Abstract : The aim of this project is to determine which parts of the matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) genes cause those genes to be over-expressed in breast cancer, contributing to invasion and metastasis. It was determined that breast cancer cells can be classified into two types: one type retains its epithelial characteristics, the other has lost them by undergoing an epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) . The MMPs in each cell type are up- regulated by distinct molecular mechanisms. Gelatinase B is produced at an unusually high level by the epithelial cells, requiring no stimulus from the other cell type. In contrast, the cells that have undergone an EMT up-regulate their MMPs in response to a factor secreted by the epithelial cells. Using MMP promoters linked to measurable reporter genes, it was determined that the constitutively high levels of gelatinase B production are mediated through the region upstream of the proximal promoter, whereas the high inducible levels of MMP production in the cells that have undergone an EMT are not mediated through the upstream regions. Thus, the mechanism determining high MMP production by breast cancer cells depends on the state of differentiation of the cells.
A metastatic rat mammary carcinoma cell line, BC1, contains cells that have retained epithelial differentiation characteristics and metaplastic cells that have undergone an epithelial-mesenchymal transition. These two subpopulations cooperate to degrade collagen. We have used novel PCR assays to quantitate, for the first time, absolute levels of the mRNAs encoding matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) in cell and tumor samples. BC1 tumors expressed high levels of the collagenase-3, TIMP-2, stromelysin-1, and gelatinase B genes and low levels of the stromelysin-2 and TIMP-1 genes. This pattern of expression was repeated in cultures of BC1 and cultures containing mixed clones of epithelial cells and metaplastic cells. In both BC1 and the biclonal cultures, metaplastic cells were the main source of collagenase-3, stromelysin-1 and stromelysin-2, whereas TIMPs were equally distributed and epithelial cells were the main source of gelatinase B. High levels of all four MMP mRNAs in metaplastic cells were dependent on coculture with epithelial cells, suggesting the production of an inducing factor by the epithelial cells. In contrast, gelatinase B mRNA was produced at a high level by epithelial cells in the absence of metaplastic cells. TIMP-2 mRNA was abundant in both subpopulations grown alone and did not change substantially upon coculture. Thus, the interclonal cooperativity to degrade collagen in BC1 cells required the induction of MMPs in metaplastic cells by epithelial cells. Interclonal cooperativity may be important to the progression of neoplastic tumors, a feature of which is phenotypic heterogeneity.
Abstract The transcriptional repressor Snail2 is overexpressed in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) relative to nonmalignant head and neck mucosal epithelium, and in locally recurrent relative to nonrecurrent HNSCCs. We investigated the mechanisms by which Snails might contribute to the pathogenesis of HNSCCs using cell biological and molecular analyses. Oral keratinocytes that expressed Snails acquired an enhanced ability to attract monocytes and to invade a dense interstitial collagen matrix. They were also found to up-regulate production of proinflammatory cytokines and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX2), which have previously been shown to correlate with malignancy. Induction of nuclear factor-κB transcriptional activity by Snails was weak and not sufficient to account for the elevated levels of COX2, interleukin (IL)-6, IL8, or CXCL1. In addition, expression of Snails in oral keratinocytes impaired desquamation in vitro and strongly repressed expression of both ELF3 and matriptase-1, which play important roles in the terminal differentiation of keratinocytes. Reexpression of matriptase-1 in Snail-expressing cells partially rescued desquamation. This implicates Snails as contributing to malignancy both at the early stages, by impeding terminal differentiation, and at later stages, when invasion and inflammation are important. [Cancer Res 2008;68(12):4525–30]
Rat mucosal keratinocytes serially propagated under permanently serum-free conditions responded to interleukin (IL)-1 beta/IL-alpha and to transforming growth factor (TGF)-alpha/epidermal growth factor (EGF) (as well as to 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)) by upregulation of M(r) 95,000 gelatinase (MMP-9) (M(r) 95K GL) and fibroblast-type collagenase (MMP-1) (FIB-CL), whereas control cells expressed barely detectable levels of either of these enzymes. The cells secreted 8-10 micrograms/10(6) cells/day (M(r) 95K GL) and 2-3 micrograms/10(6) cells/day (FIB-CL) of enzyme protein for at least 24 h when maximally induced. This level was attained only after a 24-h lag period, and the earliest emergence of enzyme protein in the culture medium required 10-14 h. IL-1 beta was by far the most potent cytokine with maximal effect already at 10(-10) M, whereas IL-1 alpha, TGF-alpha, and EGF required 20-100-fold higher concentrations. Pretreatment of the cells with TPA (10(-7) M) abolished the subsequent response to IL-1 beta, TGF-alpha, and EGF and at the same time resulted in > 90% reduction of cytosolic protein kinase C activity. Surprisingly, staurosporine, a potent kinase inhibitor, not only failed to block growth factor/cytokine responses but itself stimulated expression of the enzymes at a magnitude comparable to TPA. The inducing effect of TGF-alpha/EGF was down-regulated by 70-85% by 10(-7) M dexamethasone. Dexamethasone was less effective in ablating the IL-1 beta response yielding 60% reduction M(r) 95K GL and little or no reduction of FIB-CL. Dexamethasone also failed to block the TPA response.
Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) is the most common malignancy in immune-suppressed organ transplant recipients (OTRs). Whilst rates of other malignancies (both cutaneous and non-cutaneous) are elevated in this population, the increase is far less striking. This suggests that cSCC must be a highly immunogenic tumor. The tumor immune microenvironment is altered in cSCC from OTRs. It has reduced anti-tumor properties and instead provides an environment that facilitates tumor growth and survival. Understanding the composition and function of the tumor immune microenvironment in cSCC from OTRs is useful for prognostication and therapeutic decisions.
The immune system plays a key role in the suppression and progression of basal cell carcinoma (BCC). The primary aetiological factor for BCC development is exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UVR) which, particularly in lighter Fitzpatrick skin types, leads to the accumulation of DNA damage. UVR has roles in the generation of an immunosuppressive environment, facilitating cancer progression. Rates of BCC are elevated in immunosuppressed patients, and BCC may undergo spontaneous immune-mediated regression. Histologic and immunohistochemical profiling of BCCs consistently demonstrates the presence of an immune infiltrate and associated immune proteins. Early studies of immune checkpoint inhibitors reveal promising results in BCC. Therefore, the host immune system and tumor responses to it are important in BCC pathogenesis. Understanding these interactions will be beneficial for disease prognostication and therapeutic decisions.
Neoplastic, epithelial cells derived from a spontaneously-arising rat mammary carcinoma have been cultured in a defined medium, in the absence of serum, continuously, for over 2 years. The medium is a mixture of Ham's F12 and Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's media supplemented with insulin, transferrin and bovine serum albumin. The cells have retained their potential to produce tumours and, in culture, a true vertebrate collagenase. This system provides a continuing supply of vertebrate collagenase through the application of recently developed methods.
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