Multi-nucleated cells use ROS to induce breast cancer chemo-resistance in vitro and in vivo

Oncogene. 2018 Aug;37(33):4546-4561. doi: 10.1038/s41388-018-0272-6. Epub 2018 May 10.

Abstract

Although there is a strong correlation between multinucleated cells (MNCs) and cancer chemo-resistance in variety of cancers, our understanding of how multinucleated cells modulate the tumor micro-environment is limited. We captured multinucleated cells from triple-negative chemo-resistant breast cancers cells in a time frame, where they do not proliferate but rather significantly regulate their micro-environment. We show that oxidatively stressed MNCs induce chemo-resistance in vitro and in vivo by secreting VEGF and MIF. These factors act through the RAS/MAPK pathway to induce chemo-resistance by upregulating anti-apoptotic proteins. In MNCs, elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS) stabilizes HIF-1α contributing to increase production of VEGF and MIF. Together the data indicate, that the ROS-HIF-1α signaling axis is very crucial in regulation of chemo-resistance by MNCs. Targeting ROS-HIF-1α in future may help to abrogate drug resistance in breast cancer.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Breast / metabolism
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm / physiology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit / metabolism
  • Macrophage Migration-Inhibitory Factors / metabolism
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction / physiology
  • Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Tumor Microenvironment / physiology
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / metabolism

Substances

  • Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit
  • Macrophage Migration-Inhibitory Factors
  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A