Biomarkers of Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition in Squamous Cell Carcinoma
TL;DR: The findings of these studies suggest that EMT mediates H NSCC progression, and the mechanistic role of the EMT markers that have been associated with HNSCC should be more clearly defined if new anti-HNSCC therapies to block EMT progression are to be developed.
Abstract: An understanding of the process by which tumor cells destroy the basement membrane of the surface epithelium, invade, and metastasize is essential to the development of novel treatment of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). In recent years, there has been increased interest in the role of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in invasion. EMT is a process that describes the development of motile, mesenchymal-like cells from non-motile parent epithelial cells. There are 3 known types of EMT that mediate development, wound healing, and carcinogenesis. This review summarizes studies of known EMT biomarkers in the context of HNSCC progression. The biomarkers discussed come from a wide range of proteins, including cell-surface proteins (E-cadherin, N-cadherin, and Integrins), cytoskeletal proteins (α-Smooth Muscle Actin, Vimentin, and β-catenin), extracellular matrix proteins (Collagens, Fibronectin, and Laminin), and transcription factors (SNAIL1, SNAIL2, TWIST, and LEF-1). Overall, the findings of these studies suggest that EMT mediates HNSCC progression. The mechanistic role of the EMT markers that have been associated with HNSCC should be more clearly defined if new anti-HNSCC therapies to block EMT progression are to be developed.
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TL;DR: Investigation of the role played by endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndMT) and its key regulator FGF receptor 1 (FGFR1) in atherosclerosis demonstrates a link between loss of protective endothelial FGFR signaling, development of EndMT, and progression of Atherosclerosis.
Abstract: The molecular mechanisms responsible for the development and progression of atherosclerotic lesions have not been fully established. Here, we investigated the role played by endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndMT) and its key regulator FGF receptor 1 (FGFR1) in atherosclerosis. In cultured human endothelial cells, both inflammatory cytokines and oscillatory shear stress reduced endothelial FGFR1 expression and activated TGF-β signaling. We further explored the link between disrupted FGF endothelial signaling and progression of atherosclerosis by introducing endothelial-specific deletion of FGF receptor substrate 2 α (Frs2a) in atherosclerotic (Apoe(-/-)) mice. When placed on a high-fat diet, these double-knockout mice developed atherosclerosis at a much earlier time point compared with that their Apoe(-/-) counterparts, eventually demonstrating an 84% increase in total plaque burden. Moreover, these animals exhibited extensive development of EndMT, deposition of fibronectin, and increased neointima formation. Additionally, we conducted a molecular and morphometric examination of left main coronary arteries from 43 patients with various levels of coronary disease to assess the clinical relevance of these findings. The extent of coronary atherosclerosis in this patient set strongly correlated with loss of endothelial FGFR1 expression, activation of endothelial TGF-β signaling, and the extent of EndMT. These data demonstrate a link between loss of protective endothelial FGFR signaling, development of EndMT, and progression of atherosclerosis.
376 citations
Cites background from "Biomarkers of Epithelial-Mesenchyma..."
...With regard to the former, a number of studies have linked disturbed shear stress and endothelial production of fibronectin (17, 22), a well-established marker of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (23, 24)....
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TL;DR: A variety of biomaterials are evaluated, such as curable synthetic polymers, synthetic gels, and naturally derived hydrogels, that are responsible for supporting the cellular components during and after biofabrication and that are compatible with the bioprinting device requirements.
Abstract: Bioprinting has emerged in recent years as an attractive method for creating 3-D tissues and organs in the laboratory, and therefore is a promising technology in a number of regenerative medicine applications. It has the potential to (i) create fully functional replacements for damaged tissues in patients, and (ii) rapidly fabricate small-sized human-based tissue models, or organoids, for diagnostics, pathology modeling, and drug development. A number of bioprinting modalities have been explored, including cellular inkjet printing, extrusion-based technologies, soft lithography, and laser-induced forward transfer. Despite the innovation of each of these technologies, successful implementation of bioprinting relies heavily on integration with compatible biomaterials that are responsible for supporting the cellular components during and after biofabrication, and that are compatible with the bioprinting device requirements. In this review, we will evaluate a variety of biomaterials, such as curable synthetic polymers, synthetic gels, and naturally derived hydrogels. Specifically we will describe how they are integrated with the bioprinting technologies above to generate bioprinted constructs with practical application in medicine.
374 citations
TL;DR: This review summarizes the update information on the association of EMT-TFs with cancer metastasis and the possible cancer therapeutics via targeting the EMT -TFs.
Abstract: The epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) is an important step for the developmental process. Recent evidences support that EMT allows the tumor cells to acquire invasive properties and to develop metastatic growth characteristics. Some of the transcription factors, which are actively involved in EMT process, have a significant role in the EMT-metastasis linkage. A number of studies have reported that EMT-inducing transcription factors (EMT-TFs), such as Twist, Snail, Slug, and Zeb, are directly or indirectly involved in cancer cell metastasis through a different signaling cascades, including the Akt, signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and Wnt pathways, with the ultimate consequence of the downregulation of E-cadherin and upregulation of metastatic proteins, such as N-cadherin, vimentin, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2, etc. This review summarizes the update information on the association of EMT-TFs with cancer metastasis and the possible cancer therapeutics via targeting the EMT-TFs.
236 citations
TL;DR: The data suggest that the number of PGCCs and the EMT-related proteins E-cadherin, N- cadher in, and vimentin may be valuable biomarkers to assess metastasis in patients with breast cancer.
Abstract: Previously, we reported that polyploid giant cancer cells (PGCCs) induced by cobalt chloride (CoCl2) could have generated daughter cells with strong invasiveness and migration capabilities via asymmetric divisions. This study compared the expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related proteins, including E-cadherin, N-cadherin, and vimentin, between PGCCs and their daughter cells, and control breast cancer cell lines MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231. The clinicopathological significance of EMT-related protein expression in human breast cancer was analyzed. Western blot was used to compare the expression levels of E-cadherin, N-cadherin, and vimentin in breast cancer lines MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231, between PGCCs with budding daughter cells and control breast cancer cells. Furthermore, 167 paraffin-embedded breast tumor tissue samples were analyzed, including samples obtained from 52 patients with primary breast cancer with lymph node metastasis (group I) and their corresponding lymph node metastatic tumors (group II), 52 patients with primary breast cancer without metastasis (group III), and 11 patients with benign breast lesions (group IV). The number of PGCCs was compared among these four groups. The number of PGCCs increased with the malignant grade of breast tumor. Group IIhad the highest number of PGCCs and the differences among group I, II, III and IV had statistically significance (P =0.000). In addition, the expression of E-cadherin (P = 0.000), N-cadherin (P = 0.000), and vimentin (P = 0.000) was significantly different among the four groups. Group II exhibited the highest expression levels of N-cadherin and vimentin and the lowest expression levels of E-cadherin. These data suggest that the number of PGCCs and the EMT-related proteins E-cadherin, N-cadherin, and vimentin may be valuable biomarkers to assess metastasis in patients with breast cancer.
118 citations
TL;DR: It is found that infection of human brain microvascular endothelial cells with Group B Streptococcus and other meningeal pathogens results in the induction of host transcriptional repressor Snail1, which impedes expression of tight junction genes.
Abstract: Bacterial meningitis is a serious infection of the CNS that results when blood-borne bacteria are able to cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is the leading cause of neonatal meningitis; however, the molecular mechanisms that regulate bacterial BBB disruption and penetration are not well understood. Here, we found that infection of human brain microvascular endothelial cells (hBMECs) with GBS and other meningeal pathogens results in the induction of host transcriptional repressor Snail1, which impedes expression of tight junction genes. Moreover, GBS infection also induced Snail1 expression in murine and zebrafish models. Tight junction components ZO-1, claudin 5, and occludin were decreased at both the transcript and protein levels in hBMECs following GBS infection, and this repression was dependent on Snail1 induction. Bacteria-independent Snail1 expression was sufficient to facilitate tight junction disruption, promoting BBB permeability to allow bacterial passage. GBS induction of Snail1 expression was dependent on the ERK1/2/MAPK signaling cascade and bacterial cell wall components. Finally, overexpression of a dominant-negative Snail1 homolog in zebrafish elevated transcription of tight junction protein–encoding genes and increased zebrafish survival in response to GBS challenge. Taken together, our data support a Snail1-dependent mechanism of BBB disruption and penetration by meningeal pathogens.
102 citations
References
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TL;DR: Overall cancer death rates decreased in all racial/ethnic groups in both men and women from 1998 through 2007, with the exception of American Indian/Alaska Native women, in whom rates were stable.
Abstract: Each year, the American Cancer Society estimates the numbers of new cancer cases and deaths expected in the United States in the current year and compiles the most recent data on cancer incidence, mortality, and survival based on incidence data from the National Cancer Institute, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the North American Association of Central Cancer Registries and mortality data from the National Center for Health Statistics. A total of 1,596,670 new cancer cases and 571,950 deaths from cancer are projected to occur in the United States in 2011. Overall cancer incidence rates were stable in men in the most recent time period after decreasing by 1.9% per year from 2001 to 2005; in women, incidence rates have been declining by 0.6% annually since 1998. Overall cancer death rates decreased in all racial/ethnic groups in both men and women from 1998 through 2007, with the exception of American Indian/Alaska Native women, in whom rates were stable. African American and Hispanic men showed the largest annual decreases in cancer death rates during this time period (2.6% and 2.5%, respectively). Lung cancer death rates showed a significant decline in women after continuously increasing since the 1930s. The reduction in the overall cancer death rates since 1990 in men and 1991 in women translates to the avoidance of about 898,000 deaths from cancer. However, this progress has not benefitted all segments of the population equally; cancer death rates for individuals with the least education are more than twice those of the most educated. The elimination of educational and racial disparities could potentially have avoided about 37% (60,370) of the premature cancer deaths among individuals aged 25 to 64 years in 2007 alone. Further progress can be accelerated by applying existing cancer control knowledge across all segments of the population with an emphasis on those groups in the lowest socioeconomic bracket. CA Cancer J Clin 2011. © 2011 American Cancer Society.
4,161 citations
"Biomarkers of Epithelial-Mesenchyma..." refers background in this paper
...Since patients with HNSCC often present with late-stage tumors, the five-year survival rate is only 50%, which is poorer than that for breast cancer or melanoma (Siegel et al., 2011)....
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TL;DR: The recent literature on tumour heterogeneity, field cancerization, molecular pathogenesis and the underlying causative cancer genes that can be exploited for novel and personalized treatments of patients with HNSCC are discussed.
Abstract: Head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs) are caused by tobacco and alcohol consumption and by infection with high-risk types of human papillomavirus (HPV). Tumours often develop within preneoplastic fields of genetically altered cells. The persistence of these fields after treatment presents a major challenge, because it might lead to local recurrences and second primary tumours that are responsible for a large proportion of deaths. Aberrant signalling pathways have been identified in HNSCCs and inhibition of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) has proved a successful therapeutic strategy. In this Review, we discuss the recent literature on tumour heterogeneity, field cancerization, molecular pathogenesis and the underlying causative cancer genes that can be exploited for novel and personalized treatments of patients with HNSCC.
2,090 citations
"Biomarkers of Epithelial-Mesenchyma..." refers background in this paper
...Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is the sixth most common cancer in the world (Leemans et al., 2011)....
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...INTRODUCTION Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is the sixth most com-mon cancer in the world (Leemans et al., 2011)....
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TL;DR: It is believed that context and various changes in plasticity biomarkers can help identify at least three types of EMT and that using a collection of criteria for EMT increases the likelihood that everyone is studying the same phenomenon - namely, the transition of epithelial and endothelial cells to a motile phenotype.
Abstract: In the early 19th century, building on observations of microscopists now ancient, Schleiden and Schwann formulated the doctrine that cells are building blocks for plant and animal tissues (1). By the mid-19th century, Raspail, Remak, and Virchow expanded this hypothesis by suggesting that all cells come from preexisting cells — the so-called cell theory. Although referring to cell division, this now classic notion is prescient of another contemporary twist in the biology of cell maturation: beyond lineage development and normal differentiation, mature epithelial cells under new environmental pressures exhibit a local plasticity that allows them to morph into other mature phenotypes with or without proliferation (2, 3). Growing interest in the biology of these cellular transitions helped both establish epithelial cell plasticity as a field of study in the late 20th century and fashion much of the current thinking regarding morphogenesis in early embryonic development, tissue repair, and cancer metastasis (4–6). The details of some of these processes are not discussed here, as they are outlined in other articles in this Review Series on epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) (7, 8). Instead, we offer a personal view gathered from our own experience and the literature regarding an approach documenting EMT events in culture or tissue. We hope this serves to stimulate other points of view as new data emerge.
2,016 citations
"Biomarkers of Epithelial-Mesenchyma..." refers background in this paper
...Expression of zona-occludens 1 (ZO-1) occurs in all 3 types of EMT (Zeisberg and Neilson, 2009)....
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...Fibronectin is a glycoprotein scaffold for fibrillar ECM (Zeisberg and Neilson, 2009)....
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...There is increased expression of collagen I (α1) and collagen III (α1) in type 1 and 3 EMT, while collagen IV (α1) is down-regulated in all 3 types of EMT (Zeisberg and Neilson, 2009)....
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...Zinc finger E-box binding homeobox 1 (ZEB1) is an E-cadherin transcriptional repressor that is down-regulated by miR-200 microRNAs in cancer cells that display an EMT phenotype (Zeisberg and Neilson, 2009)....
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...Osteoblast cadherin (OB-cadherin) is a definitive marker for activated fibroblasts (Zeisberg and Neilson, 2009)....
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TL;DR: How abnormal expression, proteolysis and structure of these collagens influence cellular functions to elicit multiple effects on tumors, including proliferation, initiation, invasion, metastasis, and therapy response is discussed.
744 citations
"Biomarkers of Epithelial-Mesenchyma..." refers background in this paper
...While migration of normal cells is strictly controlled by limited proteolysis of the ECM, in cancer, proteolytic remodeling of the ECM facilitates invasion (Egeblad et al., 2010)....
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TL;DR: Cadherins have been implicated in a number of signaling pathways that regulate cellular behavior, and it is becoming increasingly clear that integration of information received from cell-cell signaling, cell-matrix signaling, and growth factor signaling determines ultimate cellular phenotype and behavior.
Abstract: Cadherins are transmembrane glycoproteins that mediate calcium-dependent cell-cell adhesion. The cadherin family is large and diverse, and proteins are considered to be members of this family if they have one or more cadherin repeats in their extracellular domain. Cadherin family members are the transmembrane components of a number of cellular junctions, including adherens junctions, desmosomes, cardiac junctions, endothelial junctions, and synaptic junctions. Cadherin function is critical in normal development, and alterations in cadherin function have been implicated in tumorigenesis. The strength of cadherin interactions can be regulated by a number of proteins, including the catenins, which serve to link the cadherin to the cytoskeleton. Cadherins have been implicated in a number of signaling pathways that regulate cellular behavior, and it is becoming increasingly clear that integration of information received from cell-cell signaling, cell-matrix signaling, and growth factor signaling determines ultimate cellular phenotype and behavior.
665 citations
"Biomarkers of Epithelial-Mesenchyma..." refers background in this paper
...E-cadherin is anchored to the cytoskeleton via β-catenin, a cytoplasmic plaque protein (Wheelock and Johnson, 2003)....
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