Project description:This model is based on:
Computational Modeling of the Crosstalk Between Macrophage Polarization and Tumor Cell Plasticity in the Tumor Microenvironment.
Abstract:
Tumor microenvironments contain multiple cell types interacting among one another via different signaling pathways. Furthermore, both cancer cells and different immune cells can display phenotypic plasticity in response to these communicating signals, thereby leading to complex spatiotemporal patterns that can impact therapeutic response. Here, we investigate the crosstalk between cancer cells and macrophages in a tumor microenvironment through in silico (computational) co-culture models. In particular, we investigate how macrophages of different polarization (M1 vs. M2) can interact with epithelial-mesenchymal plasticity of cancer cells, and conversely, how cancer cells exhibiting different phenotypes (epithelial vs. mesenchymal) can influence the polarization of macrophages. Based on interactions documented in the literature, an interaction network of cancer cells and macrophages is constructed. The steady states of the network are then analyzed. Various interactions were removed or added into the constructed-network to test the functions of those interactions. Also, parameters in the mathematical models were varied to explore their effects on the steady states of the network. In general, the interactions between cancer cells and macrophages can give rise to multiple stable steady-states for a given set of parameters and each steady state is stable against perturbations. Importantly, we show that the system can often reach one type of stable steady states where cancer cells go extinct. Our results may help inform efficient therapeutic strategies.
Project description:A mesenchymal rich stroma such as cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in breast tumors favors the selection of cancer clones with enhanced bone metastatic ability. To determine the cancer cell transcriptomic response to the mesenchymal stroma, we supplemented experimental mammary tumours with or without exogenous mesenchymal cells. We used bone marrow-derived human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) as a source of mesenchymal stroma, as MSCs have been shown to undergo CAF-like differentiation. We engineered the cancer cells to express an EGFP-tagged version of ribosomal protein L10a (EGFP-L10a). This allows the retrieval of cancer cell specific transcripts rapidly from whole tumor lysates by translating ribosome affinity purification (TRAP) and direct profiling of cancer cell gene expression patterns when they are in situ. EGFP-10a+ MDA-MB-231 cells were orthotopically injected into the mammary fat pad with or without 1:1 ratio of MSCs. The mammary tumors were retrieved for TRAP-RNAseq profiling after 3 weeks.
Project description:A mesenchymal rich stroma such as cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in breast tumors favors the selection of cancer clones with enhanced bone metastatic ability. To determine the cancer cell transcriptomic response to the mesenchymal stroma, we supplemented experimental mammary tumours with or without exogenous mesenchymal cells. We used bone marrow-derived human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) as a source of mesenchymal stroma, as MSCs have been shown to undergo CAF-like differentiation. We engineered the cancer cells to express an EGFP-tagged version of ribosomal protein L10a (EGFP-L10a). This allows the retrieval of cancer cell specific transcripts rapidly from whole tumor lysates by translating ribosome affinity purification (TRAP) and direct profiling of cancer cell gene expression patterns when they are in situ.
Project description:An altered consistency of tumor microenvironment facilitates the progression of the tumor towards metastasis. Here we combine data from secretome and proteome analysis using mass spectrometry with microarray data from mesenchymal transformed breast cancer cells (MCF-7-EMT) to elucidate the drivers of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and cell invasion. Suppression of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) reduced invasion in 2D and 3D invasion assays and expression of transforming growth factor-beta-induced protein ig-h3 (TGFBI), Zinc finger E-box-binding homeobox 1 (ZEB1) and lysyl oxidase (LOX), while the adhesion of cell-extracellular matrix (ECM) in mesenchymal transformed breast cancer cells is increased. In contrast, an enhanced expression of CTGF leads to an increased 3D invasion, expression of fibronectin 1 (FN1), secreted protein acidic and cysteine rich (SPARC) and CD44 and a reduced cell ECM adhesion (fig. 1). Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist Triptorelin reduces CTGF expression in a Ras homolog family member A (RhoA)-dependent manner. Our results suggest that CTGF drives breast cancer cell invasion in vitro and therefore could be an attractive therapeutic target for drug development to prevent the spread of breast cancer.
Project description:How organ-specific metastatic traits accumulate in primary tumors remains unknown. We identified a role of the primary tumor stroma in selecting breast cancer cells that are primed for metastasis in the bone. A fibroblast-rich stroma in breast tumors creates a microenvironment that is similar to that of bone metastases in its abundance of the cytokines CXCL12 and IGF1. Heterogeneous breast cancer cell populations growing in such mesenchymal environment evolve towards a preponderance of clones that thrive on CXCL12 and IGF1. Fibroblast-driven selection of bone metastatic clones in mammary tumors is suppressed by CXCL12 and IGF1 receptor inhibition. Thus, a fibroblast-rich stroma in breast tumors can pre-select bone metastatic seeds, promoting the evolution of metastatic traits and the interplay between a primary tumor and its distant metastases. Affymetrix U133 Plus2 arrays were hybridized according to the manufacturer's procedure using RNA extracted from 47 primary breast tumors. Specific gene sets were evaluated in this cohort.
Project description:How organ-specific metastatic traits accumulate in primary tumors remains unknown. We identified a role of the primary tumor stroma in selecting breast cancer cells that are primed for metastasis in the bone. A fibroblast-rich stroma in breast tumors creates a microenvironment that is similar to that of bone metastases in its abundance of the cytokines CXCL12 and IGF1. Heterogeneous breast cancer cell populations growing in such mesenchymal environment evolve towards a preponderance of clones that thrive on CXCL12 and IGF1. Fibroblast-driven selection of bone metastatic clones in mammary tumors is suppressed by CXCL12 and IGF1 receptor inhibition. Thus, a fibroblast-rich stroma in breast tumors can pre-select bone metastatic seeds, promoting the evolution of metastatic traits and the interplay between a primary tumor and its distant metastases.
Project description:Growing evidence indicates that tumor-associated stroma plays a negative role in human colorectal cancer (CRC). Nature of specific stromal cell populations involved and mechanisms underlying their negative impact remain to be fully understood. In this study we describe the expansion from human primary CRCs of a mesenchymal cell population, referred to as tumor-associated stromal cells (TASCs), resembling bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) in morphology, phenotypes and differentiation potential. We found that, upon co-culture with tumor cells, TASCs acquire membrane-bound TGF-mbTGF-expression, a phenomenon mediated by v6 integrin. MbTGF-expression proved to be critical for triggering epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in tumor cells, eventually leading to enhanced dissemination of circulating tumor cells and increased metastasis formation, in an orthotopic mouse model. Our data identify CRC-associated mesenchymal stem-like cells as critical EMT initiators and suggest mbTGF- as potential novel therapeutic target.
Project description:By applying RNA-ISH and RNAseq to circulating tumor cells (CTCs), the study provides definitive evidence of epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) across all histological types of breast cancer, identifying mediators such as FOXC1 and TGF-β signaling, and demonstrating dynamic treatment-associated changes in EMT within clusters of CTCs. Epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) has been postulated to contribute to the migration and dissemination of cancer cells, but supporting histopathological evidence is limited. We used a microfluidic device to isolate circulating tumor cells (CTCs), combined with multiplex fluorescent RNA-in-situ hybridization (ISH) and RNA sequencing, to quantify and characterize EMT in breast cancer cells within the bloodstream. Whereas only rare (0.1-10%) cells in the primary tumor expressed both mesenchymal and epithelial markers, such biphenotypic as well as purely mesenchymal cells were enriched among CTCs, across all histological subtypes of breast cancer. In an index patient followed longitudinally, fluctuation in epithelial and mesenchymal states was observed as a function of initial response and subsequent resistance to therapy. Mesenchymal markers were predominant in clusters of tumor cells, many of which had adherent platelets. Finally, RNA sequencing of CTC clusters identified TGF-β and other EMT-related signatures, which were absent from more epithelial CTCs. FOXC1, a known regulator of EMT, was abundantly expressed in mesenchymal CTCs and was detectable within localized regions of the primary breast tumor. Together, these data support a role for EMT in the blood-borne dissemination of breast cancer and point to the dynamic nature of this cell fate change.
Project description:Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) has been associated with cancer cell heterogeneity, plasticity and metastasis. It has been the subject of several modeling effort. This logical model of the EMT cellular network aims to assess microenvironmental signals controlling cancer-associated phenotypes amid the EMT continuum. Its outcomes relate to the qualitative degrees of cell adhesions by adherent junctions and focal adhesions, two features affected during EMT. Model attractors recover epithelial, mesenchymal and hybrid phenotypes, and simulations show that hybrid phenotypes may arise through independent molecular paths, involving stringent extrinsic signals.
Of particular interest, model predictions and their experimental validations indicated that: 1) ECM stiffening is a prerequisite for cells overactivating FAK-SRC to upregulate SNAIL1 and acquire a mesenchymal phenotype, and 2) FAK-SRC inhibition of cell-cell contacts through the Receptor Protein Tyrosine Phosphates kappa leads to the acquisition of a full mesenchymal rather than a hybrid phenotype.