| HOME | HELP | FEEDBACK | SUBSCRIPTIONS | ARCHIVE | SEARCH | TABLE OF CONTENTS |
Tumor Biology |
Departments of Pathology [C. A. I-D., P. A.] and Oncology [P. M. H., J. J., S. E. K.], The Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, Maryland 21231
| ABSTRACT |
|---|
|
|
|---|
1) was expressed throughout the stromal response (panstromal expression), whereas the second (osteonectin) was specifically expressed within the juxtatumoral stromal cells, indicating a critical "regionality" of gene expression within the stromal response itself. A comparison of the gene expression profiles of the juxtatumoral stroma in breast and pancreatic carcinomas indicated important differences between the two, suggesting tumor-specific or organ-specific differences in the desmoplastic responses. Some of the genes presented are novel markers of the invasive process, imply communication at the host/tumor interface, and suggest potential therapeutic targets. | INTRODUCTION |
|---|
|
|
|---|
Recent investigations into the host desmoplastic response to infiltrating pancreatic adenocarcinoma have identified or refined an architectural organization of gene expression within this host response (1 , 2) . Ryu et al. (1) identified an invasion-specific cluster of genes when comparing SAGE3 libraries of primary carcinomas to those derived from passaged cancer cell lines. Many of the genes identified were found to be markers of the exuberant host stromal response present in infiltrating pancreatic cancers, representing distinct classes of genes with differing cellular functions. In situ hybridization, using 12 of these invasion-specific genes as probes, illustrated how gene expression patterns are partitioned into spatial compartments within the desmoplastic response to the tumor cells, including a distinct "juxtatumoral stroma," a region of the host response thought to be important for tumor-host interactions (2) . These genes, and their associated architectural compartments of gene expression, represent potential new targets for diagnostic screening or for therapeutic development.
We proposed that similar study of the desmoplastic response to an infiltrating carcinoma might be useful in understanding the molecular biology of other tumor types such as infiltrating duct carcinomas of the breast, which also characteristically can produce a prominent host stromal response (3) . We applied principal component analysis to a set of SAGE libraries generated from normal and neoplastic breast cancer tissues and cell lines and characterized those genes identified by in situ hybridization: (a) we determined whether the gene expression characteristic of the desmoplastic response to breast cancer is similar to that found in response to other epithelial neoplasms; (b) we examined whether spatially defined regions of gene expression exist among the desmoplastic responses to breast cancers, with specific attention to the juxtatumoral stroma; and (c) we sought to determine whether specific genes potentially important in the desmoplastic response to one tumor type may play a similar role in other epithelial neoplasms as well.
| MATERIALS AND METHODS |
|---|
|
|
|---|
Biocomputational Tools.
The Cluster and TreeView computer programs were obtained from the online resource5
and used for PCA and visualization of tree diagrams (5)
. SAGE data were filtered as follows. Exclusion was applied to tags when fewer than two samples contained at least 5 tags in the raw data and when minimum and maximum values among all samples differed by <4 tags. This produced a dataset of 2,575 tags from an original 88,178 unique tags. The data were imported into the Cluster program and log-transformed, and PCA was performed. The names of genes and ESTs that matched the tag sequences were obtained using an online resource from NCBI.6
Tissues.
Paraffin-embedded tissues of four samples of infiltrating duct carcinoma of the breast were obtained from the files of The Johns Hopkins Hospital. For each case, one representative section was chosen that contained invasive carcinoma and normal duct and lobule structures on the same slide. Three of the four cases also contained high-grade DCIS within the same paraffin section. All four carcinomas were Elston grade II/III (6)
.
Nonradioactive in Situ Hybridization of Paraffin Sections.
To generate riboprobes for use in in situ hybridization of genes of interest, DNA templates were generated by PCR with incorporation of a T7 promoter into the antisense or sense primer (7)
. After phenol:chloroform purification of amplified DNA, 200 ng of the DNA templates were used to generate either antisense or sense riboprobes by in vitro transcription with digoxigenin labeling reagents and T7 polymerase according to the manufacturers protocol (Roche Diagnostics, Indianapolis, IN).
In situ hybridization of paraffin-embedded tissues were performed following methods modified from Kadkol et al. (8) . Five-µ-thick sections were cut from the paraffin blocks, deparaffinized in xylene, and hydrated in graded concentrations of ethanol for 5 min each. Sections were incubated with 1% hydrogen peroxide, followed by digestion in 10 µg/ml of proteinase K at 37°C for 30 min. Sections were hybridized overnight at 1525°C below the Tm calculated for each individual riboprobe with a 200 ng/ml dilution of either antisense or sense riboprobes in mRNA hybridization buffer (DAKO, Carpinteria, CA). The following day, sections were washed in 2x SSC (0.3 M sodium chloride and 0.03 M sodium citrate) and incubated with a 1:35 dilution of RNase A cocktail (Ambion, Austin, TX) in 2x SSC for 37°C. Next, sections were stringently washed in 2x SSC/50% formamide twice, followed by one wash at 0.08x SSC at 58°C below the calculated Tm. For signal amplification, a horseradish peroxidase-conjugated rabbit anti-digoxigenin antibody (DAKO) was used to catalyze the deposition of biotinyl-tyramide, followed by secondary streptavidin complex (GenPoint kit; DAKO). The final signal was developed with 3,3'-diaminobenzidine chromagen (GenPoint kit; DAKO), and the tissue was counterstained in hematoxylin for 15 s.
Histological Evaluation of Tissue Sections.
In situ hybridization labeling of mRNA expression in samples of paraffin-embedded pancreatic carcinoma was evaluated by three of the authors (C. A. I-D., P. A., and S. E. K.) with agreement in all cases examined. For each case, the labeling pattern obtained following in situ hybridization was evaluated for the presence or absence of gene expression individually within the normal duct epithelium, duct carcinoma in situ (if present), and infiltrating duct carcinoma. Expression was also evaluated within the desmoplastic stroma of the neoplasm and the vasculature within the normal tissues and tumor mass. In those cases having positive expression noted within the tumor stroma, gene expression was scored as occurring within the entire stromal region of the tumor or in the stroma immediately adjacent to tumor epithelium (juxtatumoral stroma).
| RESULTS AND DISCUSSION |
|---|
|
|
|---|
|
|
Genes Characteristic of Invasive Breast Cancer.
Table 1
contains the identities of the SAGE tags and their frequency of appearance in the invasion-specific gene cluster of breast duct carcinoma. Among 103 tags, 68 matched to known transcripts, and 35 might include novel genes. A comparison of the genes identified in our invasion-specific cluster to that of Porter et al. (4)
revealed several similarities, with 15 of the genes identified in their analysis also being identified by our methods (Table 1)
. However, several genes were identified in our cluster that were not reported (e.g., thymosin ß4, apolipoprotein E, laminin receptor 1, and IGFBP7), suggesting the contrasting of primary tumors to breast cancer cell lines and analysis by PCA may be more appropriate for the identification of invasion-specific gene expression.
|
Genes identified within this cluster reflected the presence of various components of the host stromal response, including extracellular matrix remodeling (e.g., collagen 1
1; Ref. 12
), angiogenesis (e.g., IGFBP7 and osteonectin; Ref. 13
), the immune response (e.g., immunoglobulin heavy chain
3; Refs. 9
, 14
), increased proliferation (cdk inhibitor 3 and SMC4-like 1; Refs. 9
, 14
), or elevated transciptional demands (ribosomal proteins; Ref. 15
). Relatively few genes identified within this breast invasion-specific gene cluster, however, were also present within the invasion-specific gene cluster characteristic of pancreatic cancer (1)
. Genes that were found in both invasion-specific gene clusters included apolipoprotein C-1, osteonectin, and collagen 1
1, suggesting that some genes may play a universal role in the host stromal response to infiltrating cancer. However, most genes identified in the breast invasion-specific gene cluster were not identified in the invasion-specific cluster of the pancreas, and vice versa. It was thus possible that invasion-specific gene expression might relate to the primary organ in which the host stromal response occurs. Alternatively, because the identification of invasion-specific genes by PCA predominantly reflects quantitative changes in expression, the differences in desmoplastic gene expression between these two tumor types might primarily reflect the relatively more exuberant host stromal response to pancreas cancer, with a more cellular host response perhaps being represented in SAGE libraries from those tumors. These possibilities were addressed by in situ studies.
In situ Hybridization of Selected Invasion-specific Genes.
Because invasive breast carcinomas represent an aggregate of diverse cell types, the precise cellular origin of these transcripts cannot be determined without additional study. To define the cellular origin and patterns of expression of these genes associated with the host stromal response to breast cancer, 6 genes were selected for further study of their expression in invasive breast carcinoma tissues by in situ hybridization (Fig. 3)
. These gene expression markers were selected for their presumed role in the host stromal response, such as new vessel formation (IGFBP7 and osteonectin; Ref. 13
), fibroblastic proliferation (collagen 1
1 and apoliproprotein C-1; Ref. 1
), extracellular matrix remodeling (collagen 1
1 and laminin receptor 1; Refs. 1
, 16
), or the inflammatory response (fusin; Ref. 17
).
|
Four of the 6 genes were expressed within a single architectural compartment in the four samples of invasive cancer (Fig. 3)
. Expression of laminin receptor 1 was localized to neoplastic epithelium, with no additional expression noted in the surrounding stromal or angioendothelial compartments. In contrast, collagen 1
1 gene expression was observed throughout the stromal response (panstromal), whereas the neoplastic epithelial and angioendothelial compartments were negative for expression of this gene. Finally, the gene expression of fusin and apolipoprotein C-1 was observed within leukocytic (inflammatory) cells infiltrating within the invasive carcinomas. Fusin gene expression was predominantly within small lymphocytes, whereas apolipoprotein C-1 gene expression was within macrophages infiltrating the tumor or within necrotic debris associated with DCIS. Osteonectin and IGFBP7 were expressed within two architectural compartments in all four carcinomas studied. Osteonectin gene expression was observed within angioendothelial cells and the juxtatumoral stroma in all four cases. IGFBP7 was predominantly expressed within the angioendothelium, although two of four cases also showed weak labeling of tumor epithelium. Thus, although the identification of IGFBP7 within the invasion-specific cluster of breast cancer can largely be attributed to endothelial expression, our results are fully consistent with the published reports of IGFBP7 gene expression within breast tumor epithelium (18
, 19)
. Three genes (osteonectin, collagen 1
1, and IGFBP7) were specifically expressed within the invasive tumor as compared with adjacent normal breast tissue and serve as markers of the desmoplastic response in infiltrating breast carcinomas (20
, 21) . Osteonectin is a phosphorylated, acidic, glycine-rich glycoprotein of Mr 43,000 with multiple Ca2+-binding domains. The function of osteonectin is not primarily known, but it is thought to be involved in angiogenesis and remodeling of the extracellular matrix in keeping with its elevated expression in the host stromal response (22
, 23)
. Collagen 1
1 expression by the stroma likely reflects the transcriptional activity of proliferating fibroblastic tissue within the host response. IGFBP7, which was strongly expressed by endothelial cells, has not been described as an endothelial-specific marker in human tumors, although other members of this gene family have been so implicated (13)
. For each invasive carcinoma analyzed, samples of normal breast terminal duct lobular unit epithelium were present within the same tissue section. Expression of three genes, fusin, apolipoprotein C-1, and laminin receptor 1, were also noted in tissues of the normal breast. Fusin expression was noted within small lymphocytes within the intralobular stroma of normal lobules, and apolipoprotein C-1 was expressed in macrophages present in benign ducts. Laminin receptor 1, although most strongly expressed by the neoplastic epithelium, was also weakly expressed in atrophic ducts, as well as in areas of DCIS both within and outside the mass.
Invasion-specific genes were thus spatially localized to distinct compartments of gene expression in the host stromal response to breast cancer. This extends our prior observations in the pancreas and supports the existence of a highly structured organization of gene expression within the host desmoplastic response to infiltrating carcinoma. Specifically, the finding of osteonectin gene expression localized to the juxtatumoral stroma validates this newly defined architectural region of the host stromal transcriptional response. Expression of osteonectin by the juxtatumoral stroma may thus be intimately involved with the invasive process and highlights this region as a potential site of tumor-host interactions to be targeted for therapeutic intervention.
Comparison of Juxtatumoral Gene Expression in Breast and Pancreas Carcinomas.
We have noted previously that apolipoprotein C-1, apolipoprotein D, and MMP11 are each gene expression markers of the juxtatumoral stromal compartment in adenocarcinomas of the pancreas (2)
. In an effort to better discern the gene expression patterns of this distinct region of the host stromal response, we performed in situ hybridization of each of these 3 genes in the four samples of invasive breast carcinoma, with comparison to the gene expression patterns seen previously in samples of paraffin-embedded pancreas cancers for these genes (Fig. 4)
.
|
Surprisingly, although these genes are associated with the process of tissue invasion in both breast and pancreas cancers, their role in tissue invasion differs between these two tumor types. These observations in turn raise several other questions regarding the desmoplastic response to human tumors, i.e., is the gene expression of the host stromal response to primary tumors similar to or different from the stromal response present in metastatic tumors? Do histologically different tumors that are derived from the same organ type produce similar or different host stromal responses? Our current data indicate that, with respect to the desmoplastic response, the robust patterns of gene expression in one tumor type are different from the robust patterns seen in other tumor types. Clearly, additional work needs to be done to determine how static or variable these gene expression patterns are.
In summary, the patterns of spatially organized compartments of gene expression in the host response to breast cancer and the comparisons among various cancer types provide new insights into the biology of desmoplasia. These similarities in the host stromal response to different tumor types may suggest some universal targets for therapeutic intervention. Additional studies to understand the desmoplastic response to invasive neoplasms may aid in identifying new targets for clinical imaging, serological diagnosis, drug development, and delivery.
|
| ACKNOWLEDGMENTS |
|---|
| FOOTNOTES |
|---|
1 Supported by the NIH Specialized Programs of Research Excellence in Gastrointestinal Cancer Grant CA 62924 (to S. E. K.) and the NIH Specialized Programs of Research Excellence in Breast Cancer Grant CA88843. ![]()
2 To whom requests for reprints should be addressed, at Department of Oncology, Room 461, Cancer Research Building, 1650 Orleans Street, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21231. Phone: (410) 614-3316; Fax: (410) 614-9705; E-mail: sk{at}jhmi.edu ![]()
3 The abbreviations used are: SAGE, serial analysis of gene expression; NCBI, National Center for Biotechnology Information; PCA, principal component analysis; EST, expressed sequence tag; DCIS, ductal carcinoma in situ; IGFBP, insulin-like growth factor binding protein. ![]()
4 Internet address: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/SAGE/. ![]()
5 Internet address: http://www.microarrays.org/software.html. ![]()
6 Internet address: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/SAGE/SAGEtag.cgi. ![]()
Received 4/17/02. Accepted 7/19/02.
| REFERENCES |
|---|
|
|
|---|
3ß1,
6ß1 and
6ß4 integrins. J. Cell Sci., 113 (Pt. 5): 869-876, 2000.[Abstract]
This article has been cited by other articles:
![]() |
Z.-S. Zhao, Y.-Y. Wang, Y.-Q. Chu, Z.-Y. Ye, and H.-Q. Tao SPARC Is Associated with Gastric Cancer Progression and Poor Survival of Patients Clin. Cancer Res., January 1, 2010; 16(1): 260 - 268. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
Y. Oku, T. Shimoji, K. Takifuji, T. Hotta, S. Yokoyama, K. Matsuda, T. Higashiguchi, T. Tominaga, T. Nasu, K. Tamura, et al. Identification of the Molecular Mechanisms for Dedifferentiation at the Invasion Front of Colorectal Cancer by a Gene Expression Analysis Clin. Cancer Res., November 15, 2008; 14(22): 7215 - 7222. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
Z. Qu, S. Van Ginkel, A. M. Roy, L. Westbrook, M. Nasrin, Y. Maxuitenko, A. R. Frost, D. Carey, W. Wang, R. Li, et al. Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Reduces Tamoxifen Efficacy and Promotes Metastatic Colonization and Desmoplasia in Breast Tumors Cancer Res., August 1, 2008; 68(15): 6232 - 6240. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
N. B. Prasad, H. Somervell, R. P. Tufano, A. P.B. Dackiw, M. R. Marohn, J. A. Califano, Y. Wang, W. H. Westra, D. P. Clark, C. B. Umbricht, et al. Identification of Genes Differentially Expressed in Benign versus Malignant Thyroid Tumors Clin. Cancer Res., June 1, 2008; 14(11): 3327 - 3337. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
J. M. Halbleib, A. M. Saaf, P. O. Brown, and W. J. Nelson Transcriptional Modulation of Genes Encoding Structural Characteristics of Differentiating Enterocytes During Development of a Polarized Epithelium In Vitro Mol. Biol. Cell, November 1, 2007; 18(11): 4261 - 4278. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
M. Gronborg, T. Z. Kristiansen, A. Iwahori, R. Chang, R. Reddy, N. Sato, H. Molina, O. N. Jensen, R. H. Hruban, M. G. Goggins, et al. Biomarker Discovery from Pancreatic Cancer Secretome Using a Differential Proteomic Approach Mol. Cell. Proteomics, January 1, 2006; 5(1): 157 - 171. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
Y. Ikuta, T. Nakatsura, T. Kageshita, S. Fukushima, S. Ito, K. Wakamatsu, H. Baba, and Y. Nishimura Highly Sensitive Detection of Melanoma at an Early Stage Based on the Increased Serum Secreted Protein Acidic and Rich in Cysteine and Glypican-3 Levels Clin. Cancer Res., November 15, 2005; 11(22): 8079 - 8088. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
J. E. Koblinski, B. R. Kaplan-Singer, S. J. VanOsdol, M. Wu, J. A. Engbring, S. Wang, C. M. Goldsmith, J. T. Piper, J. G. Vostal, J. F. Harms, et al. Endogenous Osteonectin/SPARC/BM-40 Expression Inhibits MDA-MB-231 Breast Cancer Cell Metastasis Cancer Res., August 15, 2005; 65(16): 7370 - 7377. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
M. P.H.M. Jansen, J. A. Foekens, I. L. van Staveren, M. M. Dirkzwager-Kiel, K. Ritstier, M. P. Look, M. E. Meijer-van Gelder, A. M. Sieuwerts, H. Portengen, L. C.J. Dorssers, et al. Molecular Classification of Tamoxifen-Resistant Breast Carcinomas by Gene Expression Profiling J. Clin. Oncol., February 1, 2005; 23(4): 732 - 740. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
I. Zucchi, E. Mento, V. A. Kuznetsov, M. Scotti, V. Valsecchi, B. Simionati, E. Vicinanza, G. Valle, S. Pilotti, R. Reinbold, et al. Gene expression profiles of epithelial cells microscopically isolated from a breast-invasive ductal carcinoma and a nodal metastasis PNAS, December 28, 2004; 101(52): 18147 - 18152. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
B. S. Parker, P. Argani, B. P. Cook, H. Liangfeng, S. D. Chartrand, M. Zhang, S. Saha, A. Bardelli, Y. Jiang, T. B. St. Martin, et al. Alterations in Vascular Gene Expression in Invasive Breast Carcinoma Cancer Res., November 1, 2004; 64(21): 7857 - 7866. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
N. Oue, Y. Hamai, Y. Mitani, S. Matsumura, Y. Oshimo, P. P. Aung, K. Kuraoka, H. Nakayama, and W. Yasui Gene Expression Profile of Gastric Carcinoma: Identification of Genes and Tags Potentially Involved in Invasion, Metastasis, and Carcinogenesis by Serial Analysis of Gene Expression Cancer Res., April 1, 2004; 64(7): 2397 - 2405. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
P. A. Puolakkainen, R. A. Brekken, S. Muneer, and E. H. Sage Enhanced Growth of Pancreatic Tumors in SPARC-Null Mice Is Associated With Decreased Deposition of Extracellular Matrix and Reduced Tumor Cell Apoptosis Mol. Cancer Res., April 1, 2004; 2(4): 215 - 224. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
T. Maeda, C. M. Alexander, and A. Friedl Induction of Syndecan-1 Expression in Stromal Fibroblasts Promotes Proliferation of Human Breast Cancer Cells Cancer Res., January 15, 2004; 64(2): 612 - 621. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
C. A. Iacobuzio-Donahue, R. Ashfaq, A. Maitra, N. V. Adsay, G. L. Shen-Ong, K. Berg, M. A. Hollingsworth, J. L. Cameron, C. J. Yeo, S. E. Kern, et al. Highly Expressed Genes in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinomas: A Comprehensive Characterization and Comparison of the Transcription Profiles Obtained from Three Major Technologies Cancer Res., December 15, 2003; 63(24): 8614 - 8622. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
J. Walter-Yohrling, X. Cao, M. Callahan, W. Weber, S. Morgenbesser, S. L. Madden, C. Wang, and B. A. Teicher Identification of Genes Expressed in Malignant Cells That Promote Invasion Cancer Res., December 15, 2003; 63(24): 8939 - 8947. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
M. I. Koukourakis, A. Giatromanolaki, R. A. Brekken, E. Sivridis, K. C. Gatter, A. L. Harris, and E. H. Sage Enhanced Expression of SPARC/Osteonectin in the Tumor-associated Stroma of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Is Correlated with Markers of Hypoxia/ Acidity and with Poor Prognosis of Patients Cancer Res., September 1, 2003; 63(17): 5376 - 5380. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
X. Chen, R. B. Halberg, W. M. Ehrhardt, J. Torrealba, and W. F. Dove Clusterin as a biomarker in murine and human intestinal neoplasia PNAS, August 5, 2003; 100(16): 9530 - 9535. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
B. Lin, M. T. Vahey, D. Thach, D. A. Stenger, and J. J. Pancrazio Biological Threat Detection via Host Gene Expression Profiling Clin. Chem., July 1, 2003; 49(7): 1045 - 1049. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
J. D. Cheng and L. M. Weiner Tumors and Their Microenvironments: Tilling the Soil: Commentary re: A. M. Scott et al., A Phase I Dose-Escalation Study of Sibrotuzumab in Patients with Advanced or Metastatic Fibroblast Activation Protein-positive Cancer. Clin. Cancer Res., 9: 1639-1647, 2003. Clin. Cancer Res., May 1, 2003; 9(5): 1590 - 1595. [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| HOME | HELP | FEEDBACK | SUBSCRIPTIONS | ARCHIVE | SEARCH | TABLE OF CONTENTS |
| Cancer Research | Clinical Cancer Research |
| Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers & Prevention | Molecular Cancer Therapeutics |
| Molecular Cancer Research | Cancer Prevention Research |
| Cancer Prevention Journals Portal | Cancer Reviews Online |
| Annual Meeting Education Book | Meeting Abstracts Online |