Project description:Goals of the study was to compare transcripional and phenotypic response of mouse intestinal organoid cultures to the PIK3CA(H1047R) and CTNNB1(stab) oncogenes.
Project description:Oncogenic PIK3CA mutations activate phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) and are among the commonest somatic mutations in cancer and mosaic, developmental overgrowth disorders. We recently demonstrated that the ‘hotspot’ variant PIK3CAH1047R exerts striking allele dose-dependent effects on stemness in human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), and moreover demonstrated multiple oncogenic PIK3CA copies in a substantial subset of human cancers. To identify the molecular mechanism underpinning PIK3CAH1047R allele dose-dependent stemness, we profiled isogenic wild-type, PIK3CAWT/H1047R and PIK3CAH1047R/H1047R iPSCs by high-depth transcriptomics, proteomics and reverse-phase protein arrays (RPPA). PIK3CAH1047R/H1047R iPSCs exhibited altered expression of 5644 genes and 248 proteins, whereas heterozygous hPSCs showed 492 and 54 differentially-expressed genes and proteins, respectively, confirming a nearly deterministic phenotypic effect of homozygosity for PIK3CAH1047R. Pathway and network-based analyses predicted a strong association between self-sustained TGFb/NODAL signaling and the ‘locked’ stemness phenotype induced by homozygosity for PIK3CAH1047R. This stemness gene signature was maintained without exogenous NODAL in PIK3CAH1047R/H1047R iPSCs and was reversed by pharmacological inhibition of TGFb/NODAL signaling but not by PIK3CA-specific inhibition. Analysis of PIK3CA-associated human breast cancers revealed increased expression of the stemness markers NODAL and POU5F1 as a function of disease stage and PIK3CAH1047R allele dosage. Together with emerging realization of the link between NODAL re-expression and aggressive cancer behavior, our data suggest that TGFb/NODAL inhibitors warrant testing in advanced breast tumors with multiple oncogenic PIK3CA copies.
Project description:Breast cancer is the most frequent cancer in women and consists of heterogeneous types of tumours that are classified into different histological and molecular subtypes1-3. Pik3ca and p53 are the two most frequently mutated genes and are associated with different types of human breast cancers4. The cellular origin and the mechanisms leading to Pik3ca-induced tumour heterogeneity remain unknown. Here, we used a genetic approach in mice to define the cellular origin of Pik3ca-derived tumours and its impact on tumour heterogeneity. Surprisingly, oncogenic Pik3ca-H1047R expression at physiological levels5 in basal cells (BCs) using K5CREERT2 induced the formation of luminal ER+PR+ tumours, while its expression in luminal cells (LCs) using K8CREERT2 gave rise to luminal ER+PR+ tumours or basal-like ER-PR- tumours. Concomitant deletion of p53 and expression of Pik3ca-H1047R accelerated tumour development and induced more aggressive mammary tumours. Interestingly, expression of Pik3ca-H1047R in unipotent BCs gave rise to luminal-like cells, while its expression in unipotent LCs gave rise to basal-like cells before progressing into invasive tumours. Transcriptional profiling of cells that have undergone cell fate transition upon Pik3ca-H1047R expression in unipotent progenitors demonstrate a profound oncogene-induced reprogramming of these newly formed cells and identified gene signatures, characteristic of the different cell fate switches that occur upon Pik3ca-H1047R expression in BC and LCs, which correlated with the cell of origin, tumour type and different clinical outcomes. Altogether our study identifies the cellular origin of Pik3ca-induced tumours and reveals that oncogenic Pik3ca-H1047R activates a multipotent genetic program in normally lineage-restricted populations at the early stage of tumour initiation, setting the stage for future intratumoural heterogeneity. These results have important implications for our understanding of the mechanisms controlling tumour heterogeneity and the development of new strategies to block PIK3CA breast cancer initiation. Luminal and basal cells, or tumour cells, from mice in which expression of PIK3CA-H1047R and YFP (and in some conditions loss of p53) was targeted in basal cells using K5CREERT2 or in luminal cells using K8CREERT2 were FACS isolated and RNA was extracted before being hybridized Affymetrix microarrays.
Project description:Breast cancer is the most frequent cancer in women and consists of heterogeneous types of tumours that are classified into different histological and molecular subtypes1-3. Pik3ca and p53 are the two most frequently mutated genes and are associated with different types of human breast cancers4. The cellular origin and the mechanisms leading to Pik3ca-induced tumour heterogeneity remain unknown. Here, we used a genetic approach in mice to define the cellular origin of Pik3ca-derived tumours and its impact on tumour heterogeneity. Surprisingly, oncogenic Pik3ca-H1047R expression at physiological levels5 in basal cells (BCs) using K5CREERT2 induced the formation of luminal ER+PR+ tumours, while its expression in luminal cells (LCs) using K8CREERT2 gave rise to luminal ER+PR+ tumours or basal-like ER-PR- tumours. Concomitant deletion of p53 and expression of Pik3ca-H1047R accelerated tumour development and induced more aggressive mammary tumours. Interestingly, expression of Pik3ca-H1047R in unipotent BCs gave rise to luminal-like cells, while its expression in unipotent LCs gave rise to basal-like cells before progressing into invasive tumours. Transcriptional profiling of cells that have undergone cell fate transition upon Pik3ca-H1047R expression in unipotent progenitors demonstrate a profound oncogene-induced reprogramming of these newly formed cells and identified gene signatures, characteristic of the different cell fate switches that occur upon Pik3ca-H1047R expression in BC and LCs, which correlated with the cell of origin, tumour type and different clinical outcomes. Altogether our study identifies the cellular origin of Pik3ca-induced tumours and reveals that oncogenic Pik3ca-H1047R activates a multipotent genetic program in normally lineage-restricted populations at the early stage of tumour initiation, setting the stage for future intratumoural heterogeneity. These results have important implications for our understanding of the mechanisms controlling tumour heterogeneity and the development of new strategies to block PIK3CA breast cancer initiation.
Project description:We established human colorectal tumor organoids from benign adenoma, primary colorectal cancer or metastasized colorectal cancer. The gene signature of tumor organoids associated with their tumor progression status. We also generated genome-edited organoids from human intestinal organoids recapitulating adenoma-carcinoma sequence. Gene expression signature of the genome engineered organoids were similar to that of adenoma organoids. This result indicated multiple (up to five) genetic mutations were insufficient for gene expression reprogramming of colorectal cancer. We used microarrays to detail the global program of gene expression in human colorectal tumor organoids and artificially mutation introduced organoids. To assess the expression profiling of genome-engineered organoids, we prepared total-RNA from cultured adenoma, carcinoma and genome-engineered organoids. We produced two types of genome-engineered organoids using the CRISPR/Cas9 or lentivirus vector system. Each engineered gene and engineered methods are described as a single alphabet and method name, respectively, in the sample characteristics field. The abbreviations for the engineered genes are as follows. 1) Genome-engineered organoids with CRISPR/Cas9 A = APC deletion; K = KRAS G12V knock in; S = Smad4 deletion; T = TP53 deletion; P = PIK3CA E545K knock in. 2) Genome-engineered organoids with Lent virus vector B = CTNNB1 S33Y overexpression; K = KRAS G12V overexpression; S = Smad4 shRNA overexpression; T = TP53 shRNA overexpression; P = PIK3CA E545K overexpression.
Project description:MCF10A cells: control vs. PIK3CA mutant (H1047R) Transcriptional profiling of MCF10A comparing control (expressing JP1520-PIK3CA-WT; Addgen plasmid #14570) and PIK3CA mutant (JP1520-PIK3CA-H1047R; Addgene plasmic#14572). Goal was to determine the effects of the PIK3CA H1047R mutation in the on global gene expression in MCF10A cells.
Project description:Gene expression microarray analyses of PIK3CA H1047R and E545K induced preneoplastic lesions and tumors compared to age matched controls. Plasmids expressing oncogenic forms of PIK3CA (H1047R or E545K mutants) were delivered to the mouse liver by tail vein hydrodynamic injection combined with Sleeping Beauty–mediated somatic integration (SBT-HTVI). Resulting preneoplastic and neoplastic lesions were subjected to gene expression microarray analysis. The putative PIK3CA target gene Galectin1 (Gal1) was further characterized by in vitro studies. Transfection of either PIK3CA E545K or H1047R mutants via SBT-HTVI was sufficient to induce hepatocellular carcinomas in mice. A stepwise hepatocarcinogenesis from singular pericentral lipid-rich preneoplastic hepatocytes to clusters, expansive preneoplastic lesions, and HCCs was observed. In PIK3CA H1047R injected mice, HCCs were detected in the 12 months injection group, while PIK3CA E545K injections resulted in tumor occurrence as early as 3 months after SB-HTVI. Histologically, a predominant lipid-rich phenotype characterized all tumorigenesis stages, as confirmed by Sudan III staining and electron microscopy. Immunohistochemically, preneoplastic lesions and tumors displayed high levels of the lipid master regulators Fatty acid synthase and Stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1. Gal1 was commonly overexpressed in PIK3CA-driven preneoplastic and neoplastic liver lesions by gene expression microarray analysis compared with age-matched controls.
Project description:Gain-of-function mutation of PIK3CA represents one of the most common oncogenic events in human malignancy, making PI3K an attractive target for cancer therapy. Despite the great promise of targeted therapy, drug resistance is likely to develop, causing treatment failure. To elucidate resistance mechanisms to PI3K-targeted therapy, we constructed a mouse model of breast cancer conditionally expressing PIK3CA-H1047R. Surprisingly, the majority of mammary tumors induced by PIK3CA-H1047R expression recurred following PIK3CA-H1047R inactivation. Genomic analyses of recurrent tumors revealed multiple lesions, including spontaneous focal amplification of c-Met or c-Myc. While amplification of c-Met allowed tumor survival dependent on activation of endogenous PI3K, tumors with amplification of c-Myc become independent of the PI3K pathway. Functional analyses further demonstrated that c-Myc contributed to tumors’ independence of oncogene and resistance to PI3K inhibition. Together, our data suggest that MYC elevation in tumors may be a potential mechanism conferring resistance to current PI3K-targeted therapies. Affymetrix SNP array analysis was performed with Mouse Diversity Genotyping Arrays (Affymetrix) on genomic DNA extracted from frozen biopsies of 6 recurrent mouse mammary tumor samples. Copy number analysis was performed for the mouse mammary tumors using genomic DNA from normal mammary tissue as the reference for copy number inference.