Breast cancer metastasis to liver and lung is facilitated by Pit-1-CXCL12-CXCR4 axis

Autor: Francisco J. Vizoso, Juan Sendon-Lago, Manuel Macia, Tomás García-Caballero, Anxo Martinez-Ordoñez, Laura Sánchez, Noemi Eiro, Samuel Seoane, Luis O. González, Pablo Cabezas, Roman Perez-Fernandez
Rok vydání: 2018
Předmět:
Zdroj: Oncogene. 37:1430-1444
ISSN: 1476-5594
0950-9232
Popis: Development of human tumors is driven by accumulation of alterations in tumor suppressor genes and oncogenes in cells. The POU1F1 transcription factor (also known Pit-1) is expressed in the mammary gland and its overexpression induces profound phenotypic changes in proteins involved in breast cancer progression. Patients with breast cancer and elevated expression of Pit-1 show a positive correlation with the occurrence of distant metastasis and poor overall survival. However, some mediators of Pit-1 actions are still unknown. Here, we show that CXCR4 chemokine receptor and its ligand CXCL12 play a critical role in the pro-tumoral process induced by Pit-1. We found that Pit-1 increases mRNA and protein in both CXCR4 and CXCL12. Knock-down of CXCR4 reduces tumor growth and spread of Pit-1 overexpressing cells in a zebrafish xenograft model. Furthermore, we described for the first time pro-angiogenic effects of Pit-1 through the CXCL12-CXCR4 axis, and that extravasation of Pit-1 overexpressing breast cancer cells is strongly reduced in CXCL12-deprived target tissues. Finally, in breast cancer patients, expression of Pit-1 in primary tumors was found to be positively correlated with CXCR4 and CXCL12, with specific metastasis in liver and lung, and with clinical outcome. Our results suggest that Pit-1-CXCL12-CXCR4 axis could be involved in chemotaxis guidance during the metastatic process, and may represent prognostic and/or therapeutic targets in breast tumors.
Databáze: OpenAIRE