in epigenetic regulation. Results: First, genes associated with neural crest development and domestication syndrome are important targets of lncRNAs. Second, compared with undomesticated Przewalski horses, more lncRNAs participate in the epigenetic regulation in modern horses and donkeys, suggesting that domestication is linked to more epigenetic regulatory changes. Third, lncRNAs' potential target genes in modern horses are mainly involved in two functional areas: 1) the nervous system, behavior, and cognition, and 2) muscle, body size, cardiac function, and metabolism. Conclusion: Domestication is linked to substantial epigenetic regulatory changes. Genes associated with neural crest development and domestication syndrome underwent noticeable lncRNA-mediated epigenetic regulation changes during horse domestication.

Can EGFR be a therapeutic target in breast cancer?

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is highly expressed in certain cancer types and is involved in regulating the biological characteristics of cancer progression, including proliferation, metastasis, and drug resistance. Various medicines targeting EGFR have been developed and approved for several cancer types, such as lung and colon cancer. To date, however, EGFR inhibitors have not achieved satisfactory clinical results in breast cancer, which continues to be the most serious malignant tumor type in females. Therefore, clarifying the underlying mechanisms related to the ineffectiveness of EGFR inhibitors in breast cancer and developing new EGFR-targeted strategies (e.g., combination therapy) remain critical challenges. Various studies have demonstrated aberrant expression and maintenance of EGFR levels in breast cancer. In this review, we summarize the regulatory mechanisms underlying EGFR protein expression in breast cancer cells, including EGFR mutations, amplification, endocytic dysfunction, recycling acceleration, and degradation disorders. We also discuss potential therapeutic strategies that act directly or indirectly on EGFR, including reducing EGFR protein expression, treating the target protein to mediate precise clearance, and inhibiting non-EGFR signaling pathways. This review should provide new therapeutic perspectives for breast cancer patients with high EGFR expression.

TDP43 promotes stemness of breast cancer stem cells through CD44 variant splicing isoforms.

Alternative splicing (AS) is a promising clinical target for cancer treatment at the post-transcriptional level. We previously identified a unique AS profile in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), which is regulated by the splicing regulator TAR DNA-binding protein-43 (TDP43), thus indicating the crucial role of TDP43 in heterogeneous TNBC. Cluster of differentiation 44 (CD44), a widely recognized marker for breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs), is extensively spliced into CD44 variant AS isoforms (CD44v) during the development of breast cancer. At present, however, the regulatory mechanism of CD44v is not fully understood. In the current study, we found that loss of TDP43 inhibits BCSC stemness by reducing the abundance of CD44v. In addition, serine-arginine-rich splicing factor 3 (SRSF3), another splicing factor and partner of TDP43, acts as an upstream regulator of TDP43 to maintain CD44v isoforms and thereafter BCSC stemness. Mechanistically, SRSF3 stabilizes the mRNA of TDP43 by inhibiting nonsense-mediated decay (NMD). These findings illustrate the important role of complicated regulatory networks formed by splicing factors in TNBC progression, thus providing potential therapeutic targets from an AS perspective.

Rab13 Sustains Breast Cancer Stem Cells by Supporting Tumor-Stroma Cross-talk.

Cancer stem cells (CSC) are supported by the tumor microenvironment, and non-CSCs can regain CSC phenotypes in certain niches, leading to limited clinical benefits of CSC-targeted therapy. A better understanding of the mechanisms governing the orchestration of the CSC niche could help improve the therapeutic targeting of CSCs. Here, we report that Rab13, a small GTPase, is highly expressed in breast CSCs (BCSC). Rab13 depletion suppressed breast cancer cell stemness, tumorigenesis, and chemoresistance by reducing tumor-stroma cross-talk. Accordingly, Rab13 controlled the membrane translocation of C-X-C chemokine receptor type 1/2 (CXCR1/2), allowing tumor cells to interact with tumor-associated macrophages and cancer-associated fibroblasts to establish a supportive BCSC niche. Targeting the Rab13-mediated BCSC niche with bardoxolone-methyl (C-28 methyl ester of 2-cyano-3, 12-dioxoolen-1, 9-dien-28-oic acid; CDDO-Me) prevented BCSC stemness in vitro and in vivo. These findings highlight the novel regulatory mechanism of Rab13 in BCSC, with important implications for the development of therapeutic strategies for disrupting the BCSC niche. SIGNIFICANCE: Targeting Rab13 perturbs formation of the breast cancer stem cell niche by inhibiting cross-talk between cancer cells and the tumor microenvironment, providing a therapeutic opportunity for niche-targeted breast cancer treatment.

Muscle-generated BDNF (brain derived neurotrophic factor) maintains mitochondrial quality control in female mice.

Mitochondrial remodeling is dysregulated in metabolic diseases but the underlying mechanism is not fully understood. We report here that BDNF (brain derived neurotrophic factor) provokes mitochondrial fission and clearance in skeletal muscle via the PRKAA/AMPK-PINK1-PRKN/Parkin and PRKAA-DNM1L/DRP1-MFF pathways. Depleting Bdnf expression in myotubes reduced fatty acid-induced mitofission and mitophagy, which was associated with mitochondrial elongation and impaired lipid handling. Muscle-specific bdnf knockout (MBKO) mice displayed defective mitofission and mitophagy, and accumulation of dysfunctional mitochondria in the muscle when they were fed with a high-fat diet (HFD). These animals also have exacerbated body weight gain, increased intramyocellular lipid deposition, reduced energy expenditure, poor metabolic flexibility, and more insulin resistance. In contrast, consuming a BDNF mimetic (7,8-dihydroxyflavone) increased mitochondrial content, and enhanced mitofission and mitophagy in the skeletal muscles. Hence, BDNF is an essential myokine to maintain mitochondrial quality and function, and its repression in obesity might contribute to impaired metabolism.Abbreviation: 7,8-DHF: 7,8-dihydroxyflavone; ACACA/ACC: acetyl Coenzyme A carboxylase alpha; ACAD: acyl-Coenzyme A dehydrogenase family; ACADVL: acyl-Coenzyme A dehydrogenase, very long chain; ACOT: acyl-CoA thioesterase; CAMKK2: calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase kinase 2, beta; BDNF: brain derived neurotrophic factor; BNIP3: BCL2/adenovirus E1B interacting protein 3; BNIP3L/NIX: BCL2/adenovirus E1B interacting protein 3-like; CCL2/MCP-1: chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 2; CCL5: chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 5; CNS: central nervous system; CPT1B: carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1b, muscle; Cpt2: carnitine palmitoyltransferase 2; CREB: cAMP responsive element binding protein; DNM1L/DRP1: dynamin 1-like; E2: estrogen; EHHADH: enoyl-CoenzymeA hydratase/3-hydroxyacyl CoenzymeA dehydrogenase; ESR1/ER-alpha: estrogen receptor 1 (alpha); FA: fatty acid; FAO: fatty acid oxidation; FCCP: carbonyl cyanide-4-(trifluoromethoxy)phenylhydrazone; FFA: free fatty acids; FGF21: fibroblast growth factor 21; FUNDC1: FUN14 domain containing 1; HADHA: hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase trifunctional multienzyme complex subunit alpha; HFD: high-fat diet; iWAT: inguinal white adipose tissues; MAP1LC3A/LC3A: microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 alpha; MBKO; muscle-specific bdnf knockout; IL6/IL-6: interleukin 6; MCEE: methylmalonyl CoA epimerase; MFF: mitochondrial fission factor; NTRK2/TRKB: neurotrophic tyrosine kinase, receptor, type 2; OPTN: optineurin; PA: palmitic acid; PARL: presenilin associated, rhomboid-like; PDH: pyruvate dehydrogenase; PINK1: PTEN induced putative kinase 1; PPARGC1A/PGC-1α: peroxisome proliferative activated receptor, gamma, coactivator 1 alpha; PRKAA/AMPK: protein kinase, AMP-activated, alpha 2 catalytic subunit; ROS: reactive oxygen species; TBK1: TANK-binding kinase 1; TG: triacylglycerides; TNF/TNFα: tumor necrosis factor; TOMM20: translocase of outer mitochondrial membrane 20; ULK1: unc-51 like kinase 1.

Msi1 promotes breast cancer metastasis by regulating invadopodia-mediated extracellular matrix degradation via the Timp3-Mmp9 pathway.

Metastasis is the main cause of death in breast cancer patients. The initial step of metastasis is invadopodia-mediated extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation, which enables local breast tumor cells to invade surrounding tissues. However, the molecular mechanism underlying invadopodia-mediated metastasis remains largely unknown. Here we found that the RNA-binding protein Musashi1 (Msi1) exhibited elevated expression in invasive breast tumors and promoted lung metastasis of mammary cancer cells. Suppression of Msi1 reduced invadopodia formation in mammary cancer cells. Furthermore, Msi1 deficiency decreased the expression and activity of Mmp9, an important enzyme in ECM degradation. Mechanistically, Msi1 directly suppressed Timp3, an endogenous inhibitor of Mmp9. In clinical breast cancer specimens, TIMP3 and MSI1 levels were significantly inversely correlated both in normal breast tissue and breast cancer tissues and associated with overall survival in breast cancer patients. Taken together, our findings demonstrate that the MSI1-TIMP3-MMP9 cascade is critical for invadopodia-mediated onset of metastasis in breast cancer, providing novel insights into a promising therapeutic strategy for breast cancer metastasis.

GABRP sustains the stemness of triple-negative breast cancer cells through EGFR signaling.

Effective treatment regimens for triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) are relatively scarce due to a lack of specific therapeutic targets. Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling is highly active in TNBC and is associated with poor prognosis. Most EGFR antagonists, which significantly improve outcome in lung and colon cancer, have shown limited clinical effects in breast cancer. However, limiting EGFR expression in TNBC is a potential strategy for improving the clinical efficacy of EGFR antagonists. Here, we found that the gamma-aminobutyric acid type A receptor π subunit (GABRP), as a membrane protein enriched in TNBC stem cells, interacted with EGFR and significantly sustained its expression, resulting in stemness maintenance and chemotherapy resistance. Silencing GABRP induced down-regulation of EGFR signaling, which hindered cell stemness and enhanced sensitivity to chemotherapies, including paclitaxel, doxorubicin, and cisplatin. We also identified that retigabine, an FDA-approved drug for adjunctive treatment of seizures, increased the sensitivity of EGFR to gefitinib in gefitinib-resistant cells. Our findings show that GABRP can sustain the stemness of TNBC via modulating EGFR expression, suggesting that GABRP may be a potential therapeutic target that can address EGFR inhibitor resistance in TNBC.

Author Correction: MiR-31 promotes mammary stem cell expansion and breast tumorigenesis by suppressing Wnt signaling antagonists.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.

Single-cell profiling of long noncoding RNAs and their cell lineage commitment roles via RNA-DNA-DNA triplex formation in mammary epithelium.

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), which are crucial for organ development, exhibit cell-specific expression. Thus, transcriptomic analysis based on total tissue (bulk-seq) cannot accurately reflect the expression pattern of lncRNAs. Here, we used high-throughput single-cell RNA-seq data to investigate the role of lncRNAs using the hierarchical model of mammary epithelium. With our comprehensive annotation of the mammary epithelium, lncRNAs showed much greater cell-lineage specific expression than coding genes. The lineage-specific lncRNAs were functionally correlated with lineage commitment through the coding genes via the cis- and trans-effects of lncRNAs. For the working mechanism, lncRNAs formed a triplex structure with the DNA helix to regulate downstream lineage-specific marker genes. We used lncRNA-Carmn as an example to validate the above findings. Carmn, which is specifically expressed in mammary gland stem cells (MaSCs) and basal cells, positively regulated the Wnt signaling ligand Wnt10a through formation of a lncRNA-DNA-DNA triplex, and thus controlled the stemness of MaSCs. Our study suggests that lncRNAs play essential roles in cell-lineage commitment and provides an approach to decipher lncRNA functions based on single-cell RNA-seq data.

SGCE Promotes Breast Cancer Stem Cells by Stabilizing EGFR.

Breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs) are responsible for resistance to chemotherapy, high degree of metastasis, and poor prognosis, especially in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). The CD24lowCD44high and high aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 (ALDH1) cell subpopulation (CD24lowCD44high ALDH1+) exhibit very high tumor initiating capacity. In the current study, the upregulated genes are analyzed in both CD24lowCD44high and ALDH1+ cell populations at single-cell resolution, and a highly expressed membrane protein, SGCE, is identified in both BCSC populations. Further results show that SGCE depletion reduces BCSC self-renewal, chemoresistance, and metastasis both in vitro and in vivo, partially through affecting the accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM). For the underlying mechanism, SGCE functions as a sponge molecule for the interaction between epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and its E3 ubiquitination ligase (c-Cbl), and thus inhibits EGFR lysosomal degradation to stabilize the EGFR protein. SGCE knockdown promotes sensitivity to EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), providing new clues for deciphering the current failure of targeting EGFR in clinical trials and highlighting a novel candidate for BCSC stemness regulation.