Focal Adhesion Kinase and Wnt Signaling Regulate Human Ductal Carcinoma In Situ Stem Cell Activity and Response to Radiotherapy

• Cancer stem cells (CSCs) can avoid or efficiently repair DNA damage from radio and chemotherapy, which suggests they play a role in disease recurrence. Twenty percentage of patients treated with surgery and radiotherapy for ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) of the breast recur and our previous data show that high grade DCIS have increased numbers of CSCs. Here, we investigate the role of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and Wnt pathways in DCIS stem cells and their capacity to survive irradiation. Using DCIS cell lines and patient samples, we demonstrate that CSC-enriched populations are relatively radioresistant and possess high FAK activity. Immunohistochemical studies of active FAK in DCIS tissue show high expression was associated with a shorter median time to recurrence. Treatment with a FAK inhibitor or FAK siRNA in nonadherent and three-dimensional matrigel culture reduced mammosphere formation, and potentiated the effect of 2 Gy irradiation. Moreover, inhibition of FAK in vitro and in vivo decreased self-renewal capacity, levels of Wnt3a and B-Catenin revealing a novel FAK-Wnt axis regulating DCIS stem cell activity. Overall, these data establish that the FAK-Wnt axis is a promising target to eradicate self-renewal capacity and progression of human breast cancers.

Ämnesord

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Biologi -- Cellbiologi (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Biological Sciences -- Cell Biology (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Cancer stem cells

Breast

Focal adhesion kinase

Wnt

Radiotherapy

Spheres

MEDIATES RADIATION-RESISTANCE

BREAST-CONSERVING THERAPY

CANCER-INITIATING CELLS

MAMMALIAN CELLS

GENE-EXPRESSION

XENOGRAFT

MODEL

X-RAYS

FAK

TUMORIGENESIS

RECURRENCE

Cell & Tissue Engineering

Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology

Oncology

Cell Biology

Hematology

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