The EMT activator ZEB1 promotes tumor growth and determines differential response to chemotherapy in mantle cell lymphoma
CELL DEATH AND DIFFERENTIATION
Authors: Sanchez-Tillo, E.; Fanlo, L.; Siles, L.; Montes-Moreno, S.; Moros, A.; Chiva-Blanch, G.; Estruch, R.; Martinez, A.; Colomer, D.; Gyorffy, B.; Roue, G.; Postigo, A.
Abstract
Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is a B-cell malignancy characterized by a poor response to treatment and prognosis. Constitutive activation of different signaling pathways in subsets of MCLs, through genetic and/or nongenetic alterations, endows tumor cells with enhanced proliferation and reduced apoptosis. The canonical Wnt pathway (beta-catenin/TCF-LEF), implicated in the pathogenesis of numerous cancers, is constitutively active in half of MCLs. Here, we show that ZEB1, a transcription factor better known for promoting metastasis in carcinomas, is expressed in primary MCLs with active Wnt signaling. ZEB1 expression in MCL cells depends on Wnt, being downregulated by beta-catenin knockdown or blocking of Wnt signaling by salinomycin. Knockdown of ZEB1 reduces in vitro cell viability and proliferation in MCL cells, and, importantly, tumor growth in mouse xenograft models. ZEB1 activates proliferation-associated (HMGB2, UHRF1, CENPF, MYC, MKI67, and CCND1) and antiapoptotic (MCL1, BCL2, and BIRC5) genes and inhibits pro-apoptotic ones (TP53, BBC3, PMAIP1, and BAX). We show that ZEB1 expression in MCL cells determines differential resistance to chemotherapy drugs and regulates transporters involved in drug influx/efflux. Downregulation of ZEB1 by salinomycin increases the sensitivity of MCL cells to the cytotoxic effect of doxorubicin, cytarabine and gemcitabine. Lastly, salinomycin and doxorubicin display a synergistic effect in established and primary MCL cells. These results identify ZEB1 in MCL where it promotes cell proliferation, enhanced tumor growth and a differential response to chemotherapy drugs. ZEB1 could thus potentially become a predictive biomarker and therapeutic target in this lymphoma.
High Expression of FGD3, a Putative Regulator of Cell Morphology and Motility, Is Prognostic of Favorable Outcome in Multiple Cancers
JCO PRECISION ONCOLOGY
Authors: Willis, Scooter; Sun, Yuliang; Abramovitz, Mark; Fei, Teng; Young, Brandon; Lin, Xiaoqian; Ni, Min; Achua, Justin; Regan, Meredith M.; Gray, Kathryn P.; Gray, Robert; Wang, Victoria; Long, Bradley; Kammler, Roswitha; Sparano, Joseph A.; Williams, Casey; Goldstein, Lori J.; Salgado, Roberto; Loi, Sherene; Pruneri, Giancarlo; Viale, Giuseppe; Brown, Myles; Leyland-Jones, Brian
Abstract
Purpose Identification of single-gene biomarkers that are prognostic of outcome can shed new insights on the molecular mechanisms that drive breast cancer and other cancers. Methods Exploratory analysis of 20,464 single-gene messenger RNAs (mRNAs) in the Molecular Taxonomy of Breast Cancer International Consortium (METABRIC) discovery cohort indicates that low expression of FGD3 mRNA is prognostic for poor outcome. Prognostic significance of faciogenital dysplasia 3 (FGD3), SUSD3, and other single-gene proliferation markers was evaluated in breast cancer and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) cohorts. Results A meta-analysis of Cox regression of FGD3 mRNA as a continuous variable for overall survival of estrogen receptor (ER)-positive samples in METABRIC discovery, METABRIC validation, TCGA breast cancer, and Combination Chemotherapy in Treating Women With Breast Cancer (E2197) cohorts resulted in a combined hazard ratio (HR) of 0.69 (95% CI, 0.63 to 0.75), indicating better outcome with high expression. In the ER-negative samples, the combined meta-analysis HR was 0.72 (95% CI, 0.63 to 0.82), suggesting that FGD3 is prognostic regardless of ER status. The potential of FGD3 as a biomarker for freedom from recurrence was evaluated in the Breast International Group1-98(BIG1-98; Letrozole or Tamoxifen in Treating Postmenopausal Women With Breast Cancer) study (HR, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.76 to 0.93) for breast cancer-free interval. In the Hungarian Academy of Science (HAS) breast cancer cohort, splitting on the median had an HR of 0.49 (95% CI, 0.42 to 0.58) for recurrence-free survival. A comparison of the Stouffer P value in five ER-positive cohorts showed that FGD3 (P = 3.8(E-14)) outperformed MKI67 (P = 1.06(E-8)) and AURKA (P = 2.61(E-5)). A comparison of the Stouffer P value in four ER-negative cohorts showed that FGD3 (P = 3.88(E-5)) outperformed MKI67 (P = .477) and AURKA (P = .820). Conclusion FGD3 was previously shown to inhibit cell migration. FGD3 mRNA is regulated by ESR1 and is associated with favorable outcome in six distinct breast cancer cohorts and four TCGA cancer cohorts. This suggests that FGD3 is an important clinical biomarker. (C) 2017 by American Society of Clinical Oncology