Involvement of chemokine receptors in breast cancer metastasis

Breast cancer is characterized by a distinct metastatic pattern involving the regional lymph nodes, bone marrow, lung and liver. Tumour cell migration and metastasis share many similarities with leukocyte trafficking, which is critically regulated by chemokines and their receptors. Here we report that the chemokine receptors CXCR4 and CCR7 are highly expressed in human breast cancer cells, malignant breast tumours and metastases. Their respective ligands CXCL12/SDF-1alpha and CCL21/6Ckine exhibit peak levels of expression in organs representing the first destinations of breast cancer metastasis. In breast cancer cells, signalling through CXCR4 or CCR7 mediates actin polymerization and pseudopodia formation, and subsequently induces chemotactic and invasive responses. In vivo, neutralizing the interactions of CXCL12/CXCR4 significantly impairs metastasis of breast cancer cells to regional lymph nodes and lung. Malignant melanoma, which has a similar metastatic pattern as breast cancer but also a high incidence of skin metastases, shows high expression levels of CCR10 in addition to CXCR4 and CCR7. Our findings indicate that chemokines and their receptors have a critical role in determining the metastatic destination of tumour cells.     

低氧条件下巨噬细胞分泌CCL22促进三阴乳腺癌转移

三阴乳腺癌(Triple Negative Breast Cancer, TNBC)是乳腺癌中恶性程度最高的一种亚型，表现为很高的转移潜能。巨噬细胞，即肿瘤相关巨噬细胞(Tumor-Associated Macrophages, TAM)，在促进TNBC转移中起了重要作用。乳腺癌作为一种实体肿瘤，往往处于缺氧环境中。低氧环境能够促进癌细胞的转移，然而低氧环境中巨噬细胞在促进肿瘤转移中的作用仍然不清楚。在该研究中，THP1细胞被诱导成TAM，经过缺氧培养后，通过Transwell实验检测其促进三阴乳腺癌细胞BT-549和MDA-MB-231的细胞迁移能力；通过尾静脉注射，将MDA-MB-231细胞移植于祼鼠体内，CT扫描，分析了TAM促进TNBC细胞的器官转移能力；通过ELISA实验检测低氧对TAM分泌的肿瘤转移相关因子的影响，通过GDSC在线软件分析了CCL22受体CCR4和其他CCR在乳腺癌组织与正常组织中表达的差异。结果表明低氧条件下巨噬细胞通过分泌CCL22的表达来促进三阴乳腺癌细胞迁移:经过缺氧培养后的TAM显著增强了TNBC细胞迁移能力，以及促进癌细胞在体内向肺转移；低氧诱导TAM分泌CCL22；CCL22受体CCR4在乳腺癌组织中的表达显著高于在正常组织中的。     

Overexpression of N-cadherin is correlated with metastasis and worse survival in colorectal cancer patients

N-cadherin is related to the progression and metastases of several solid carcinomas. However, it was still unclear whether N-cadherin is overexpressed in colorectal malignant tumors that have stronger malignant tendency. In this study, we used immunohistochemistry to detect the expression patterns of N-cadherin in both the primary tumors and their normal mucosa tissues of 120 patients with colorectal cancer. We revealed that N-cadherin was expressed in 78.3% (94/120) of colorectal tumor tissues and in only 9.2% (11/120) of paired distant normal mucosa tissues with a significant difference (P=0.000). The low, moderate, and high expression of N-cadherin protein was 42.5%, 30.8%, and 26.7%, respectively. N-cadherin overexpression was associated with advanced TNM stage, lymph nodes metastasis and distant metastasis (P<0.05). Patients with N-cadherin overexpressed showed the obvious lower overall survival rate than those with moderate and low expression, and patients with low expression had a better survival rate than those with moderate and high expression (P<0.05). In conclusion, high N-cadherin expression may lead to tumor aggressiveness and metastatic potential in colorectal cancer, and may prove to be a possible prognostic factor.     

A microRNA regulon that mediates endothelial recruitment and metastasis by cancer cells

Metastatic progression of cancer is a complex and clinically daunting process. We previously identified a set of human microRNAs (miRNAs) that robustly suppress breast cancer metastasis to lung and bone and which display expression levels that predict human metastasis. Although these findings revealed miRNAs as suppressors of cell-autonomous metastatic phenotypes, the roles of non-coding RNAs in non-cell-autonomous cancer progression processes remain unknown. Here we reveal that endogenous miR-126, an miRNA silenced in a variety of common human cancers, non-cell-autonomously regulates endothelial cell recruitment to metastatic breast cancer cells, in vitro and in vivo. It suppresses metastatic endothelial recruitment, metastatic angiogenesis and metastatic colonization through coordinate targeting of IGFBP2, PITPNC1 and MERTK--novel pro-angiogenic genes and biomarkers of human metastasis. Insulin-like growth factor binding protein 2 (IGFBP2) secreted by metastatic cells recruits endothelia by modulating IGF1-mediated activation of the IGF type-I receptor on endothelial cells; whereas c-Mer tyrosine kinase (MERTK) receptor cleaved from metastatic cells promotes endothelial recruitment by competitively antagonizing the binding of its ligand GAS6 to endothelial MERTK receptors. Co-injection of endothelial cells with breast cancer cells non-cell-autonomously rescues their miR-126-induced metastatic defect, revealing a novel and important role for endothelial interactions in metastatic initiation. Through loss-of-function and epistasis experiments, we delineate an miRNA regulatory network's individual components as novel and cell-extrinsic regulators of endothelial recruitment, angiogenesis and metastatic colonization. We also identify the IGFBP2/IGF1/IGF1R and GAS6/MERTK signalling pathways as regulators of cancer-mediated endothelial recruitment. Our work further reveals endothelial recruitment and endothelial interactions in the tumour microenvironment to be critical features of metastatic breast cancer.     

以整合素为靶点治疗乳腺癌的研究进展

乳腺癌是严重影响妇女身心健康甚至危及生命的最常见肿瘤之一,发病率占各种恶性肿瘤的7%～10%.乳腺癌通常发生于乳房腺上皮组织,绝经期前后的妇女发病率较高.男性乳腺癌罕见,仅占乳腺癌患者的1%～2%.整合素是细胞表面受体的主要家族,介导细胞和细胞外基质的黏附,介导细胞间的相互作用.整合素在生物体内广泛表达,在许多生命活动中发挥着关键的作用.整合素与癌症进程密切相关,在转移性肿瘤中某些整合素高表达,并与蛋白水解酶相互作用,导致基底膜降解.整合素通过重塑细胞外基质在肿瘤的迁移和侵袭中起着重要作用.综述了以整合素为靶点治疗乳腺癌的新进展.     

人类逆转录病毒的长末段重复序列（VRTVLTR）的表达与肺癌转移的关系

肺癌是最常见的恶性肿瘤之一。肿瘤癌很容易发生转移。实验以17例肺癌（5例肺腺癌、1例腺鳞癌、7例肺鳞癌及4例小细胞末分化癌）的原发灶、癌旁正常组织及转移淋巴结为材料,采用PCR及非放射性标记的RNA斑点杂交分析LTR在基因组的存在及其表达情况。研究结果发现：LTR序列在17例肺癌病人的正常组织及肿瘤组织的基因组中普遍存在,LTR致肺癌转移与其插入基因组中无关;LTR致肺癌转移与其表达增高有关,而且其高表达与小细胞肺癌的转移无关,而与非小细胞肺癌的转移密切相关。提示LTR参与了非小细胞肺癌的转移过程。实验结果为从细胞系获得的结论提供了进一步的证据。     

Chemokine receptor CXCR4 downregulated by von Hippel-Lindau tumour suppressor pVHL

Organ-specific metastasis is governed, in part, by interactions between chemokine receptors on cancer cells and matching chemokines in target organs. For example, malignant breast cancer cells express the chemokine receptor CXCR4 and commonly metastasize to organs that are an abundant source of the CXCR4-specific ligand stromal cell-derived factor-1alpha (ref. 1). It is still uncertain how an evolving tumour cell is reprogrammed to express CXCR4, thus implementing the tendency to metastasize to specific organs. Here we show that the von Hippel-Lindau tumour suppressor protein pVHL negatively regulates CXCR4 expression owing to its capacity to target hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) for degradation under normoxic conditions. This process is suppressed under hypoxic conditions, resulting in HIF-dependent CXCR4 activation. An analysis of clear cell renal carcinoma that manifests mutation of the VHL gene in most cases revealed an association of strong CXCR4 expression with poor tumour-specific survival. These results suggest a mechanism for CXCR4 activation during tumour cell evolution and imply that VHL inactivation acquired by incipient tumour cells early in tumorigenesis confers not only a selective survival advantage but also the tendency to home to selected organs.     

CXCR7对HeLa细胞增殖、粘附和侵袭能力的影响

基质细胞衍生因子-1(SDF-1)在肿瘤侵袭、转移过程中起着重要的调控作用.此前认为SDF-1是通过其唯一受体CXCR4来起作用.近年来发现SDF-1还有另一作用受体——CXCR7,SDF-1/CXCR7在部分肿瘤侵袭转移过程中起重要作用,但其在宫颈癌HeLa细胞中的作用目前尚未明确.通过Western blotting检测HeLa细胞中CXCR4和CXCR7的表达,阻断CXCR4或CXCR7后,通过MTT法评价细胞增殖能力,细胞粘附实验评价细胞粘附能力,Transwell实验评价细胞侵袭能力.结果表明,CXCR4和CXCR7在HeLa细胞中表达.阻断CXCR4或CXCR7后,SDF-1诱导的HeLa细胞增殖、侵袭和与内皮细胞的粘附能力均被阻断.结果提示CXCR7在SDF-1诱导HeLa细胞增殖、侵袭和与内皮细胞的粘附过程中起着重要作用,将有望成为治疗宫颈癌转移的新靶点.     

应用组织芯片技术分析驱动蛋白KIF18A在卵巢癌中的表达及其意义

采用组织芯片技术研究KIF18A蛋白与卵巢癌发生的关系,并探讨该蛋白分子治疗临床卵巢癌的潜在价值.对比100例卵巢癌病患的癌组织与正常组织芯片,KIF18A蛋白分子在正常卵巢组织、卵巢癌、转移淋巴结中皆有不同程度的表达.在卵巢癌组织中的表达明显高于正常组织(p≤0.05).卵巢浆液性乳头状腺癌的不同分期中,Ⅰ期与Ⅱ期相比,在Ⅱ期中KIF18A蛋白分子的表达明显上调(p≤0.05).同时,淋巴结转移性浆液性乳头状腺癌中的KIF18A蛋白表达量高于非转移性的浆液性乳头状腺癌(p≤0.05).这些结果表明,KIF18A蛋白分子的表达强度与卵巢癌的肿瘤临床分期以及淋巴结转移有关,可作为卵巢癌检测的新型标志物.     

Correlation of matrix metalloproteinase－2, －9, tissue inhibitor－1 of matrix metalloproteinase and CD44 variant 6 in head and neck cancer metastasis

This study aimed to explore the molecular mechanism in tumor invasion and metastasis. The expression of matrix metalloproteinase-2, -9 (MMP-2, MMP-9), tissue inhibitor-1 of matrix metalloproteinase (TIMP-1), cell adhesion molecule 44 variant 6 (CD44v6), HER2/neu and p53 was investigated in 154 patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) by ABC and ImmunoMax immunohistochemical method. Their clinical relevance and correlation were analysed. The expression of MMP-2, MMP-9, TIMP-1, CD44v6, HER2/neu and p53 was found in cancer cells in 87.01%, 85.71%, 68.18%, 98.05%, 55.19% and 50.65% cases respectively. Linear regression and correlation analysis revealed that there was close positive relationship (P<0.05) between the expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9, TIMP-1 and CD44v6, HER2/neu and MMP-9, MMP-2 and p53. Up-regulation of MMP-2 was accompanied by advanced T stage (P<0.01). There was also a trend of MMP-2 expression being related with tumor metastasis. Increased expression of HER2/neu was found in patients with tumor recurrence(P<0.05). The expression of TIMP-1 was higher in laryngeal cancer than that in pharyngeal cancer, and higher in keratinizing and non-keratinizing SCC than that in basaloid SCC(P<0.05). These findings suggested that MMP-2 and MMP-9, HER2/neu and MMP-9, MMP-2 and p53 had a coordinate function in aggression of tumor; that MMP-2 had a more important function than MMP-9 in tumor invasion and metastasis; and that HER2/neu might serve as a biomarker for poor prognosis in HNSCC.     

透明质酸结合蛋白和CD44s与乳腺浸润性微小乳头状癌高淋巴结转移的关系

目的：探讨透明质酸结合蛋白（HABP）和CD44s在乳腺浸润性微小乳头状癌（IMPC）的表达特征及与其高淋巴结转移的相互关系.方法：采用免疫组化染色方法检测21例IMPC及13例假性IMPC（Pseudo-IMPC）中HABP和CD44s的表达.结果：HABP在16例（76%）IMPC的癌细胞团与间质相接的外侧面以及间质细胞均高表达,而仅在3例（23%）Pseudo-IMPC中癌细胞膜或间质细胞弱表达,两组间差异明显（P=0.0042）.CD44s在15例（70%）IMPC中癌细胞连接面高表达,在8例（62%）Pseudo-IMPC中癌细胞膜全周表达阳性.此外,临床数据表明有18例IMPC及5例Pseudo-IMPC表现出淋巴结转移,且两组间差异显著（P=0.0078）.结论：HABP及CD44s的特殊表达作为两个重要的危险因子促进了IMPC的淋巴结转移.     

Regulation of cancer cell migration and bone metastasis by RANKL

Bone metastases are a frequent complication of many cancers that result in severe disease burden and pain. Since the late nineteenth century, it has been thought that the microenvironment of the local host tissue actively participates in the propensity of certain cancers to metastasize to specific organs, and that bone provides an especially fertile 'soil'. In the case of breast cancers, the local chemokine milieu is now emerging as an explanation for why these tumours preferentially metastasize to certain organs. However, as the inhibition of chemokine receptors in vivo only partially blocks metastatic behaviour, other factors must exist that regulate the preferential metastasis of breast cancer cells. Here we show that the cytokine RANKL (receptor activator of NF-kappaB ligand) triggers migration of human epithelial cancer cells and melanoma cells that express the receptor RANK. RANK is expressed on cancer cell lines and breast cancer cells in patients. In a mouse model of melanoma metastasis, in vivo neutralization of RANKL by osteoprotegerin results in complete protection from paralysis and a marked reduction in tumour burden in bones but not in other organs. Our data show that local differentiation factors such as RANKL have an important role in cell migration and the tissue-specific metastatic behaviour of cancer cells.     

乳腺癌相关转移基因的研究进展

目的综述肿瘤转移基因在乳腺癌中的研究进展。方法采用文献回顾的方法,对目前国内外肿瘤转移基因在乳腺癌中的研究状况加以分析与综述。结果肿瘤转移基因与乳腺癌的发生、转移及预后相关。结论对肿瘤转移基因的深入研究有助于进一步深化对乳腺癌生物学行为的认识,为肿瘤转移的分子诊断和基因治疗提供新的思路。     

SHARP1 suppresses breast cancer metastasis by promoting degradation of hypoxia-inducible factors

The molecular determinants of malignant cell behaviours in breast cancer remain only partially understood. Here we show that SHARP1 (also known as BHLHE41 or DEC2) is a crucial regulator of the invasive and metastatic phenotype in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), one of the most aggressive types of breast cancer. SHARP1 is regulated by the p63 metastasis suppressor and inhibits TNBC aggressiveness through inhibition of hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α) and HIF-2α (HIFs). SHARP1 opposes HIF-dependent TNBC cell migration in vitro, and invasive or metastatic behaviours in vivo. SHARP1 is required, and sufficient, to limit expression of HIF-target genes. In primary TNBC, endogenous SHARP1 levels are inversely correlated with those of HIF targets. Mechanistically, SHARP1 binds to HIFs and promotes HIF proteasomal degradation by serving as the HIF-presenting factor to the proteasome. This process is independent of pVHL (von Hippel-Lindau tumour suppressor), hypoxia and the ubiquitination machinery. SHARP1 therefore determines the intrinsic instability of HIF proteins to act in parallel to, and cooperate with, oxygen levels. This work sheds light on the mechanisms and pathways by which TNBC acquires invasiveness and metastatic propensity.     

三阴乳腺癌与基底细胞样乳腺癌病理形态和生物学特征探讨

目的探讨三阴乳腺癌(triple-negative breast cancer,TNBC)与基底细胞样乳腺癌(basal-likebreast cancer,BLBC)及非三阴乳腺癌(non triple-negative breast cancer,NTNBC)的关系及其形态、生物学特征。方法应用免疫组织化学(immunohistochemistry,IHC)方法对96例乳腺癌标本进行HER2、ER、PR蛋白的检查;应用FISH(fluorescent in situ hybridization)方法对3例HER2 IHC 3+及5例HER2 IHC 2+标本进行HER2基因扩增的检查;对22例TNBC进行了CK5/6或EGFR的检查。按照检查结果,将其分为TNBC、NTN-BC和BLBC,比较三者的病理形态及生物学特征。结果 NTNBC占72.92%(70/96),其组织学Ⅰ、Ⅱ及Ⅲ级的病例分别为28.57%(20/70)、57.14%(40/70)和14.29%(10/70),淋巴结转移率为44.44%(16/36);TN-BC占乳腺癌的27.08%(26/96),无组织学Ⅰ级病例,组织学Ⅱ及Ⅲ级的病例分别为53.85%,(14/26)及46.15%,(12/26)例,淋巴结转移率为61.11%(11/18);BLBC占TNBC的63.64%(14/22),同TNBC一样,无组织学Ⅰ级病例,Ⅱ、Ⅲ级的病例分别为57.14%(8/14)及42.86%(6/14),淋巴结转移率为55.56%(5/9)。TN-BC与BLBC低分化病例的比例以及淋巴结的转移率均高于NTNBC。3例HER2 IHC 3+的病例FISH检查结果同IHC,5例HER 2 IHC 2+标本FISH检查1例基因扩增,3例阴性,1例结果不确定。结论 TNBC与BLBC占乳腺癌1/4的比例,组织学多为中、低分化,浸润性生长,易发生淋巴结转移和复发,临床预后较差。虽然BLBC与TNBC大部分有重叠,但其具有独自的特异性,应成为独立的组织病理学类型。CK5/6或EGFR可用作从TNBC中筛选BLBC的指标。IHC 2+病例要做FISH检查,以正确指导治疗。     

PRL-3基因在前列腺癌组织中的表达分析

检测PRL-3在前列腺癌中的表达,探讨其与前列腺癌发生发展的关系。Westernblot、RT-PCR检测52例前列腺癌组织及其对应癌旁增生组织,12例阳性淋巴结相对表达水平,并分析其表达水平与临床病理学指标的关系。结果52例前列腺癌中PRL-3基因表达量较相应癌旁增生组织高,差异有统计学意义(p0.05),12例淋巴结转移灶PRL-3表达量明显高于原发肿瘤、阴性淋巴结及癌旁增生组织(p0.01)。PRL-3基因的表达水平与前列腺癌分化程度、淋巴结转移有关(p0.05),与年龄、家族史、血清PSA含量无关(p0.05)。说明PRL-3的表达与前列腺癌发生发展关系密切,PRL-3可作为前列腺癌诊断、治疗及预后判断过程中的一种较有价值的指标。     

血管内皮生长因子表达及微血管密度与头颈肿瘤发展和转移的关系

研究血管内皮细胞生因子(VBGV)的表达及微血管密度(MVD)与头颈肿瘤发展及转移的关系.应用免疫组织化学S-P法,检测32例头颈恶性肿瘤、20例头颈良性肿瘤、16例头颈部无瘤组织石蜡标本组织中的血管内皮细胞生长因子(VEGF)的表达、微血管密度(MVD).头颈恶性肿瘤组织VEGF的表达及MVD明显高于头颈良性肿瘤及头颈无瘤组织(P<0.05),转移组比较非转移组高(P<0.05).此外,在头颈肿瘤的发展及转移中VEGF的表达及MVD具有显著的正相关关系(r=0.398,<0.05).VEGF与头颈肿瘤血管生成有密切关系;VEGF的表达和MVD的增高对头颈肿瘤发展及转移有促进作用,其检测有可能作为头颈肿瘤预后的指标.