title: Embryonic and tumorigenic pathways converge via Nodal signaling: role in melanoma aggressiveness.
abstract: Bidirectional cellular communication is integral to both cancer progression and embryological development. In addition, aggressive tumor cells are phenotypically plastic, sharing many properties with embryonic cells. Owing to the similarities between these two types of cells, the developing zebrafish can be used as a biosensor for tumor-derived signals. Using this system, we show that aggressive melanoma cells secrete Nodal (a potent embryonic morphogen) and consequently can induce ectopic formation of the embryonic axis. We further show that Nodal is present in human metastatic tumors, but not in normal skin, and thus may be involved in melanoma pathogenesis. Inhibition of Nodal signaling reduces melanoma cell invasiveness, colony formation and tumorigenicity. Nodal inhibition also promotes the reversion of melanoma cells toward a melanocytic phenotype. These data suggest that Nodal signaling has a key role in melanoma cell plasticity and tumorigenicity, thereby providing a previously unknown molecular target for regulating tumor progression.
authors.affiliation: Program in Developmental Biology, Children's Memorial Research Center, Feinberg School of Medicine Northwestern University, 2300 Children's Plaza, Box 222, Chicago Illinois, 60614, USA.
authors.forename: Jolanta M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Topczewska
authors.forename: Lynne-Marie
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Postovit
authors.forename: Naira V
authors.initials: NV
authors.lastname: Margaryan
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sam
authors.forename: Angela R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Hess
authors.forename: William W
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Wheaton
authors.forename: Brian J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Nickoloff
authors.forename: Jacek
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Topczewski
authors.forename: Mary J C
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Hendrix
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D036703:Blastula / Q000637:transplantation; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008544:Melanocytes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008545:Melanoma / Q000473:pathology*; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009368:Neoplasm Transplantation; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D016376:Oligonucleotides, Antisense / Q000494:pharmacology; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous; D015027:Zebrafish / Q000196:embryology*; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D008565:Membrane Proteins; D016376:Oligonucleotides, Antisense; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins; C501108:nomo protein, zebrafish; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins