Mara Binda

miR-205 Exerts Tumor-Suppressive Functions in Human Prostate through Down-regulation of Protein Kinase Cε

Limited information is available concerning the expression and role of microRNAs in prostate cancer. In this study, we investigated the involvement of miR-205 in prostate carcinogenesis. Significantly lower miR-205 expression levels were found in cancer than in normal prostate cell lines as well as in tumor compared with matched normal prostate tissues, with a particularly pronounced reduction in carcinomas from patients with local-regionally disseminated disease. Restoring the expression of miR-205 in prostate cancer cells resulted in cell rearrangements consistent with a mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition, such as up-regulation of E-cadherin and reduction of cell locomotion and invasion, and in the down-regulation of several oncogenes known to be involved in disease progression (i.e., interleukin 6, caveolin-1, EZH2). Our evidence suggests that these events are driven by the concurrent repression of specific predicted miR-205 targets, namely N-chimaerin, ErbB3, E2F1, E2F5, ZEB2, and protein kinase Cepsilon. Strikingly, the latter seemed to play a direct role in regulating epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. In fact, its down-regulation led to a cell phenotype largely reminiscent of that of cells ectopically expressing miR-205. Overall, we showed for the first time that miR-205 exerts a tumor-suppressive effect in human prostate by counteracting epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and reducing cell migration/invasion, at least in part through the down-regulation of protein kinase Cepsilon.

Ribozyme-mediated inhibition of survivin expression increases spontaneous and drug-induced apoptosis and decreases the tumorigenic potential of human prostate cancer cells

Survivin is a member of the inhibitor of apoptosis protein (IAP) family, which has been implicated in inhibition of apoptosis and control of mitotic progression. The finding that survivin is overexpressed in most human tumors but absent in normal adult tissues has led to the proposal of survivin as a promising therapeutic target for anticancer therapies. We decided to evaluate the effects of a ribozyme-based strategy for survivin inhibition in androgen-independent human prostate cancer cells. We constructed a Moloney-based retroviral vector expressing a ribozyme targeting the 3′ end of the CUA110 triplet in survivin mRNA, encoded as a chimeric RNA within adenoviral VA1 RNA. Polyclonal cell populations obtained by infection with the retroviral vector of two androgen-independent human prostate cancer cell lines (DU145 and PC-3) were selected for the study. Ribozyme-expressing prostate cancer cells were characterized by a significant reduction of survivin expression compared to parental cells transduced with a control ribozyme; the cells became polyploid, underwent caspase-9-dependent apoptosis and showed an altered pattern of gene expression, as detected by oligonucleotide array analysis. Survivin inhibition also increased the susceptibility of prostate cancer cells to cisplatin-induced apoptosis and prevented tumor formation when cells were xenografted in athymic nude mice. These findings suggest that manipulation of the antiapoptotic survivin pathway may provide a novel approach for the treatment of androgen-independent prostate cancer.

Silencing of survivin gene by small interfering RNAs produces supra-additive growth suppression in combination with 17-allylamino-17-demethoxygeldanamycin in human prostate cancer cells

Survivin is an antiapoptotic gene, which is overexpressed in most human tumors and involved in mitotic checkpoint control. Recent evidence points to an essential role for heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) in survivin function regulation. Although the survivin-Hsp90 association may promote tumor cell proliferation, it may also suggest new opportunities for the design of novel anticancer approaches. We evaluated the effect of small interfering RNA (siRNA)–mediated inhibition of survivin on the proliferative potential of prostate cancer cells and their sensitivity to the Hsp90 inhibitor 17-allylamino-17-demethoxygeldanamycin (17-AAG). Human androgen-independent prostate cancer cell lines (DU145 and PC-3) were transfected with four 21-mer double-stranded siRNAs (100 nmol/L) directed against different portions of survivin mRNA. After transfection, cells were collected and analyzed for survivin mRNA and protein expression, cell proliferation rate, ability to undergo apoptosis, and sensitivity to 17-AAG. Transfection of prostate cancer cells with siRNAs induced a variable extent of inhibition of survivin mRNA expression (39–60% compared with controls), which was paralleled by a 38% to 75% reduction in survivin protein abundance. The three siRNAs able to induce the greatest inhibition of survivin expression also significantly reduced cell proliferation and enhanced the rate of apoptosis, with a concomitant increase in caspase-9 activity. Sequential treatment with siRNA and 17-AAG induced supra-additive antiproliferative effects in all cell lines, with an enhanced caspase-9-dependent apoptotic response. These findings suggest that combined strategies aimed at interfering with the survivin-Hsp90 connection may provide novel approaches for treatment of androgen-independent prostate cancer. [Mol Cancer Ther 2006;5(1):179–86]

Potentiation of paclitaxel-induced apoptosis by the novel cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor NU6140: a possible role for survivin down-regulation

Cyclin-dependent kinases (CDK) play a crucial role in the control of the cell cycle. Aberrations in the control of cell cycle progression occur in the majority of human malignancies; hence, CDKs are promising targets for anticancer therapy. Here, we define the cellular effects of the novel CDK inhibitor NU6140, alone or in association with paclitaxel, with respect to inhibition of cell proliferation and cell cycle progression and induction of apoptosis in HeLa cervical carcinoma cells and in comparison with purvalanol A. Both CDK inhibitors induced a concentration-dependent cell cycle arrest at the G2-M phase and an increase in the apoptotic rate, with a concomitant down-regulation of the antiapoptotic protein survivin, a member of the inhibitors of apoptosis protein family. Notably, the addition of NU6140 to paclitaxel-treated cells resulted in markedly increased cytotoxic effect and apoptotic response in comparison with the paclitaxel-purvalanol A combination (86 ± 11% and 37 ± 8%, respectively). Similarly, the extent of caspase-9 and caspase-3 activation in paclitaxel-NU6140–treated cells was ∼4-fold higher than after the paclitaxel-purvalanol A combination. Moreover, an almost complete abrogation of the expression of the active, Thr34-phosphorylated form of survivin was observed in cells exposed to the paclitaxel-NU6140 combination. A synergistic effect of the paclitaxel-NU6140 combination, as a consequence of survivin inhibition and increased activation of caspase-9 and caspase-3, was also observed in OAW42/e ovarian cancer line but not in the derived OAW42/Surv subline ectopically expressing survivin. Results from this study indicate that NU6140 significantly potentiates the apoptotic effect of paclitaxel, with inhibition of survivin expression/phosphorylation as the potential mechanism.

Photochemically enhanced delivery of a cell‐penetrating peptide nucleic acid conjugate targeting human telomerase reverse transcriptase: effects on telomere status and proliferative potential of human prostate cancer cells

Abstract.  Objectives: Peptide nucleic acids (PNAs) are DNA mimics that have been demonstrated to be efficient antisense/antigene tools in cell‐free systems. However, their potential as in vivo regulators of gene expression has been hampered by their poor uptake by living cells, and strategies need to be developed for their intracellular delivery. This study has aimed to demonstrate the possibility (i) of efficiently delivering a PNA, which targets mRNA of the catalytic component of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT), into DU145 prostate cancer cells through a combined approach based on conjugation of the PNA to Tat internalizing peptide (hTERT‐PNA‐Tat) and subsequent photochemical internalization, and (ii) to interfere with telomerase function. Materials and methods: Treated cells were analysed for telomerase activity, hTERT expression, growth rate, ability to undergo apoptosis and telomere status. Results: After exposure to light, DU145 cells treated with hTERT‐PNA‐Tat and the photosensitiser TPPS2a showed dose‐dependent inhibition of telomerase activity, which was accompanied by marked reduction of hTERT protein expression. A dose‐dependent decline in DU145 cell population growth and induction of caspase‐dependent apoptosis were also observed from 48 h after treatment. Such an antiproliferative effect was associated with the presence of telomeric dysfunction, as revealed by cytogenetic analysis, in the absence of telomere shrinkage, and with induction of DNA damage response as suggested by the increased expression of γ‐H2AX. Conclusions: Our results (i) indicate photochemical internalization as an efficient approach for intracellular delivery of chimaeric PNAs, and (ii) corroborate earlier evidence suggesting pro‐survival and anti‐apoptotic roles of hTERT, which are independent of its ability to maintain telomere length.

Breast cancer-initiating cells: insights into novel treatment strategies.

There is accumulating evidence that breast cancer may arise from mutated mammary stem/progenitor cells which have been termed breast cancer-initiating cells (BCIC). BCIC identified in clinical specimens based on membrane phenotype (CD44+/CD24−/low and/or CD133+ expression) or enzymatic activity of aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 (ALDH1+), have been demonstrated to have stem/progenitor cell properties, and are tumorigenic when injected in immunocompromized mice at very low concentrations. BCIC have also been isolated and in vitro propagated as non-adherent spheres of undifferentiated cells, and stem cell patterns have been recognized even in cancer cell lines. Recent findings indicate that aberrant regulation of self renewal is central to cancer stem cell biology. Alterations in genes involved in self-renewal pathways, such as Wnt, Notch, sonic hedgehog, PTEN and BMI, proved to play a role in breast cancer progression. Hence, targeting key elements mediating the self renewal of BCIC represents an attractive option, with a solid rationale, clearly identifiable molecular targets, and adequate knowledge of the involved pathways. Possible concerns are related to the poor knowledge of tolerance and efficacy of inhibiting self-renewal mechanisms, because the latter are key pathways for a variety of biological functions and it is unknown whether their interference would kill BCIC or simply temporarily stop them. Thus, efforts to develop BCIC-targeted therapies should not only be focused on interfering on self-renewal, but could seek to identify additional molecular targets, like those involved in regulating EMT-related pathways, in reversing the MDR phenotype, in inducing differentiation and controlling cell survival pathways.

Molecular cytogenetic characterization of stem-like cancer cells isolated from established cell lines

There is indication that tumor growth is sustained by subpopulation of cells with stem-like features but little is known on their genomic characterization and their genetic stability. We report a detailed molecular cytogenetic characterization using Spectral Karyotyping and fluorescent in situ hybridization of parental serum-cultured adherent cells and their sphere-growing stem-like counterpart before and after differentiation from six cell lines established from solid tumors. Our findings indicate increased cytogenetic complexity in sphere-growing stem-like and their differentiated adherent cells compared to parental adherent component suggesting the existence within cell lines of heterogeneous and genetically unstable subpopulations of cells endowed with stem-like features.