Project description:Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) has a relatively aggressive biological behavior and poor outcome. Our published study showed that PAI-1 could induce the migration and metastasis of TNBC cells. However, the underlying mechanism by which PAI-1 regulates TNBC metastasis has not been addressed. Using microarray analysis of lncRNA expression profiles, we identified a lncRNA SOX2-OT, which is by induced by PAI-1 and could function as an oncogenic lncRNA in TNBC.
Project description:Copper serves as a co-factor for a host of metalloenzymes that contribute to malignant progression. The orally bioavailable copper chelating agent tetrathiomolybdate (TM) has been associated with a significant survival benefit in high-risk triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) patients. Despite these promising data, the mechanisms by which copper depletion impacts metastasis are poorly understood and this remains a major barrier to advancing TM to a randomized phase II trial. Here, using two independent TNBC models, we report a discrete subpopulation of highly metastatic SOX2/OCT4+ cells within primary tumors that exhibit elevated intracellular copper levels and marked sensitivity to TM. Global proteomic and metabolomic profiling identified TM-mediated inactivation of Complex IV as the primary metabolic defect in the SOX2/OCT4+ cell population. We identified the AMPK/mTORC1 energy sensor as an important downstream pathway and show that AMPK inhibition rescues TM-mediated loss of invasion. Furthermore, loss of the mitochondria-specific copper chaperone, COX17, restricted copper deficiency to mitochondria and phenocopied TM-mediated alterations. These findings identify a novel copper-metabolism-metastasis axis with potential to enrich patient populations in next-generation therapeutic trials.
Project description:Triple-Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) is known for its high recurrence and metastasis rates, posing treatment difficulties and a poor prognosis post-metastasis. Exosomes, linked to metastasis and immune evasion, could be early biomarkers for tumor spread. This study seeks to identify and preliminarily validate serum markers for diagnosing TNBC metastasis using high-throughput sequencing.
Project description:Purpose: To understand the underlying mechanisms of oncolytic virus therapy in breast cancer. Methods: The primary tumors of 4T1 in BALB/C mice were extracted and analyzed by RNA-seq. Results: In consistent with previous studies, we found some anti-tumor factors were up-regulated. Interestingly, several immunosupressive genes were activited. Conclusion: Our study identified the intercellular and intercellular factors restricting the optimized oHSV efficacy and supported the rationally designed triple therapy for clinical translation.