No abstract

Aberrant activation of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling plays an important role in breast cancer progression and represents a potential therapeutic target for breast cancer. In this study, we report the impact of the investigational drug MLN0128, a potent and selective small molecule active-site TORC1/2 kinase inhibitor, on tumor growth and metastasis using human breast cancer xenograft models. We assessed in vitro antiproliferative activity of MLN0128 in a panel of breast cancer cell lines. We next evaluated the impact of MLN0128 on tumor growth, angiogenesis and metastasis using mammary fat pad xenograft models of a non-VEGF (ML20) and a VEGF-driven (MV165) MCF-7 sublines harboring PIK3CA mutations. MLN0128 potently inhibited cell proliferation in various breast cancer cell lines harboring PIK3CA (IC(50): 1.5-53 nM), PTEN (IC(50): 1-149 nM), KRAS, and/or BRAF mutations (IC(50): 13-162 nM), and in human endothelial cells (IC(50): 33-40 nM) in vitro. In vivo, MLN0128 decreased primary tumor growth significantly in both non-VEGF (ML20; p = 0.05) and VEGF-driven MCF-7 (MV165; p = 0.014) xenograft models. MLN0128 decreased the phosphorylation of Akt, S6, 4E-BP1, and NDRG1 in both models. In contrast, rapamycin increased Akt activity and failed to reduce the phosphorylation of 4E-BP1, PRAS40, and NDRG1. VEGF-induced lung metastasis in MV165 is inhibited by MLN0128 and rapamycin. In conclusion, MLN0128 inhibits TORC1/2-dependent signaling in preclinical models of breast cancer. MLN0128 appears to be superior in blocking mTORC1/2 signaling in contrast to rapamycin. Our findings support the clinical research of MLN0128 in patients with breast cancer and metastasis.

Migration of polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNL) from the vascular compartment into the pleural space occurs rapidly during the development of parapneumonic effusions. This study investigated the polarized secretion of interleukin (IL)-8 in activated pleural mesothelial cells (PMC) and the migration of PMNL across resting, activated PMC monolayers. Results show that PMC produce IL-8 in a polar manner. When PMC were stimulated with Staphylococcus aureus or IL-1beta at the basal or at the apical surface, significantly (P< .05) more IL-8 was released toward the apical surface. This polarized production of IL-8 was confirmed by in situ hybridization. PMNL migration was higher from the basilar to apical than from the apical to basilar surface of PMC. Neutralizing antibodies against IL-8 and intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1 significantly (P< .001) blocked PMNL migration across activated monolayers. Thus, during pleural inflammation, PMC regulate the influx of PMNL into the pleural space by polar production of IL-8 and expression of ICAM-1.

2-Methoxyestradiol is an estradiol metabolite with significant antiproliferative and antiangiogenic activity independent of estrogen receptor status. To identify a molecular basis for acquired 2-methoxyestradiol resistance, we generated a stable 2-methoxyestradiol-resistant (2ME2R) MDA-MB-435 human cancer cell line by stepwise exposure to increasing 2-methoxyestradiol concentrations. 2ME2R cells maintained in the presence of the drug and W435 cells maintained in the absence of the drug showed 32.34-to 40.07-fold resistance to 2-methoxyestradiol. Cross-resistance was observed to Vinca alkaloids, including vincristine, vinorelbine, and vinblastine (4.29-to 6.40-fold), but minimal resistance was seen to colchicine-binding agents including colchicine, colcemid, and AVE8062A (1.72-to 2.86-fold). No resistance was observed to paclitaxel and epothilone B, polymerizing agents (0.89-to 1.14-fold). Genomic sequencing identified two different heterozygous point mutations in the class I (M40) isotype of B-tubulin at amino acids 197 (DB197N) and 350 (KB350N) in 2ME2R cells. Tandem mass spectrometry confirmed the presence of both wild-type and the mutant B-tubulin in 2ME2R cells at the protein level. Consistently, treatment of parental P435 cells with 2-methoxyestradiol resulted in a dose-dependent depolymerization of microtubules, whereas 2ME2R cells remained unaffected. In contrast, paclitaxel affected both cell lines. In the absence of 2-methoxyestradiol, 2ME2R cells were characterized by an elevated level of detyrosination. Upon 2-methoxyestradiol treatment, levels of acetylated and detyrosinated tubulins decreased in P435 cells, while remaining constant in 2ME2R cells. These results, together with our structure-based modeling, show a tight correlation between the antitubulin and antiproliferative effects of 2-methoxyestradiol, consistent with acquired tubulin mutations contributing to 2-methoxyestradiol resistance. (Cancer Res 2005; 65(20): 9406-14)

Thymomas are low-grade epithelial tumors of the anterior mediastinum. The complexity of the disease and the lack of in vitro and in vivo models hamper the development of better therapeutics. In this study, we report a novel cell line, designated as IU-TAB-1, which was established from a patient with stage II thymoma (World Health Organization-type AB). The IU-TAB-1 cell line was established in vitro and characterized using histological and immunohistochemical staining, fluorescence-activated cell sorting, cytogenetic analyses and functional assays including in vitro and a NOD/SCID xenograft model. A whole-genome gene expression analysis (Illumina) was performed on the IU-TAB-1 cell line and 34 thymomas to determine the clinical relevance of the cell line. The IU-TAB-1 cell line was positive for epithelial markers (pan-cytokeratin and EpCAM/CD326) including thymic epithelial (TE) surface markers (such as CD29, CD9, CD54/ICAM-1, CD58 and CD24) and p63, and negative for B-and T-cell lineage markers. Gene expression profiling demonstrated overlapping and distinct genes between IU-TAB-1 and primary thymomas including the primary tumor (from which the cell line was derived). IU-TAB-1 cells are tumorigenic when implanted in immunodeficient mice with tumors reaching a volume of 1000 mm 3 at around 130 days. The established cell line represents a biologically relevant new tool to investigate the molecular pathology of thymic malignancies and to evaluate the efficacy of novel therapeutics both in vitro and in vivo.