Breast cancer metastasis to liver and lung is facilitated by Pit-1-CXCL12-CXCR4 axis

Oncogene. 2018 Mar;37(11):1430-1444. doi: 10.1038/s41388-017-0036-8. Epub 2018 Jan 11.

Abstract

Development of human tumors is driven by accumulation of alterations in tumor suppressor genes and oncogenes in cells. The POU1F1 transcription factor (also known Pit-1) is expressed in the mammary gland and its overexpression induces profound phenotypic changes in proteins involved in breast cancer progression. Patients with breast cancer and elevated expression of Pit-1 show a positive correlation with the occurrence of distant metastasis and poor overall survival. However, some mediators of Pit-1 actions are still unknown. Here, we show that CXCR4 chemokine receptor and its ligand CXCL12 play a critical role in the pro-tumoral process induced by Pit-1. We found that Pit-1 increases mRNA and protein in both CXCR4 and CXCL12. Knock-down of CXCR4 reduces tumor growth and spread of Pit-1 overexpressing cells in a zebrafish xenograft model. Furthermore, we described for the first time pro-angiogenic effects of Pit-1 through the CXCL12-CXCR4 axis, and that extravasation of Pit-1 overexpressing breast cancer cells is strongly reduced in CXCL12-deprived target tissues. Finally, in breast cancer patients, expression of Pit-1 in primary tumors was found to be positively correlated with CXCR4 and CXCL12, with specific metastasis in liver and lung, and with clinical outcome. Our results suggest that Pit-1-CXCL12-CXCR4 axis could be involved in chemotaxis guidance during the metastatic process, and may represent prognostic and/or therapeutic targets in breast tumors.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Breast Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Cell Movement / genetics
  • Cell Proliferation / genetics
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Chemokine CXCL12 / genetics
  • Chemokine CXCL12 / physiology*
  • Embryo, Nonmammalian
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells / physiology
  • Humans
  • Liver Neoplasms / genetics
  • Liver Neoplasms / secondary*
  • Lung Neoplasms / genetics
  • Lung Neoplasms / secondary*
  • MCF-7 Cells
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / genetics
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / pathology
  • Receptors, CXCR4 / genetics
  • Receptors, CXCR4 / physiology*
  • Signal Transduction / physiology
  • Transcription Factor Pit-1 / genetics
  • Transcription Factor Pit-1 / physiology*
  • Zebrafish

Substances

  • CXCL12 protein, human
  • CXCR4 protein, human
  • Chemokine CXCL12
  • POU1F1 protein, human
  • Receptors, CXCR4
  • Transcription Factor Pit-1