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Colon cancer (COAD) is a leading cause of cancer mortality in the world. Most patients with COAD die as a result of cancer cell metastasis. However, the mechanisms underlying the metastatic phenotype of COAD remain unclear. Instead, particular features of the tumor microenvironment (TME) could predict adverse outcomes including metastasis in patients with COAD, and the role of TME in governing COAD progression is undeniable. Therefore, exploring the role of TME in COAD may help us better understand the molecular mechanisms behind COAD progression which may improve clinical outcomes and quality of patients. Here, we identified a Specific TME Regulatory Network including AEBP1, BGN, POST, and FAP (STMERN) that is highly involved in clinical outcomes of patients with COAD. Comprehensive in silico analysis of our study revealed that the STMERN is highly correlated with the severity of COAD. Meanwhile, our results reveal that the STMERN might be associated with immune infiltration in COAD. Importantly, we show that dihydroartemisinin (DHA) potentially interacts with the STMERN. We suggest that DHA might contribute to immune infiltration through regulating the STMERN in COAD. Taken together, our data provide a set of biomarkers of progression and poor prognosis in COAD. These findings could have potential prognostic and therapeutic implications in the progression of COAD.

Background/aim Metastasis to cervical lymph nodes of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) leads to a poor prognosis. The present study aimed at investigating the pathways and molecules associated with OSCC metastasis. Materials and methods The transcriptome between HSC-3 cells and their highly metastatic subline, HSC-3-M3 cells, was examined using gene expression microarray. Gene enrichment analyses and Ingenuity Pathway Analysis were performed. Kaplan-Meier plot analysis using a publicly available dataset was conducted to assess whether candidate molecules are prognosticators. Results A total of 1,018 genes were differentially expressed, and the inflammatory pathway and NF-kB were predicted to be activated in HSC-3-M3 cells. CSF2 was suggested to be an indicator of poor prognosis in head and neck cancers. Conclusion Inflammation and NF-kB may be involved in the metastasis of OSCC, and CSF2 is a promising diagnostic and therapeutic molecule. Moreover, HSC-3-M3 cells are a useful cell line model for studying OSCC progression.

Metastatic cancer is caused by hyperactivated lysosomes. Such activation causes a fungus, Aspergillus fumigatus, to permanently activate the AKT gene network that controls the lysosome through positive feedback loops. Targeting such a network by the redox balance change, and with an antifungal medication eliminates the metastatic phenotype, the complexity and robustness of the cancer. This principal mechanism of gene targeting, which suppressed metastasis of unknown origin, was observed clinically.

Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a step-wise process observed in normal and tumor cells leading to a switch from epithelial to mesenchymal phenotype. In tumors, EMT provides cancer cells with a metastatic phenotype characterized by E-cadherin down-regulation, cytoskeleton reorganization, motile and invasive potential. E-cadherin down-regulation is known as a key event during EMT. However, E-cadherin expression can be influenced by the different experimental settings and environmental stimuli so that the paradigm of EMT based on the loss of E-cadherin determining tumor cell behavior and fate often becomes an open question. In this review, we aimed at focusing on some critical points in order to improve the knowledge of the dynamic role of epithelial cells plasticity in EMT and, specifically, address the role of E-cadherin as a marker for the EMT axis.

Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) have the potential to predict metastasis, and the capture of CTCs based on their surface markers is mostly applied for CTC detection. Considering that the CTCs with a metastatic phenotype preferably form a metastatic focus and that aptamers have the ability to bind targets with high specificity and affinity, we selected aptamers directed toward metastatic cells by subtractive Cell-SELEX technology using highly metastatic MDA-MB-231 cells as the target cell and low-metastatic MCF-7 cells as the negative cell for the capture of metastatic CTCs. Affinity and selectivity assays showed that aptamer M3 had the highest affinity, with a KD of 45.6 ± 1.2 nM, and had good specificity against several other types of metastatic cancer cells. Based on these findings, we developed an M3-based capture system for CTC enrichment, which has the capability to specifically capture the metastatic cells MDA-MB-231 mixed with non-metastatic MCF-7 cells and CTCs derived from the peripheral blood from metastatic breast cancer patients. A further comparative analysis with the anti-EpCAM probe showed that M3 probe captured epithelial feature-deletion metastatic cells. We developed an aptamer-based CTC capture system through the selection of aptamers by taking whole metastatic cells, not known molecules, as targets, which provided a new insight into CTC capture and Cell-SELEX application., Graphical Abstract

Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are highly conserved molecular chaperones with divergent roles in various cellular processes. The HSPs are classified according to their molecular size as HSP27, HSP40, HSP60, HSP70, and HSP90. The HSPs prevent nonspecific cellular aggregation of proteins by maintaining their native folding energetics. The disruption of this vital cellular process, driven by the aberrant expression of HSPs, is implicated in the progression of several different carcinomas. Many HSPs are also actively involved in promoting the proliferation and differentiation of tumor cells, contributing to their metastatic phenotype. Upregulation of these HSPs is associated with the poor outcome of anticancer therapy in clinical settings. On the other hand, these highly expressed HSPs may be exploited as viable immunotherapeutic targets for different types of cancers. This review discusses recent advances and perspectives on the research of HSP-based cancer immunotherapy.

Not so long ago, the diagnosis of haematogenous metastases in a patient with a solid organ malignancy was synonymous with incurability and palliation. It was assumed that the appearance of the metastatic phenotype, even if at only one site, was the tip of the iceberg, and that it would only be a matter of time before synchronous but microscopic deposits would become clinically evident macroscopic metastases.

Tri-phenyl-phosphonium (TPP) is a non-toxic chemical moiety that functionally behaves as a mitochondrial targeting signal (MTS) in living cells. Here, we explored the hypothesis that TPP-related compounds could be utilized to inhibit mitochondria in cancer stem cells (CSCs). We randomly selected 9 TPP-related compounds for screening, using an ATP depletion assay. Based on this approach, five compounds were identified as "positive hits"; two had no detectable effect on ATP production. Remarkably, this represents a >50% hit rate. We validated that the five positive hit compounds all inhibited oxygen consumption rates (OCR), using the Seahorse XFe96 metabolic flux analyzer. Interestingly, these TPP-related compounds were non-toxic and had little or no effect on ATP production in normal human fibroblasts, but selectively targeted adherent "bulk" cancer cells. Finally, these positive hit compounds also inhibited the propagation of CSCs in suspension, as measured functionally using the 3D mammosphere assay. Therefore, these TPP-related compounds successfully inhibited anchorage-independent growth, which is normally associated with a metastatic phenotype. Interestingly, the most effective molecule that we identified contained two TPP moieties (i.e., bis-TPP). More specifically, 2- butene-1,4-bis-TPP potently and selectively inhibited CSC propagation, with an IC-50 < 500 nM. Thus, we conclude that the use of bis-TPP, a "dimeric" mitochondrial targeting signal, may be a promising new approach for the chemical eradication of CSCs. Future studies on the efficacy of 2-butene-1,4-bis-TPP and its derivatives are warranted. In summary, we show that TPP-related compounds provide a novel chemical strategy for effectively killing both i) "bulk" cancer cells and ii) CSCs, while specifically minimizing or avoiding off-target side-effects in normal cells. These results provide the necessary evidence that "normal" mitochondria and "malignant" mitochondria are truly biochemically distinct, removing a significant barrier to therapeutically targeting cancer metabolism.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most frequent cancers accounting for 12% of all deaths from cancer in Europe (2016). Furthermore, CRC patients are prone to develop metastases and have a poor prognosis underpinning the need for new targeted and broadly applicable therapeutic strategies. Tumor cell secretion contributes to hallmarks of cancer e.g. hyperproliferation, evasion of growth suppression and resistance to cell death. Dysregulated secretion is thus a driver of cancer progression and therefore holds promise as a general therapeutic target for the treatment of cancers. The overall aim of this study is to gain a quantitative understanding of the cancer secretome on a systems level to elucidate the influence of the microenvironment on selected players and vice versa the influence of the secretome in vitro and later on in vivo. In a first attempt to elucidate the role of secreted factors in colon cancer progression, we cultured 20 CRC cell lines (five PDX derived and 15 commercial lines) in 3D spheroid cultures and compared the secreted cytokine profile with the 2D culture conditions of the same CRC cell line panel. We analyzed 45 cytokines in duplicates by using a human specific magnetic bead-based assay. Of the 45 cytokines, 41 were detected at relevant levels in at least one cell line in either 2D or 3D. Four cytokines were exclusively secreted in a 3D setting: IFN alpha (tumorigenic), IL-17A (pro-inflammatory), TNF alpha (pro-inflammatory and tumorigenic) and VEGF-D (pro-metastatic). Every cell line displayed a distinct cytokine profile depending on the culture conditions. 13 lines showed more cytokines upregulated in 3D, four lines displayed more cytokines upregulated in 2D and 3 lines exhibited an equal number of cytokines up-regulated in the two culture conditions. Eleven cytokines were specifically higher secreted when the cells were cultured in 3D across the majority of the 20 cell lines. Most of them with pro-inflammatory, pro-angiogenic and tumorigenic capabilities. A cluster analysis helped to identify four clusters, two comprising mainly 3D cultured cell line and two primarily consisting of 2D datasets. The main discriminators for these four clusters were the secretion levels of VEGF-A, IL-1Ralpha and HGF. The thorough characterization of the secretome in different in vitro conditions revealed the influence of the tumor microenvironment on basic tumor characteristics like proliferation and invasiveness. Based on this data set we gained a quantitative understanding of the cancer secretome on a systems level. From here on we will further elucidate the influence of the microenvironment on selected players of the secretome and vice versa the influence of the secretome on tumor biology in vitro and later on in vivo. Citation Format: Jacqueline Bersano, Katharina Schaich, Kanstantsin Lashuk, Julia Schüler. Culturing colorectal cancer cell lines in 3D spheroid cultures drives their cytokine profile towards a pro-inflammatory, tumorigenic and highly metastatic phenotype [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2021; 2021 Apr 10-15 and May 17-21. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2021;81(13_Suppl):Abstract nr 2009.

// Billy Samuel Hill 1, * , Alessandra Pelagalli 1, 2, * , Nunzia Passaro 1 and Antonella Zannetti 1 1 Institute of Biostructures and Bioimaging (IBB), National Research Council (CNR), Naples, Italy 2 Department of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, University of Naples “Federico II”, Naples, Italy * Authors contributed equally to this work Correspondence to: Antonella Zannetti, email: antonella.zannetti@cnr.it Keywords: mesenchymal stem cells, tumor microenvironment, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, metastatic phenotype Received: February 03, 2017 Accepted: August 04, 2017 Published: August 14, 2017 ABSTRACT Multipotent mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are recruited into tumor microenvironment in response to multiple signals produced by cancer cells. Molecules involved in their homing to tumors are the same inflammatory mediators produced by injured tissues: chemokines, cytokines and growth factors. When MSCs arrive into the tumor microenvironment these are “educated” to have pro-metastatic behaviour. Firstly, they promote cancer immunosuppression modulating both innate and adaptive immune systems. Moreover, tumor associated-MSCs trans-differentiating into cancer-associated fibroblasts can induce epithelial-mesenchymal-transition program in tumor cells. This process determinates a more aggressive phenotype of cancer cells by increasing their motility and invasiveness and favoring their dissemination to distant sites. In addition, MSCs are involved in the formation and modelling of pre-metastatic niches creating a supportive environment for colonization of circulating tumor cells. The development of novel therapeutic approaches targeting the different functions of MSCs in promoting tumor progression as well as the mechanisms underlying their activities could enhance the efficacy of conventional and immune anti-cancer therapies. Furthermore, many studies report the use of MSCs engineered to express different genes or as vehicle to specifically deliver novel drugs to tumors exploiting their strong tropism. Importantly, this approach can enhance local therapeutic efficacy and reduce the risk of systemic side effects.

Background: Oligometastatic disease has emerged as a possibly distinct metastatic phenotype in numerous cancer histologies. With the advancement in treatment modalities including stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT), certain patients may derive benefits from local ablative therapy. SBRT alone has already shown to have potential benefits in certain oligometastatic disease types. However, more understanding of the immunologic modulation and microenvironment is needed to guide which patients may benefit from SBRT alone or with combination therapy, if at all. Purpose: The purpose of this review is to offer an update on the emerging data testing SBRT combined with immunotherapy, review the pro-inflammatory and immunosuppressive effects of the tumor microenvironment, discuss novel molecular targets used to augment the immune response, and review potential methods used to decrease toxicity in order to improve the therapeutic ratio.

The IL-1 family of cytokines currently comprises of seven ligands with pro-inflammatory activity (IL-1α and IL-1β, IL-18, IL-33, IL-36α, IL-36β, IL-36γ) as well as two ligands with anti-inflammatory activity (IL-37, IL-38). These cytokines are known to play a key role in modulating both the innate and adaptive immunes response, with dysregulation linked to a variety of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Given the increasing appreciation of the link between inflammation and cancer, the role of several members of this family in the pathogenesis of cancer has been extensively investigated. In this review, we highlight both the pro- and anti-tumorigenic effects identified for almost all members of this family, and explore potential underlying mechanisms accounting for these divergent effects. Such dual functions need to be carefully assessed when developing therapeutic intervention strategies targeting these cytokines in cancer.

253 Background: Perineural Invasion (PNI) is defined as malignant epithelial cell invasion of the perineural space and nerves. Despite widespread acknowledgement of the clinical significance of PNI as a PCa pathological finding associated with recurrence, increased risk of bone metastasis and poor survival, the molecular mechanism underlying this pathology is relatively unknown. The malignant epithelial cells within the PNI potentially provides a spatially defined “snapshot” of disease progression, as the cells switch to a more migrational phenotype associated with metastatic progression. Here we present the initial spatial PNI phenotypic characterisation in PCa. Methods: Archival FFPE blocks, with associated full clinical history, from patients who underwent a radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer were retrieved under research ethics REC#07/H1003/161+5 10_NOCL_02. Biomarkers EphA2, pEphA2s897, pMLC2, E-Cadherin, Vimentin, TOMM20, MTC01, NDUFB8, PTEN were assessed on 4µm serial sections stained using a multiplex TSA protocol, with S100, pan-cytokeratin and DAPI acting as landmarks, on a Ventana Discovery platform prior to scanning on a Versa 3 platform with Halo image analysis. Prostate zones were defined at 500µm intervals either side of the prostate capsule. Univariate and multivariate (hierarchical clustering, UMap clustering) expression analysis and correlation with clinic-pathological features was conducted within R. Results: The PNI epithelial cells within each spatial zone of the prostate are significantly different to each other (Kruskal-Wallis test p < 2.2x10−16 except for MTC01 p = 5.3x10−10). In comparison with the local tumour lesion, PNI epithelial cells localised within 1000µm of the prostate edge and outside the tumour lesion, have undergone a migrational switch, gaining features associated with an activated metastatic phenotype, with increased expression of amoeboid signalling (EphA2, pEphA2s897, pMLC2) and mitochondrial defects (loss of Complex I and IV, gain of mitochondrial mass (TOMM20)). Patients clustering by multivariate expression trends across the prostate regions showed 4 distinct patient groups, with PNI epithelial cells in patient group 1 & 2 displaying a more epithelial to mesenchymal (EMT) phenotype, especially in the first 1000µm inside the prostate organ. Conclusions: Cells within PNI close to the edge of the prostate have features consistent with a switch to migrational/metastatic activation in contrast to the more indolent cell type found deeper within the tumour. Further characterisation of this localised migrational upregulation will help in understanding the transition from a localised to a metastatic phenotype.

The involvement of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is well established in human breast cancer, however, in canine mammary tumours (CMT), including inflammatory mammary carcinomas (IMC), still needs to be clarified. Enzyme immune assay techniques were used for EGFR determinations in tumour tissue from 45 bitches with CMT and in normal mammary glands from eight control dogs. Higher tissue EGFR levels were found in CMT compared with controls (P < 0.05). In malignant CMT, tissue EGFR elevated concentrations were statistically significantly associated with tumour relapse and/or distant metastasis during follow-up and with reduced disease-free and overall survival times. The IMC cases had the highest tissue EGFR levels compared with other malignant non-IMC tumours (P < 0.001). The results support the hypothesis that EGFR levels influence prognosis in malignant CMT, suggesting that EGFR may represent a therapeutic target in cases of high histological aggressiveness and especially in cases of metastatic phenotype and poor prognosis.

// Seung Yeob Yang 1,* , Seung Ah Choi 2,3,* , Ji Yeoun Lee 2,3,4 , Ae-Kyung Park 5 , Kyu-Chang Wang 2,3 , Ji Hoon Phi 2,3 , Eun Jung Koh 1 , Woong-Yang Park 6,7 , Sung-Hye Park 8 , Do Won Hwang 9 , Hee Won Jung 3 and Seung-Ki Kim 2,3 1 Department of Neurosurgery, Dongguk University Ilsan Hospital, Dongguk University, Seoul, Korea 2 Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Pediatric Clinical Neuroscience Center, Seoul National University Children’s Hospital, Seoul, Korea 3 Department of Neurosurgery, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea 4 Department of Anatomy, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea 5 College of Pharmacy, Sunchon National University, Jeonnam, Korea 6 Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Suwon, Korea 7 Translational Genomics Laboratory, Samsung Genome Institute, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul, Korea 8 Department of Pathology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea 9 Department of Nuclear Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea * These authors have contributed equally to this study Correspondence to: Seung-Ki Kim, email: // Keywords : medulloblastoma, microRNA-192, integrins, CD47, dihydrofolate reductase Received : March 31, 2015 Accepted : October 14, 2015 Published : October 25, 2015 Abstract Background The main cause of death in medulloblastoma is recurrence associated with leptomeningeal dissemination. During this process, the role of microRNAs (miRs) in the acquisition of metastatic phenotype remains poorly understood. This study aimed to identify the miR involved in leptomeningeal dissemination and to elucidate its biological functional mechanisms. Materials and methods We analyzed the miR expression profiles of 29 medulloblastomas according to the presence of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) seeding. Differentially expressed miRs (DEmiRs) were validated in 29 medulloblastoma tissues and three medulloblastoma cell lines. The biological functions of the selected miRs were evaluated using in vitro and in vivo studies. Results A total of 12 DEmiRs were identified in medulloblastoma with seeding, including miR-192. The reduced expression of miR-192 was confirmed in the tumor seeding group and in the medulloblastoma cells. Overexpression of miR-192 inhibited cellular proliferation by binding DHFR . miR-192 decreased cellular anchoring via the repression of ITGAV, ITGB1, ITGB3 , and CD47 . Animals in the miR-192-treated group demonstrated a reduction of spinal seeding ( P < 0.05) and a significant survival benefit ( P < 0.05). Conclusions Medulloblastoma with seeding showed specific DEmiRs compared with those without. miR-192 suppresses leptomeningeal dissemination of medulloblastoma by modulating cell proliferation and anchoring ability.

Background: Breast cancer brain metastases have poor prognosis and few treatment options. When breast cancer cells invade the brain, they interact with the vasculature and resident brain cells, including microglia and astrocytes. We hypothesize that brain cells produce factors that enhance the growth and invasion of breast cancer cells in the brain. Methods: Human breast cancer cell lines (MDA-MB231BR-HER2 and HCC1954) were inoculated intracranially in athymic rats as xenograft models of brain metastasis. Brains were analyzed for protumorigenic factor expression in the tumor microenvironment using fluorescent immunohistochemistry. In vitro assays assessed factors involved in breast cancer cell proliferation, morphology, and migration. Results: The brain tumor xenografts showed infiltration into the perivascular space. Galectin-3 (Gal3) colocalized with reactive microglia in and around the tumors. In vitro, Gal3 increased HCC1954 cell proliferation and migration. In transwell coculture assays, BV2 microglial cells increased the migration of HCC1954 breast cancer cells >25 fold, which was prevented by cilengitide, an inhibitor of alpha(v)beta(3)-integrin cell adhesion protein. ELISA analysis demonstrated that BV2 microglia secrete Gal3 in the presence of HCC1954 cells. Gal3 is known to bind and induce clustering of alpha(v)beta(3)-integrin, which is expressed on metastatic breast cancer cells. Immunohistochemistry of clinical specimens revealed that Gal3 is expressed in/around human breast cancer brain metastases. Conclusions: These data suggest that factors produced in the tumor microenvironment promote the growth and migration of breast cancer cells in the brain. Gal3, produced and secreted by activated microglia in vitro and expressed in and around brain metastases, increases the invasive capability of breast cancer cells. The interactions of neoplastic cells with the brain environment may provide a target to improve therapy of brain metastases. Citation Format: Cymon N. Kersch, DreeAnna F. Morris, Leslie L. Muldoon, Edward A. Neuwelt. Microglial galectin-3 enhances the metastatic phenotype of breast cancer cells in brain metastases [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy; 2019 Nov 17-20; Boston, MA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Immunol Res 2020;8(3 Suppl):Abstract nr A89.

An integrative approach is presented to identify grade-specific biomarkers for breast cancer. Grade-specific molecular interaction networks were constructed with differentially expressed genes (DEGs) of cancer grade 1, 2, and 3. We observed that the molecular network of grade3 is predominantly associated with cancer-specific processes. Among the top ten connected DEGs in the grade3, the increase in the expression of UBE2C and CCNB2 genes was statistically significant across different grades. Along with UBE2C and CCNB2 genes, the CDK1, KIF2C, NDC80, and CCNB2 genes are also profoundly expressed in different grades and reduce the patient's survival. Gene set enrichment analysis of these six genes reconfirms their role in metastatic phenotype. Moreover, the coexpression network shows a strong association of these six genes promotes cancer specific biological processes and possibly drives cancer from lower to a higher grade. Collectively the identified genes can act as potential biomarkers for breast cancer diagnosis and prognosis.

Aging is a major risk factor for developing cancer, suggesting that these two events may represent two sides of the same coin. It is becoming clear that some mechanisms involved in the aging process are shared with tumorigenesis, through convergent or divergent pathways. Increasing evidence supports a role for mitochondrial dysfunction in promoting aging and in supporting tumorigenesis and cancer progression to a metastatic phenotype. Here, a summary of the current knowledge of three aspects of mitochondrial biology that link mitochondria to aging and cancer is presented. In particular, the focus is on mutations and changes in content of the mitochondrial genome, activation of mitochondria-to-nucleus signaling and the newly discovered mitochondria-telomere communication.

Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are promising biomarkers in prostate cancer (PC) because they derive from primary tumor and metastatic tissues. In this study, we used quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) to compare the expression profiles of 41 PC-related genes between paired CTC and spinal column metastasis samples from 22 PC patients that underwent surgery for spinal cord compression. We observed good concordance between the gene expression profiles in the CTC and metastasis samples in most of the PC patients. Expression of nine genes (AGR2, AKR1C3, AR, CDH1, FOLH1, HER2, KRT19, MDK, and SPINK1) showed a significant correlation between the CTC and metastasis samples. Hierarchical clustering analysis showed a similar grouping of PC patients based on the expression of these nine genes in both CTC and metastasis samples. Our findings demonstrate that CTCs mirror gene expression patterns in tissue metastasis samples from PC patients. Although low detection frequency of certain genes is a limitation in CTCs, our results indicate the potential for CTC phenotyping as a tool to improve individualized therapy in metastatic prostate cancer.

WOS: 000437989600007 Background: Early detection of breast cancer is a key to the success of breast cancer management. Serum proteome analysis using Surface-Enhanced Laser Desorption/Ionization Time-Of-Flight Mass Spectrometry (SELDI-TOF-MS) generates useful information that can be utilized to describe exclusive prognostic and diagnostic biomarkers. Objective: This study aimed to use proteomics and bioinformatics to identify new biomarkers during the metastatic process of breast cancers that were classified as invasive lobular cancer or invasive ductal cancer. Method: Blood samples from 64 breast cancer patients [36 with invasive ductal cancer (14 of whom were lymph node positive); 28 with invasive lobular cancer (8 of whom were lymph node positive] were analyzed using IMAC 30 protein chips. The data acquired from the spectra were processed with univariate statistical analysis (Protein Chip Data Manager Software). Results: One-hundred-eighteen clusters were generated from the individual serum samples. Thirty-six proteins of the metastatic phenotype were found to be diagnostically accurate in cluster analysis. In the breast cancer group, a single candidate peak (m/z 1090.8) that was able to discriminate the metastatic progression was identified as a metastatic phenotype marker. Fifteen protein peaks were identified as markers to separate the histopathological subtypes as either invasive ductal cancer or invasive lobular cancer. Conclusion: In recent years, proteomic methods have rapidly become widespread in breast cancer research. This study revealed the pattern of a group of proteins that were not previously identified and are recommended as candidate markers to diagnose metastatic progression.

The majority of cancer-related deaths result from metastasis, the process by which cancer cells escape the primary tumor site and enter into the blood circulation in order to disseminate to secondary locations throughout the body. Tumor cells found within the circulation are referred to as circulating tumor cells (CTCs), and their detection and enumeration correlate with poor prognosis. The epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a dynamic process that imparts epithelial cells with mesenchymal-like properties, thus facilitating tumor cell dissemination and contributing to metastasis. However, EMT also results in the downregulation of various epithelial proteins typically utilized by CTC technologies for enrichment and detection of these rare cells, resulting in reduced detection of some CTCs, potentially those with a more metastatic phenotype. In addition to the current clinical role of CTCs as a prognostic biomarker, they also have potential as a predictive biomarker via CTC characterization. However, CTC characterization is complicated by the unknown biological significance of CTCs possessing an EMT-like phenotype, and the ability to capture and understand this CTC subpopulation is an essential step in the utilization of CTCs for patient management. This chapter will review the process of EMT and its contribution to metastasis; discusses current and future clinical applications of CTCs; and describes both traditional and novel methods for CTC enrichment, detection, and characterization with a specific focus on CTCs with an EMT phenotype.

// Vincenza Ciaramella 1 , Carminia Maria Della Corte 1 , Concetta Di Mauro 2 , Stefano Tomassi 3 , Salvatore Di Maro 3 , Teresa Troiani 1 , Erika Martinelli 1 , Roberto Bianco 2 , Sandro Cosconati 3 , Riccardo Pierantoni 4 , Rosaria Meccariello 5 , Rosanna Chianese 4 , Fortunato Ciardiello 1 and Floriana Morgillo 1 1 Oncologia Medica, Dipartimento di Internistica Clinica e Sperimentale “F. Magrassi”, Universita degli Studi della Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Naples, Italy 2 Oncologia Medica, Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Chirurgia, Universita degli Studi di Napoli “Federico II”, Naples, Italy 3 DISTABIF, Universita degli Studi della Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Caserta, Italy 4 Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale sez ‘F. Bottazzi’, Universita degli Studi della Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Naples, Italy 5 Dipartimento di Scienze Motorie e del Benessere, Universita di Napoli Parthenope, Napoli, Italy Correspondence to: Floriana Morgillo, email: florianamorgillo@yahoo.com Keywords: mesothelioma; KiSS1; biomarker; metastasis; EMT Received: February 03, 2018 Accepted: February 27, 2018 Published: April 10, 2018 ABSTRACT Purpose: Kisspeptin signaling, via its receptors GPR54, could be an essential players in the inhibition of mesothelioma progression, invasion and metastasis formation. The loss of KiSS1 by tumor cells has been associated with a metastatic phenotype but the mechanistic insights of this process are still unknown. Experimental design: The blockade of the metastatic process at early stage is a hot topic in cancer research. We studied the role of KiSS1 on proliferation, invasiveness, migration abilities of mesothelioma cell lines focusing on the effect on epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Results: Treatment with the KiSS1 peptide or with a synthesis peptide with longer half-life, the FTM080, significantly inhibited cell proliferation, migration and invasion of mesothelioma cell lines; the same treatment reduced the activity of MMP-2 and MMP-9 determining consequently a marked reduction in the invasiveness of primary tumors and metastases. Thespecificexpression of EMT markers, as E-caderin, Vimentin, Slug and Snail, suggested the inhibition of EMT after treatment with KiSS1 as well as the preservation of epithelial components. Conclusion: Our results support anti-proliferative effect of KiSS1 in cancer cells and suggest that targeting the KiSS1/GPR54 system may represent a novel therapeutic approach for mesothelioma.

Fra-1, a component of the transcription factor AP-1 family, has been found to be overexpressed in carcinomas with high metastatic potential such as in triple-negative breast cancer. The effect of Fra-1 on the morphology, motility and invasive potential of breast cancer cells has been previously described. Since tumor cell adhesion plays an essential role in the metastatic process, especially for extravasation from blood vessels, we investigated the influence of Fra-1 on breast cancer cell interactions with the endothelium. Using the human breast cancer cell lines MCF7 (weakly invasive, estrogen receptor (ER)-positive) and MDA MB 231 (strongly invasive, ER-negative) with stable Fra-1 overexpression, we performed dynamic cell-flow adhesion assays on surfaces coated with E-selectin or with human pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells (HPMEC). Our analyses revealed increased adhesion of Fra-1 overexpressing MCF7 cells to E-selectin but also to activated endothelial cells, whereas the per se highly invasive and Fra-1-positive MDA MB 231 cell line showed enhanced cell rolling and tethering on E-selectin and endothelium-coated surfaces, but no increased firm adhesion after Fra-1 overexpression. These different behaviors correspond to an up-regulation of various adhesion-related proteins such as CD44, Integrin α5 and CEACAM6 in Fra-1 overexpressing MCF7 cells measured by microarray analysis and flow cytometry in comparison to weaker differences in the expression of adhesion molecules found in the Fra-1 overexpressing MDA MB 231 cell line. In line with these results and based on cDNA microarray data of breast cancer patients (n=175) high Fra-1 expression significantly correlates with shorter overall survival and higher rate of lung metastasis in ER-positive breast cancer patients (n=130), but has no impact on the prognosis of patients with ER-negative tumors. Thus, in addition to its pro-invasive and pro-migratory effect, Fra-1 might influence the metastatic potential of breast cancer cells by changing the expression of adhesion molecules resulting in increased adherence to endothelial cells under flow conditions. Citation Format: Leticia Oliveira-Ferrer, Melanie Kürschner, Vera Labitzky, Daniel Wicklein, Volkmar Müller, Udo Schumacher, Karin Milde-Langosch, Christine Schröder. Transcription factor Fra-1 modulates the adhesive properties of breast cancer cells contributing to a metastatic phenotype [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Thirty-Seventh Annual CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium: 2014 Dec 9-13; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(9 Suppl):Abstract nr P1-07-17.

Melanoma is the most lethal cutaneous cancer with a highly aggressive and metastatic phenotype. While recent genetic and epigenetic studies have shed new insights into the mechanism of melanoma development, the involvement of regulatory non-coding RNAs remain unclear. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are a group of endogenous non-protein-coding RNAs with the capacity to regulate gene expression at multiple levels. Recent evidences have shown that lncRNAs can regulate many cellular processes, such as cell proliferation, differentiation, migration and invasion. In the melanoma, deregulation of a number of lncRNAs, such as HOTAIR, MALAT1, BANCR, ANRIL, SPRY-IT1 and SAMMSON, have been reported. Our review summarizes the functional role of lncRNAs in melanoma and their potential clinical application for diagnosis, prognostication and treatment.

According to a generally accepted theory development of a tumor is the results of an arrest or blockage in the differential pathway of a given cell. Most neoplasms have a reasonably constant, exponential growth rate throughout the majority of their life span. This is an important biological feature in neoplasia because it predicts the length of time required for a single neoplastic cell to reach a mass of 1 cm in diameter. This is approximately 30 population doublings and is three times longer than the length of time required to grow from 1 cm to a near lethal 1 kg mass (which requires only an additional 10 population doublings). Thus, about 75% of the life span of (untreated) neoplasms occurs prior to development of symptoms, since small tumors are generally clinically silent. It is especially sobering to note that, on average, carcinomas require a metastatic phenotype (or characteristics) between the 8th and 12th population doubling.

// Ibtissem Djaafri 1,2,* , Farah Khayati 1,2,3,* , Suzanne Menashi 4 , Jorg Tost 5,6 , Marie-Pierre Podgorniak 3 , Aurelie Sadoux 1,3 , Antoine Daunay 6 , Luis Teixeira 7 , Jean Soulier 2,8 , Ahmed Idbaih 9,10 , Niclas Setterblad 1,2 , Francoise Fauvel 1,2 , Fabien Calvo 1,2 , Anne Janin 2,11,12 , Celeste Lebbe 2,13,14 and Samia Mourah 1,2 1 Inserm UMR-S 940 Paris, France 2 Institute of Hematology (IUH), U niversite Paris-Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cite, Paris, France 3 AP-HP, Hopital Saint-Louis, Laboratoire de Pharmacologie-Genetique, Paris, France 4 Universite Paris Est Creteil, CNRS-UMR; Creteil, France 5 Laboratory for Epigenetics, Centre National de Genotypage, CEA-Institut de Genomique, Evry, France 6 Laboratory for Functional Genomics, Fondation Jean Dausset - CEPH, Paris, France 7 AP-HP ; Hopital Saint-Louis, Service d’oncologie medicale, Paris, France 8 Hematology Laboratory APHP, Saint-Louis Hospital, Paris, France 9 AP-HP, Groupe Hospitalier Pitie-Salpetriere, Service de Neurologie 2-Mazarin, Paris, France 10 Inserm U 975, Paris, 75013 France, CNRS, UMR, Paris, France 11 Inserm, U728, Paris, France 12 AP-HP, Hopital Saint-Louis, Laboratoire de Pathologie, Paris, France 13 AP-HP, Hopital Saint-Louis, Departement de Dermatologie, Paris, France 14 Inserm U976, Paris, France * These Authors contributed equally to this work Correspondence: Samia Mourah, email: // Keywords : Tumor suppressor gene, Kindlin-3, Invasion/Migration, metastasis, Integrins Received : May 26, 2014 Accepted : June 18, 2014 Published : June 20, 2014 Abstract Kindlin-3 (FERMT-3) is known to be central in hemostasis and thrombosis control and its deficiency disrupts platelet aggregation and causes Leukocyte Adhesion Deficiency disease. Here we report that Kindlin-3 has a tumor suppressive role in solid cancer. Our present genetic and functional data show that Kindlin-3 is downregulated in several solid tumors by a mechanism involving gene hypermethylation and deletions. In vivo experiments demonstrated that Kindlin-3 knockdown in 2 tumor cell models (breast cancer and melanoma) markedly increases metastasis formation, in accord with the in vitro increase of tumor cell malignant properties. The metastatic phenotype was supported by a mechanism involving alteration in β3-integrin activation including decreased phosphorylation, interaction with talin and the internalization of its active form leading to less cell attachment and more migration/invasion. These data uncover a novel and unexpected tumor suppressor role of Kindin-3 which can influence integrins targeted therapies development.

Epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) and cellular invasiveness are two pivotal processes for the development of metastatic tumor phenotypes. The metastatic profile of non-metastatic MCF-7 cells growing as multi-cellular tumor microspheroids (MCTSs) was analyzed by determining the contents of the EMT, invasive and migratory proteins, as well as their migration and invasiveness potential and capacity to secrete active cytokines such as the glucose phosphate isomerase/AMF (GPI/AMF). As for the control, the same analysis was also performed in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 (highly metastatic, MDA) monolayer cells, and in stage IIIB and IV human metastatic breast biopsies. The proliferative cell layers (PRL) of mature MCF-7 MCTSs, MDA monolayer cells and metastatic biopsies exhibited increased cellular contents (2–15 times) of EMT (β-catenin, SNAIL), migratory (vimentin, cytokeratin, and fibronectin) and invasive (MMP-1, VEGF) proteins versus MCF-7 monolayer cells, quiescent cell layers of mature MCF-7 MCTS and non-metastatic breast biopsies. The increase in metastatic proteins correlated with substantially elevated cellular abilities for migration (18-times) and invasiveness (13-times) and with the higher level (6-times) of the cytokine GPI/AMF in the extracellular medium of PRL, as compared to MCF-7 monolayer cells. Interestingly, the addition of the GPI/AMF inhibitors erythrose-4-phosphate or 6-phosphogluconate at micromolar doses significantly decreased its extracellular activity (> 80%), with a concomitant diminution in the metastatic protein content and migratory tumor cell capacity, and with no inhibitory effect on tumor lactate production or toxicity on 3T3 mouse fibroblasts. The present findings provide new insights into the discovery of metabolic inhibitors to be used as complementary therapy against metastatic and aggressive tumors.

Aberrant activation of the HGF/MET signaling axis has been strongly implicated in the malignant transformation and progression of gastroesophageal cancer (GEC). MET receptor overexpression in tumor samples from GEC patients has been consistently correlated with an aggressive metastatic phenotype and poor prognosis. In preclinical GEC models, abrogation of HGF/MET signaling has been shown to induce tumor regression as well as inhibition of metastatic dissemination. Promising clinical results in patient subsets in which MET is overexpressed have spurned several randomized studies of HGF/MET-directed agents, including two pivotal global Phase III trials. Available data highlight the need for predictive biomarkers in order to select patients most likely to benefit from HGF/MET inhibition. In this review, we discuss the current knowledge of mechanisms of MET activation in GEC, the current status of the clinical evaluation of MET-targeted therapies in GEC, characteristics of ongoing randomized GEC trials and the associated efforts to identify and validate biomarkers. We also discuss the considerations and challenges for HGF/MET inhibitor drug development in the GEC setting.

Background In dogs with appendicular osteosarcoma (OSA), increased pretreatment serum bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BALP) activity is a negative prognostic factor, associated with shorter disease-free intervals and survival times, but a biologic basis for observed differential serum BALP activities in canine OSA patients remains incompletely defined. Objective Serum BALP activity will correlate with absolute tumor burden in dogs with OSA. Animals This study included 96 client-owned dogs with appendicular OSA. Methods In canine OSA cell lines, the expression and membranous release of BALP was evaluated in vitro. The correlation between serum BALP activity and radiographic primary tumor size was evaluated in OSA-bearing dogs. In dogs developing visceral OSA metastases, serial changes in serum BALP activities were evaluated in relation to progression of macroscopic metastases, and visceral metastatic OSA cells were evaluated for BALP expression. Results In vitro, BALP expression was not associated with either tumorigenic or metastatic phenotype, rather the quantity of membranous BALP released was proportional with cell density. In dogs devoid of macroscopic metastases, there was a positive correlation between serum BALP activity and absolute primary tumor size. In dogs with progressive OSA metastases, serum BALP activity increased and coincided with the development of macroscopic metastases. OSA cells derived from visceral metastatic lesions retained BALP expression. Conclusions and Clinical Importance Tumor burden is a determinant of serum BALP activity in dogs with appendicular OSA. The association between increased pretreatment BALP activity and negative clinical prognosis may simply be attributed to greater initial tumor burden, and consequently more advanced tumor stage.