Abstract:Type I (IFNα/β) interferon signaling represents a critical transduction pathway involved in recognition and destruction of nascent tumor cells. Downregulation of this pathway to promote a more immunosuppressed microenvironment contributes to the ability of tumor cells to evade the immune system, a known Hallmark of Cancer. The present study investigates the progesterone receptor (PR), which is expressed in the vast majority of breast cancers, and its ability to inhibit efficient interferon signaling in tumor c… Show more
“…Thus, low MYC targets and androgen response 35 , two transcriptional signatures, which themselves may reflect low PR signaling activity, are associated with an increased transcriptional and proliferative response upon P4 stimulation suggesting that increased, PR signaling activity renders cells insensitive to the ligand. The differential enrichment of the immunomodulatory pathways, TNFα and INFα signaling suggest close crosstalk between the pregnancy hormone and the innate immune response as reported recently 36 , 37 . Fig.…”
Estrogen and progesterone receptor (ER, PR) signaling control breast development and impinge on breast carcinogenesis. ER is an established driver of ER + disease but the role of the PR, itself an ER target gene, is debated. We assess the issue in clinically relevant settings by a genetic approach and inject ER + breast cancer cell lines and patient-derived tumor cells to the milk ducts of immunocompromised mice. Such ER + xenografts were exposed to physiologically relevant levels of 17-β-estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P4). We find that independently both premenopausal E2 and P4 levels increase tumor growth and combined treatment enhances metastatic spread. The proliferative responses are patient-specific with MYC and androgen receptor (AR) signatures determining P4 response. PR is required for tumor growth in patient samples and sufficient to drive tumor growth and metastasis in ER signaling ablated tumor cells. Our findings suggest that endocrine therapy may need to be personalized, and that abrogating PR expression can be a therapeutic option.
“…Thus, low MYC targets and androgen response 35 , two transcriptional signatures, which themselves may reflect low PR signaling activity, are associated with an increased transcriptional and proliferative response upon P4 stimulation suggesting that increased, PR signaling activity renders cells insensitive to the ligand. The differential enrichment of the immunomodulatory pathways, TNFα and INFα signaling suggest close crosstalk between the pregnancy hormone and the innate immune response as reported recently 36 , 37 . Fig.…”
Estrogen and progesterone receptor (ER, PR) signaling control breast development and impinge on breast carcinogenesis. ER is an established driver of ER + disease but the role of the PR, itself an ER target gene, is debated. We assess the issue in clinically relevant settings by a genetic approach and inject ER + breast cancer cell lines and patient-derived tumor cells to the milk ducts of immunocompromised mice. Such ER + xenografts were exposed to physiologically relevant levels of 17-β-estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P4). We find that independently both premenopausal E2 and P4 levels increase tumor growth and combined treatment enhances metastatic spread. The proliferative responses are patient-specific with MYC and androgen receptor (AR) signatures determining P4 response. PR is required for tumor growth in patient samples and sufficient to drive tumor growth and metastasis in ER signaling ablated tumor cells. Our findings suggest that endocrine therapy may need to be personalized, and that abrogating PR expression can be a therapeutic option.
“…Our data revealed that the luminal tumor co-marker progesterone receptor (PR), which is linked to an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment [ 55 , 56 ], displayed a decrease in expression at the highest significance as compared to the cold subgroup ( Figure 4 B,C). Another contemplated immunomodulation factor is the PPARγ/RXRα pathway, which regulates cell proliferation and inflammation [ 57 ].…”
In cancer, the complex interplay between tumor cells and the tumor microenvironment results in the modulation of signaling processes. By assessing the expression of a multitude of proteins and protein variants in cancer tissue, wide-ranging information on signaling pathway activation and the status of the immunological landscape is obtainable and may provide viable information on the treatment response. Archived breast cancer tissues from a cohort of 84 patients (no adjuvant therapy) were analyzed by high-throughput Western blotting, and the expression of 150 proteins covering central cancer pathways and immune cell markers was examined. By assessing CD8α, CD11c, CD16 and CD68 expression, immune cell infiltration was determined and revealed a strong correlation between event-free patient survival and the infiltration of immune cells. The presence of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes was linked to the pronounced activation of the Jak/Stat signaling pathway and apoptotic processes. The elevated phosphorylation of PPARγ (pS112) in non-immune-infiltrated tumors suggests a novel immune evasion mechanism in breast cancer characterized by increased PPARγ phosphorylation. Multiplexed immune cell marker assessment and the protein profiling of tumor tissue provide functional signaling data facilitating breast cancer patient stratification.
“…Our data revealed that the luminal tumour co-marker progesterone receptor (PR), which is linked to an immunosuppressive tumour microenvironment [47, 48], displayed a decrease in expression at the highest significance as compared to the cold subgroup (Figure 4B, C). Another contemplated immunomodulation factor is the PPARγ/RXRα pathway which regulates cell proliferation and inflammation [49].…”
Background: In cancerous tissue, a complex interplay of tumour cells with different cell types from the tumour microenvironment is causing modulations in signalling processes. By directly assessing expression of a multitude of proteins and protein variants, extensive information on signalling pathways, their activation status and the effect of the immunological landscape can be obtained providing viable information for treatment response. Methods: Protein extracted from archived breast cancer tissue from patients without adjuvant therapy was subjected to high-throughput Western blotting using the DigiWest technology. Expression of 150 proteins and protein variants covering cell cycle control, apoptosis, Jak/Stat, MAPK-, Pi3K/Akt-, Wnt-, and , autophagic signalling as well as general tumour markers was monitored in a cohort of 84 patient samples. The degree of immune cell infiltration was investigated and set against treatment outcome by integrating patient specific follow-up data. Results: Characterization of the tumour microenvironment by monitoring CD8α, CD11c, CD16 and CD68 expression revealed a strong correlation of event-free patient survival with immune cell infiltration. Furthermore, the presence of tumour infiltrating lymphocytes was linked to a pronounced activation of the Jak/Stat signalling pathway and apoptotic processes. Elevated phosphorylation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ, pS112) in non-immune infiltrated tumour tissue suggests a novel immune evasion mechanism in breast cancer characterized by increased PPARγ activation. Conclusion: Multiplexed immune cell marker assessment and protein profiling of tumour tissue provides functional signalling data facilitating breast cancer patient stratification.
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