title: Reduction of the putative CD44+CD24- breast cancer stem cell population by targeting the polyamine metabolic pathway with PG11047.
abstract: Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are considered to be of particular concern in cancer as they possess inherent properties of self-renewal and differentiation, along with expressing certain genes related to a mesenchymal phenotype. These features favour the promotion of tumour recurrence and metastasis in cancer patients. Thus, the optimal chemotherapeutic treatment should target the CSC population, either by killing these cells and/or by inducing their transition to a more differentiated epithelial-like phenotype. Experiments were carried out on the trastuzumab-resistant human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-overexpressing breast cancer cell line JIMT-1 to unravel the chemotherapeutic effects of the polyamine analogue [1N,12N]bis(ethyl)-cis-6,7-dehydrospermine (PG11047) and of the polyamine biosynthetic inhibitor 2-difluoromethylornithine (DFMO) on the CD44+CD24- CSC population. Furthermore, effects on the properties of self-renewal and epithelial/mesenchymal markers were also investigated. Treatment with PG11047 reduced the CD44+CD24- subpopulation of JIMT-1 cells by approximately 50%, inhibited and/or reduced self-renewal capability of the CSC population, decreased cell motility and induced expression of mesenchymal to epithelial transition-associated proteins that are involved in promoting an epithelial phenotype. By contrast, DFMO slightly increased the CD44+CD24- subpopulation, increased cell motility and the level of mesenchymal-related proteins. DFMO treatment reduced the self-renewal capability of the CSC population. Both PG11047 and DFMO reduced the expression of the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 protein, which is correlated to malignancy and resistance to trastuzumab in JIMT-1 cells. Our findings indicate that treatment with PG11047 targeted the CSC population by interfering with several stem cell-related properties, such as self-renewal, differentiation, motility and the mesenchymal phenotype.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Division of Cell and Organism, Lund University, Lund, Sweden. helena.cirenajwis@cob.lu.se
authors.forename: Helena
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Cirenajwis
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Smiljanic
authors.forename: Gabriella
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Honeth
authors.forename: Cecilia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hegardt
authors.forename: Laurence J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Marton
authors.forename: Stina M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Oredsson
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000494:pharmacology; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D051927:CD24 Antigen / Q000276:immunology; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; D000518:Eflornithine / Q000494:pharmacology; D058750:Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition / Q000187:drug effects; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors / Q000276:immunology; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000188:drug therapy; D014411:Neoplastic Stem Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D013096:Spermine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology*; D000068878:Trastuzumab
chemical_list: C415967:(N(1),N(12))bis(ethyl)-6,7-dehydrospermine; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D051927:CD24 Antigen; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors; D013096:Spermine; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D000068878:Trastuzumab; D000518:Eflornithine