| 1. |
- Alves, Carla L., et al.
(författare)
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Co-targeting CDK4/6 and AKT with endocrine therapy prevents progression in CDK4/6 inhibitor and endocrine therapy-resistant breast cancer
- 2021
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Ingår i: Nature Communications. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2041-1723. ; 12:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- CDK4/6 inhibitors (CDK4/6i) combined with endocrine therapy have shown impressive efficacy in estrogen receptor-positive advanced breast cancer. However, most patients will eventually experience disease progression on this combination, underscoring the need for effective subsequent treatments or better initial therapies. Here, we show that triple inhibition with fulvestrant, CDK4/6i and AKT inhibitor (AKTi) durably impairs growth of breast cancer cells, prevents progression and reduces metastasis of tumor xenografts resistant to CDK4/6i-fulvestrant combination or fulvestrant alone. Importantly, switching from combined fulvestrant and CDK4/6i upon resistance to dual combination with AKTi and fulvestrant does not prevent tumor progression. Furthermore, triple combination with AKTi significantly inhibits growth of patient-derived xenografts resistant to combined CDK4/6i and fulvestrant. Finally, high phospho-AKT levels in metastasis of breast cancer patients treated with a combination of CDK4/6i and endocrine therapy correlates with shorter progression-free survival. Our findings support the clinical development of ER, CDK4/6 and AKT co-targeting strategies following progression on CDK4/6i and endocrine therapy combination, and in tumors exhibiting high phospho-AKT levels, which are associated with worse clinical outcome.
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| 2. |
- Bååth, Maria, et al.
(författare)
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MET Expression and Cancer Stem Cell Networks Impact Outcome in High-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer
- 2021
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Ingår i: Genes. - : MDPI AG. - 2073-4425. ; 12:5
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Overexpression of the receptor tyrosine kinase MET has been linked to poor survival in several cancer types, and MET has been suggested to interact with stem cell networks. In vitro studies have further suggested a possible benefit of a combined treatment using PARP and MET inhibitors. We used a tissue microarray (TMA) with 130 samples of advanced-stage high-grade serous fallopian tube/ovarian cancer (HGSC) to investigate the prognostic value of MET protein expression alone and in combination with the stem cell factor SOX2. The possible synergistic effects of a PARP and MET inhibitor treatment were evaluated in two cell lines with BRCA1 or BRCA2 deficiency and in their BRCA1/2-proficient counterparts. Patients with tumors positive for MET had worse overall survival (log-rank test, p = 0.015) compared to patients with MET-negative tumors. The prognostic role of MET was even more prominent in the subgroup of patients with SOX2-negative tumors (p = 0.0081). No synergistic effects of the combined treatment with PARP and MET inhibitors were found in the cell lines examined. We conclude that MET expression could be used as a marker for OS in HGSC and that stemness should be taken into consideration when evaluating the mechanisms of this effect.
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| 3. |
- Ciesla, Maciej, et al.
(författare)
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Oncogenic translation directs spliceosome dynamics revealing an integral role for SF3A3 in breast cancer
- 2021
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Ingår i: Molecular Cell. - : Elsevier BV. - 1097-2765. ; 81:7
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Splicing is a central RNA-based process commonly altered in human cancers; however, how spliceosomal components are co-opted during tumorigenesis remains poorly defined. Here we unravel the core splice factor SF3A3 at the nexus of a translation-based program that rewires splicing during malignant transformation. Upon MYC hyperactivation, SF3A3 levels are modulated translationally through an RNA stem-loop in an eIF3D-dependent manner. This ensures accurate splicing of mRNAs enriched for mitochondrial regulators. Altered SF3A3 translation leads to metabolic reprogramming and stem-like properties that fuel MYC tumorigenic potential in vivo. Our analysis reveals that SF3A3 protein levels predict molecular and phenotypic features of aggressive human breast cancers. These findings unveil a post-transcriptional interplay between splicing and translation that governs critical facets of MYC-driven oncogenesis.
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| 4. |
- Cirenajwis, Helena, et al.
(författare)
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Reduction of the putative CD44+CD24- breast cancer stem cell population by targeting the polyamine metabolic pathway with PG11047.
- 2010
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Ingår i: Anti-Cancer Drugs. - 0959-4973. ; 21:10, s. 897-906
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are considered to be of particular concern in cancer as they possess inherent properties of self-renewal and differentiation, along with expressing certain genes related to a mesenchymal phenotype. These features favour the promotion of tumour recurrence and metastasis in cancer patients. Thus, the optimal chemotherapeutic treatment should target the CSC population, either by killing these cells and/or by inducing their transition to a more differentiated epithelial-like phenotype. Experiments were carried out on the trastuzumab-resistant human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-overexpressing breast cancer cell line JIMT-1 to unravel the chemotherapeutic effects of the polyamine analogue [N,N]bis(ethyl)-cis-6,7-dehydrospermine (PG11047) and of the polyamine biosynthetic inhibitor 2-difluoromethylornithine (DFMO) on the CD44CD24 CSC population. Furthermore, effects on the properties of self-renewal and epithelial/mesenchymal markers were also investigated. Treatment with PG11047 reduced the CD44CD24 subpopulation of JIMT-1 cells by approximately 50%, inhibited and/or reduced self-renewal capability of the CSC population, decreased cell motility and induced expression of mesenchymal to epithelial transition-associated proteins that are involved in promoting an epithelial phenotype. By contrast, DFMO slightly increased the CD44CD24 subpopulation, increased cell motility and the level of mesenchymal-related proteins. DFMO treatment reduced the self-renewal capability of the CSC population. Both PG11047 and DFMO reduced the expression of the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 protein, which is correlated to malignancy and resistance to trastuzumab in JIMT-1 cells. Our findings indicate that treatment with PG11047 targeted the CSC population by interfering with several stem cell-related properties, such as self-renewal, differentiation, motility and the mesenchymal phenotype.
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| 5. |
- Honeth, Gabriella, et al.
(författare)
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Chemokine-directed migration of tumor-inhibitory neural progenitor cells towards an intracranially growing glioma.
- 2006
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Ingår i: Experimental Cell Research. - : Elsevier BV. - 1090-2422 .- 0014-4827. ; 312:8, s. 1265-1276
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We have earlier shown that the rat neural progenitor cell line HiB5 is capable of suppressing intracranial growth of glioma cells in Fisher rats. Unlike some neural progenitor cells, HiB5 cells have not shown homing capacity towards glioma cells growing intracranially. In this study, we have genetically modified HiB5 progenitor cells to over-express the chemokine receptor CXCR3. We show that the introduced receptor is functionally responding to ligand stimulation with increased phosphorylation levels of ERK and SAPK/JNK and a transcriptional response of an AP-1 reporter system introduced into HIB5 cells. These transfected progenitor cells migrate in vitro in response to IP-10 and I-TAC. Further, we show an enhanced in vivo migration of the CXCR3 transfected HiB5 cells over the corpus callosum towards an IP-10 and I-TAC expressing glioma, as compared to wild type HiB5 cells. Our data indicate that it is possible to take advantage of chemokines natural capacity to initiate migratory responses, and to use this ability to enhance tumor-inhibitory neural progenitor cells to target an intracranially growing glioma.
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| 6. |
- Honeth, Gabriella
(författare)
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Stem and progenitor cells in brain ad breast malignancies
- 2008
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Stem cells have qualities that clearly distinguish them from all other cells. Capabilities like self-renewal, differentiation and migration make them truly powerful. This thesis deals with different aspects of stem/progenitor cells in relation to cancer. Certain types of neural progenitor cells (NPCs) have been shown to possess a potential of tracking glioma cells in the brain. This makes them potentially very interesting as delivery vehicles in glioma therapy. In the first part of this thesis, we showed that certain NPCs have an ability of inhibiting tumor growth. We inoculated progenitor cells together with glioma cells in the nucleus caudatus of Fischer rats and saw a prolonged survival of the animals. We further demonstrated that we could enhance migration of these tumor-inhibitory NPCs to the site of glioma growth in a chemokine-dependent fashion. We introduced the chemokine receptor CXCR3 in the NPCs, and showed an enhanced migration of such overexpressing NPCs over the corpus callosum towards the glioma when inoculated at a distance from the tumor. In the second part of the thesis, we studied tumor-initiating cells in breast cancer. Tumors consist of a variety of cells with different features. A small population of cancer stem cells is believed to maintain this diversity. In breast cancer, a subpopulation of CD44+/CD24- cells is enriched for tumorigenic ability. We have stained human breast tumors for these markers and demonstrated a correlation of CD44+/CD24- tumor cells to basal-like and BRCA1 hereditary breast cancer. We also saw an increase of cells with the CD44+/CD24- phenotype when growing breast cancer cell lines with basal-like characteristics in non-adherent spherical clusters (mammospheres). Growing cells under such conditions enrich for cells with stem cell properties, as indicated by decreased proliferative rate and enhanced ability to generate new spheres from one single cell. We further showed an enhanced resistance to chemotherapeutic drugs for mammosphere-derived cells. In conclusion, stem and tumor cells seem to be linked in many ways, and increasing knowledge of their interactions could hopefully in the future lead to improved therapies against cancer.
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| 7. |
- Honeth, Gabriella, et al.
(författare)
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The CD44(+)/CD24(-) phenotype is enriched in basal-like breast tumors
- 2008
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Ingår i: Breast Cancer Research. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1465-5411 .- 1465-542X. ; 10:3
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Introduction Human breast tumors are heterogeneous and consist of phenotypically diverse cells. Breast cancer cells with a CD44(+)/CD24(-) phenotype have been suggested to have tumor-initiating properties with stem cell-like and invasive features, although it is unclear whether their presence within a tumor has clinical implications. There is also a large heterogeneity between tumors, illustrated by reproducible stratification into various subtypes based on gene expression profiles or histopathological features. We have explored the prevalence of cells with different CD44/CD24 phenotypes within breast cancer subtypes. Methods Double-staining immunohistochemistry was used to quantify CD44 and CD24 expression in 240 human breast tumors for which information on other tumor markers and clinical characteristics was available. Gene expression data were also accessible for a cohort of the material. Results A considerable heterogeneity in CD44 and CD24 expression was seen both between and within tumors. A complete lack of both proteins was evident in 35% of the tumors, while 13% contained cells of more than one of the CD44(+)/CD24(-), CD44(-)/CD24(+) and CD44(+)/CD24(+) phenotypes. CD44(+)/CD24(-) cells were detected in 31% of the tumors, ranging in proportion from only a few to close to 100% of tumor cells. The CD44(+)/CD24(-) phenotype was most common in the basal-like subgroup-characterized as negative for the estrogen and progesterone receptors as well as for HER2, and as positive for cytokeratin 5/14 and/or epidermal growth factor receptor, and particularly common in BRCA1 hereditary tumors, of which 94% contained CD44(+)/CD24(-) cells. The CD44(+)/CD24(-) phenotype was surprisingly scarce in HER2+ tumors, which had a predominantly CD24(+) status. A CD44(+)/CD24(-) gene expression signature was generated, which included CD44 and alpha(6)-integrin (CD49f) among the top-ranked overexpressed genes. Conclusion We demonstrate an association between basal-like and particularly BRCA1 hereditary breast cancer and the presence of CD44(+)/CD24(-) cells. Not all basal-like tumors and very few HER2+ tumors, however, contain CD44(+)/CD24(-) cells, emphasizing that a putative tumorigenic ability may not be confined to cells of this phenotype and that other breast cancer stem cell markers remain to be identified.
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| 8. |
- Kaminska, Kamila, et al.
(författare)
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Distinct mechanisms of resistance to fulvestrant treatment dictate level of ER independence and selective response to CDK inhibitors in metastatic breast cancer
- 2021
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Ingår i: Breast cancer research : BCR. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1465-5411 .- 1465-542X. ; 23:1, s. 26-26
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Resistance to endocrine treatment in metastatic breast cancer is a major clinical challenge. Clinical tools to predict both drug resistance and possible treatment combination approaches to overcome it are lacking. This unmet need is mainly due to the heterogeneity underlying both the mechanisms involved in resistance development and breast cancer itself.METHODS: To study the complexity of the mechanisms involved in the resistance to the selective estrogen receptor degrader (SERD) fulvestrant, we performed comprehensive biomarker analyses using several in vitro models that recapitulate the heterogeneity of developed resistance. We further corroborated our findings in tissue samples from patients treated with fulvestrant.RESULTS: We found that different in vitro models of fulvestrant resistance show variable stability in their phenotypes, which corresponded with distinct genomic alterations. Notably, the studied models presented adaptation at different cell cycle nodes to facilitate progression through the cell cycle and responded differently to CDK inhibitors. Cyclin E2 overexpression was identified as a biomarker of a persistent fulvestrant-resistant phenotype. Comparison of pre- and post-treatment paired tumor biopsies from patients treated with fulvestrant revealed an upregulation of cyclin E2 upon development of resistance. Moreover, overexpression of this cyclin was found to be a prognostic factor determining resistance to fulvestrant and shorter progression-free survival.CONCLUSIONS: These data highlight the complexity of estrogen receptor positive breast cancer and suggest that the development of diverse resistance mechanisms dictate levels of ER independence and potentially cross-resistance to CDK inhibitors.
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| 9. |
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| 10. |
- Olsson, Eleonor, et al.
(författare)
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CD44 isoforms are heterogeneously expressed in breast cancer and correlate with tumor subtypes and cancer stem cell markers.
- 2011
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Ingår i: BMC Cancer. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1471-2407. ; 11
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: The CD44 cell adhesion molecule is aberrantly expressed in many breast tumors and has been implicated in the metastatic process as well as in the putative cancer stem cell (CSC) compartment. We aimed to investigate potential associations between alternatively spliced isoforms of CD44 and CSCs as well as to various breast cancer biomarkers and molecular subtypes. METHODS: We used q-RT-PCR and exon-exon spanning assays to analyze the expression of four alternatively spliced CD44 isoforms as well as the total expression of CD44 in 187 breast tumors and 13 cell lines. ALDH1 protein expression was determined by IHC on TMA. RESULTS: Breast cancer cell lines showed a heterogeneous expression pattern of the CD44 isoforms, which shifted considerably when cells were grown as mammospheres. Tumors characterized as positive for the CD44+/CD24- phenotype by immunohistochemistry were associated to all isoforms except the CD44 standard (CD44S) isoform, which lacks all variant exons. Conversely, tumors with strong expression of the CSC marker ALDH1 had elevated expression of CD44S. A high expression of the CD44v2-v10 isoform, which retain all variant exons, was correlated to positive steroid receptor status, low proliferation and luminal A subtype. The CD44v3-v10 isoform showed similar correlations, while high expression of CD44v8-v10 was correlated to positive EGFR, negative/low HER2 status and basal-like subtype. High expression of CD44S was associated with strong HER2 staining and also a subgroup of basal-like tumors. Unsupervised hierarchical cluster analysis of CD44 isoform expression data divided tumors into four main clusters, which showed significant correlations to molecular subtypes and differences in 10-year overall survival. CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrate that individual CD44 isoforms can be associated to different breast cancer subtypes and clinical markers such as HER2, ER and PgR, which suggests involvement of CD44 splice variants in specific oncogenic signaling pathways. Efforts to link CD44 to CSCs and tumor progression should consider the expression of various CD44 isoforms.
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