HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post - Novel Cancer Therapies Aim to Destroy the Disease at Its Root: The Cancer Stem Cell

Rich66 · 06-06-2009, 09:37 PM

1: Clin Cancer Res. 2009 Mar 15;15(6):2010-21. Epub 2009 Mar 10. Links: Tumor-initiating cells of HER2-positive carcinoma cell lines express the highest oncoprotein levels and are sensitive to trastuzumab.

Magnifico A, Albano L, Campaner S, Delia D, Castiglioni F, Gasparini P, Sozzi G, Fontanella E, Menard S, Tagliabue E.
Molecular Biology Unit, Department of Experimental Oncology, IRCCS Foundation: National Cancer Institute, Milan, Italy.
PURPOSE: The existence of tumor-initiating cells in breast cancer has profound implications for cancer therapy. In this study, we investigated the sensitivity of tumor-initiating cells isolated from human epidermal growth factor receptor type 2 (HER2)-overexpressing carcinoma cell lines to trastuzumab, a compound used for the targeted therapy of breast cancer. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Spheres were analyzed by indirect immunofluorescence for HER2 cell surface expression and by real-time PCR for HER2 mRNA expression in the presence or absence of the Notch1 signaling inhibitor (GSI) or Notch1 small interfering RNA. Xenografts of HER2-overexpressing breast tumor cells were treated with trastuzumab or doxorubicin. The sphere-forming efficiency (SFE) and serial transplantability of tumors were assessed. RESULTS: In HER2-overexpressing carcinoma cell lines, cells with tumor-initiating cell properties presented increased HER2 levels compared with the bulk cell population without modification in HER2 gene amplification. HER2 levels were controlled by Notch1 signaling, as shown by the reduction of HER2 cell surface expression and lower SFE following gamma-secretase inhibition or Notch1 specific silencing. We also show that trastuzumab was able to effectively target tumor-initiating cells of HER2-positive carcinoma cell lines, as indicated by the significant decrease in SFE and the loss of serial transplantability, following treatment of HER2-overexpressing xenotransplants. CONCLUSIONS: Here, we provide evidence for the therapeutic efficacy of trastuzumab in debulking and in targeting tumor-initiating cells of HER2-overexpressing tumors. We also propose that Notch signaling regulates HER2 expression, thereby representing a critical survival pathway of tumor-initiating cells.
PMID: 19276287

Oncogene. 2008 Oct 16;27(47):6120-30. Epub 2008 Jun 30.
HER2 regulates the mammary stem/progenitor cell population driving tumorigenesis and invasion.

Korkaya H, Paulson A, Iovino F, Wicha MS.
Department of Internal Medicine, Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA. hkorkaya@med.umich.edu
The cancer stem cell hypothesis proposes that cancers arise in stem/progenitor cells through disregulation of self-renewal pathways generating tumors, which are driven by a component of 'tumor-initiating cells' retaining stem cell properties. The HER2 gene is amplified in 20-30% of human breast cancers and has been implicated in mammary tumorigenesis as well as in mediating aggressive tumor growth and metastasis. We demonstrate that HER2 overexpression drives mammary carcinogenesis, tumor growth and invasion through its effects on normal and malignant mammary stem cells. HER2 overexpression in normal mammary epithelial cells (NMEC) increases the proportion of stem/progenitor cells as demonstrated by in vitro mammosphere assays and the expression of stem cell marker aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) as well as by generation of hyperplastic lesions in humanized fat pads of NOD (nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain)/SCID (severe combined immunodeficient) mice. Overexpression of HER2 in a series of breast carcinoma cell lines increases the ALDH-expressing 'cancer stem cell' population which displays increased expression of stem cell regulatory genes, increased invasion in vitro and increased tumorigenesis in NOD/SCID mice. The effects of HER2 overexpression on breast cancer stem cells are blocked by trastuzumab in sensitive, but not resistant, cell lines, an effect mediated by the PI3-kinase/Akt pathway. These studies provide support for the cancer stem cell hypothesis by suggesting that the effects of HER2 amplification on carcinogenesis, tumorigenesis and invasion may be due to its effects on normal and malignant mammary stem/progenitor cells. Furthermore, the clinical efficacy of trastuzumab may relate to its ability to target the cancer stem cell population in HER2-amplified tumors.

PMID: 18591932 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Tumor-Initiating Cells of HER2-Positive Carcinoma Cell Lines Express the Highest Oncoprotein Levels and Are Sensitive to Trastuzumab

+ Author Affiliations

Authors' Affiliation:¹Molecular Biology Unit, ²Molecular Cell Cycle Control Unit, and ³Molecular-Cytogenetics Unit, Department of Experimental Oncology, IRCCS Foundation: National Cancer Institute, and ⁴Department of Experimental Oncology, European Institute of Oncology, Milan, Italy

Requests for reprints:
Elda Tagliabue, Molecular Biology Unit, Department of Experimental Oncology, National Cancer Institute, Foundation IRCCS, Via Venezian 1, 20133 Milan, Italy. Phone: 390223903013; Fax: 390223903073; E-mail: elda.tagliabue@istitutotumori.mi.it.

Abstract

Purpose: The existence of tumor-initiating cells in breast cancer has profound implications for cancer therapy. In this study, we investigated the sensitivity of tumor-initiating cells isolated from human epidermal growth factor receptor type 2 (HER2)-overexpressing carcinoma cell lines to trastuzumab, a compound used for the targeted therapy of breast cancer.
Experimental Design: Spheres were analyzed by indirect immunofluorescence for HER2 cell surface expression and by real-time PCR for HER2 mRNA expression in the presence or absence of the Notch1 signaling inhibitor (GSI) or Notch1 small interfering RNA. Xenografts of HER2-overexpressing breast tumor cells were treated with trastuzumab or doxorubicin. The sphere-forming efficiency (SFE) and serial transplantability of tumors were assessed.
Results: In HER2-overexpressing carcinoma cell lines, cells with tumor-initiating cell properties presented increased HER2 levels compared with the bulk cell population without modification in HER2 gene amplification. HER2 levels were controlled by Notch1 signaling, as shown by the reduction of HER2 cell surface expression and lower SFE following γ-secretase inhibition or Notch1 specific silencing. We also show that trastuzumab was able to effectively target tumor-initiating cells of HER2-positive carcinoma cell lines, as indicated by the significant decrease in SFE and the loss of serial transplantability, following treatment of HER2-overexpressing xenotransplants.
Conclusions: Here, we provide evidence for the therapeutic efficacy of trastuzumab in debulking and in targeting tumor-initiating cells of HER2-overexpressing tumors. We also propose that Notch signaling regulates HER2 expression, thereby representing a critical survival pathway of tumor-initiating cells.

06-06-2009, 09:37 PM	#9
Rich66 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: South East Wisconsin Posts: 3,431	1: Clin Cancer Res. 2009 Mar 15;15(6):2010-21. Epub 2009 Mar 10. Links Tumor-initiating cells of HER2-positive carcinoma cell lines express the highest oncoprotein levels and are sensitive to trastuzumab. Magnifico A, Albano L, Campaner S, Delia D, Castiglioni F, Gasparini P, Sozzi G, Fontanella E, Menard S, Tagliabue E. Molecular Biology Unit, Department of Experimental Oncology, IRCCS Foundation: National Cancer Institute, Milan, Italy. PURPOSE: The existence of tumor-initiating cells in breast cancer has profound implications for cancer therapy. In this study, we investigated the sensitivity of tumor-initiating cells isolated from human epidermal growth factor receptor type 2 (HER2)-overexpressing carcinoma cell lines to trastuzumab, a compound used for the targeted therapy of breast cancer. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Spheres were analyzed by indirect immunofluorescence for HER2 cell surface expression and by real-time PCR for HER2 mRNA expression in the presence or absence of the Notch1 signaling inhibitor (GSI) or Notch1 small interfering RNA. Xenografts of HER2-overexpressing breast tumor cells were treated with trastuzumab or doxorubicin. The sphere-forming efficiency (SFE) and serial transplantability of tumors were assessed. RESULTS: In HER2-overexpressing carcinoma cell lines, cells with tumor-initiating cell properties presented increased HER2 levels compared with the bulk cell population without modification in HER2 gene amplification. HER2 levels were controlled by Notch1 signaling, as shown by the reduction of HER2 cell surface expression and lower SFE following gamma-secretase inhibition or Notch1 specific silencing. We also show that trastuzumab was able to effectively target tumor-initiating cells of HER2-positive carcinoma cell lines, as indicated by the significant decrease in SFE and the loss of serial transplantability, following treatment of HER2-overexpressing xenotransplants. CONCLUSIONS: Here, we provide evidence for the therapeutic efficacy of trastuzumab in debulking and in targeting tumor-initiating cells of HER2-overexpressing tumors. We also propose that Notch signaling regulates HER2 expression, thereby representing a critical survival pathway of tumor-initiating cells. PMID: 19276287 Oncogene. 2008 Oct 16;27(47):6120-30. Epub 2008 Jun 30. HER2 regulates the mammary stem/progenitor cell population driving tumorigenesis and invasion. Korkaya H, Paulson A, Iovino F, Wicha MS. Department of Internal Medicine, Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA. hkorkaya@med.umich.edu The cancer stem cell hypothesis proposes that cancers arise in stem/progenitor cells through disregulation of self-renewal pathways generating tumors, which are driven by a component of 'tumor-initiating cells' retaining stem cell properties. The HER2 gene is amplified in 20-30% of human breast cancers and has been implicated in mammary tumorigenesis as well as in mediating aggressive tumor growth and metastasis. We demonstrate that HER2 overexpression drives mammary carcinogenesis, tumor growth and invasion through its effects on normal and malignant mammary stem cells. HER2 overexpression in normal mammary epithelial cells (NMEC) increases the proportion of stem/progenitor cells as demonstrated by in vitro mammosphere assays and the expression of stem cell marker aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) as well as by generation of hyperplastic lesions in humanized fat pads of NOD (nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain)/SCID (severe combined immunodeficient) mice. Overexpression of HER2 in a series of breast carcinoma cell lines increases the ALDH-expressing 'cancer stem cell' population which displays increased expression of stem cell regulatory genes, increased invasion in vitro and increased tumorigenesis in NOD/SCID mice. The effects of HER2 overexpression on breast cancer stem cells are blocked by trastuzumab in sensitive, but not resistant, cell lines, an effect mediated by the PI3-kinase/Akt pathway. These studies provide support for the cancer stem cell hypothesis by suggesting that the effects of HER2 amplification on carcinogenesis, tumorigenesis and invasion may be due to its effects on normal and malignant mammary stem/progenitor cells. Furthermore, the clinical efficacy of trastuzumab may relate to its ability to target the cancer stem cell population in HER2-amplified tumors. PMID: 18591932 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] Tumor-Initiating Cells of HER2-Positive Carcinoma Cell Lines Express the Highest Oncoprotein Levels and Are Sensitive to Trastuzumab Alessandra Magnifico 1, Luisa Albano 1, Stefano Campaner 4, Domenico Delia 2, Fabio Castiglioni 1, Patrizia Gasparini 3, Gabriella Sozzi 3, Enrico Fontanella 2, Sylvie Menard 1 and Elda Tagliabue 1 + Author Affiliations Authors' Affiliation:¹Molecular Biology Unit, ²Molecular Cell Cycle Control Unit, and ³Molecular-Cytogenetics Unit, Department of Experimental Oncology, IRCCS Foundation: National Cancer Institute, and ⁴Department of Experimental Oncology, European Institute of Oncology, Milan, Italy Requests for reprints: Elda Tagliabue, Molecular Biology Unit, Department of Experimental Oncology, National Cancer Institute, Foundation IRCCS, Via Venezian 1, 20133 Milan, Italy. Phone: 390223903013; Fax: 390223903073; E-mail: elda.tagliabue@istitutotumori.mi.it. Abstract Purpose: The existence of tumor-initiating cells in breast cancer has profound implications for cancer therapy. In this study, we investigated the sensitivity of tumor-initiating cells isolated from human epidermal growth factor receptor type 2 (HER2)-overexpressing carcinoma cell lines to trastuzumab, a compound used for the targeted therapy of breast cancer. Experimental Design: Spheres were analyzed by indirect immunofluorescence for HER2 cell surface expression and by real-time PCR for HER2 mRNA expression in the presence or absence of the Notch1 signaling inhibitor (GSI) or Notch1 small interfering RNA. Xenografts of HER2-overexpressing breast tumor cells were treated with trastuzumab or doxorubicin. The sphere-forming efficiency (SFE) and serial transplantability of tumors were assessed. Results: In HER2-overexpressing carcinoma cell lines, cells with tumor-initiating cell properties presented increased HER2 levels compared with the bulk cell population without modification in HER2 gene amplification. HER2 levels were controlled by Notch1 signaling, as shown by the reduction of HER2 cell surface expression and lower SFE following γ-secretase inhibition or Notch1 specific silencing. We also show that trastuzumab was able to effectively target tumor-initiating cells of HER2-positive carcinoma cell lines, as indicated by the significant decrease in SFE and the loss of serial transplantability, following treatment of HER2-overexpressing xenotransplants. Conclusions: Here, we provide evidence for the therapeutic efficacy of trastuzumab in debulking and in targeting tumor-initiating cells of HER2-overexpressing tumors. We also propose that Notch signaling regulates HER2 expression, thereby representing a critical survival pathway of tumor-initiating cells.