Project description:In this study we studied the presence of tumor cells that underwent epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition within polyoma middle T antigen (PyMT) breast tumors. For this we dissociated tumors and isolated Ecad positive tumor cells by FACS sorting. We confirmed that PyMT tumors contain a small set of tumor cells that have undergone EMT in the primary tumor and that E-cadherin can be used as a marker on single cell level for mesenchymal status in this model.
Project description:Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) has been linked to cancer progression and metastatic propensity. The 4T1 tumor is a clinically relevant model of spontaneous breast cancer metastasis. Here we characterize 4T1-derived cell lines for EMT, in vitro invasiveness and in vivo metastatic ability. Contrary to expectations, the 67NR cells, which form primary tumors but fail to metastasize, express vimentin and N-cadherin, but not E-cadherin. 4T1 cells, however, express E-cadherin, are highly migratory and invasive, and metastasize to multiple sites. The 66cl4 metastatic cells display mixed epithelial and mesenchymal markers, but are less migratory and invasive than 67NR cells. These findings demonstrate that the metastatic ability of breast cancer cells does not correlate with genotypic and phenotypic properties of EMT per se, and suggest that other processes may govern metastatic capability. Gene expression analysis also has not identified differences in EMT markers, but has identified several candidate genes that may influence metastatic ability. Keywords: cell type comparison
Project description:In this study we want to compare the expression profiles of E-cadherin high and low tumor cells from 4 different mice with breast cancer brain metastasis. We used a breast cancer brain metastasis model derived from the PyMT E-cadherin-mCFP breast cancer model (Beerling et al. Cell Reports 2016) and FACS sorted samples based on endogenous E-cadherin-mCFP expression.
Project description:Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) has been linked to cancer progression and metastatic propensity. The 4T1 tumor is a clinically relevant model of spontaneous breast cancer metastasis. Here we characterize 4T1-derived cell lines for EMT, in vitro invasiveness and in vivo metastatic ability. Contrary to expectations, the 67NR cells, which form primary tumors but fail to metastasize, express vimentin and N-cadherin, but not E-cadherin. 4T1 cells, however, express E-cadherin, are highly migratory and invasive, and metastasize to multiple sites. The 66cl4 metastatic cells display mixed epithelial and mesenchymal markers, but are less migratory and invasive than 67NR cells. These findings demonstrate that the metastatic ability of breast cancer cells does not correlate with genotypic and phenotypic properties of EMT per se, and suggest that other processes may govern metastatic capability. Gene expression analysis also has not identified differences in EMT markers, but has identified several candidate genes that may influence metastatic ability. Experiment Overall Design: Female BALB/c mice were injected with 1x10^6 viable cells (3 mice with 4T1/CMVLUC, 3 mice with 66cl4/CMVLUC, and 3 mice with 67NR/CMVLUC) into the right fourth mammary gland. 15 days after injection primary tumors were excised, and total RNA for microarray hybridization was isolated from the tumor part of laser capture microdissected sections.
Project description:To investigate how tumor heterogeneity involved in ferroptosis mediated by the physical microenvironment is a breakthrough in solving the therapeutic resistance of colorectal cancer (CRC). Based on the three-dimensional (3D) fibrin gel model, we identified four stages of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in vitro that are synergistically regulated by mechanical cues and E-cadherin (ECAD) expression with varying degrees of resistance to ferroptosis. Mechanistically, we elucidated that 3D cells undergoing hybrid EMT fought ferroptosis via WNT/β-catenin-GPXs/ferritin signaling axis, while cells of a late-hybrid EMT state relied on adhesion tension forced mitohormesis to reach super defense against ferroptosis. This work deconstructed the distinct contributions of tumor heterogeneity to ferroptosis from an EMT perspective and uncovered the biomechanical weakness of therapeutic resistance. These findings, in conjunction with tumoroids, were expected to serve for future ferroptosis-based personalized diagnosis and treatment of CRC.