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Proapoptotic PUMA targets stem-like breast cancer cells to suppress metastasis
Qi Sun, … , David A. Cheresh, Jay S. Desgrosellier
Qi Sun, … , David A. Cheresh, Jay S. Desgrosellier
Published December 11, 2017
Citation Information: J Clin Invest. 2018;128(1):531-544. https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI93707.
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Research Article Oncology Article has an altmetric score of 81

Proapoptotic PUMA targets stem-like breast cancer cells to suppress metastasis

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Abstract

Breast cancer cells with stem cell properties are key contributors to metastatic disease, and there remains a need to better understand and target these cells in human cancers. Here, we identified rare stem-like cells in patients’ tumors characterized by low levels of the proapoptotic molecule p53-upregulated modulator of apoptosis (PUMA) and showed that these cells play a critical role in tumor progression that is independent of clinical subtype. A signaling axis consisting of the integrin αvβ3, Src kinase, and the transcription factor Slug suppresses PUMA in these cells, promoting tumor stemness. We showed that genetic or pharmacological disruption of αvβ3/Src signaling drives PUMA expression, specifically depleting these stem-like tumor cells; increases their sensitivity to apoptosis; and reduces pulmonary metastasis, with no effect on primary tumor growth. Taken together, these findings point to PUMA as a key vulnerability of stem-like cells and suggest that pharmacological upregulation of PUMA via Src inhibition may represent a strategy to selectively target these cells in a wide spectrum of aggressive breast cancers.

Authors

Qi Sun, Jacqueline Lesperance, Hiromi Wettersten, Elaine Luterstein, Yoko S. DeRose, Alana Welm, David A. Cheresh, Jay S. Desgrosellier

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Figure 5

Disrupting αvβ3/Src signaling specifically drives PUMA expression in stem-like cells.

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Disrupting αvβ3/Src signaling specifically drives PUMA expression in ste...
(A) PUMA immunoblot of LM2-4 cells treated with the indicated drugs for 24 hours. All drugs were dosed at 100 nM, except for bortezomib and docetaxel, which were added at a sublethal concentration of 5 nM. (B and C) Immunoblots of the indicated cell types after treatment with DMSO vehicle control (Veh) or 100 nM dasatinib (Das) for 24 hours. (D and E) Western blot analysis of LM2-4 cells stably expressing c-Src shRNA (shSrc) or a nonsilencing shRNA control (shCtrl) (D) or transiently transfected with mock, vector alone, full-length β3 cDNA (β3 FL), or a β3 Src–binding domain mutant (β3 759x) (E). (E) All lanes were run on the same gel, but the β3 759x lane was noncontiguous (black line). (F) qPCR analysis of ubiquitin ligases that regulate Slug expression. Fold change (2–ΔΔCT) in BT474 cells stably expressing β3 cDNA is shown relative to vector control cells. β-Actin was used as a loading control. n = 3 independent experiments. Each sample was run in triplicate. Data represent the mean ± SEM. (G–J) Western blot analysis for the indicated proteins in BT474 cells stably expressing vector control, full-length β3 cDNA, or the β3 759x mutant (G); BT474 cells with transient siRNA knockdown of FBXO11 (H); LM2-4 β3–knockdown cells (I); and LM2-4 cells treated with 100 nM dasatinib (J). (A–E and G–J) β-Actin or Hsp90 was used as a loading control. Data shown are representative of 3 independent experiments. See also Supplemental Figure 5.

Copyright © 2025 American Society for Clinical Investigation
ISSN: 0021-9738 (print), 1558-8238 (online)

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