BR-BCSC Signature: The Cancer Stem Cell Profile Enriched in Brain Metastases that Predicts a Worse Prognosis in Lymph Node-Positive Breast Cancer

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2020

Authors

Dionisio, MR (Author) Other; Vieira, AF (Author) Other; Carvalho, R (Author) Other; Conde, I (Author) Other; Oliveira, M (Author) Other; Gomes, M (Author) Other; Pinto, MT (Author) Other; Pereira, P (Author) Other; Pimentel, J (Author) Other; Souza, C (Author) Other; Marques, MMC (Author) Other; Duval da Silva, VD (Author) Other; Barroso, A (Author) Other; Preto, D (Author) Other; Cameselle Teijeiro, JF (Author) Other; Fernando Schmitt (Author) FMUP; Ribeiro, AS (Author) Other; Paredes, J (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Cells

Vol. 9

ISSN: 2073-4409

Publisher: MDPI

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 9 Citations

Scopus - 9 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00T-1J2

DOI: 10.3390/cells9112442

Abstract (EN): Brain metastases remain an unmet clinical need in breast oncology, being frequently found in HER2-overexpressing and triple-negative carcinomas. These tumors were reported to be highly cancer stem-like cell-enriched, suggesting that brain metastases probably arise by the seeding of cancer cells with stem features. Accordingly, we found that brain-tropic breast cancer cells show increased stem cell activity and tumorigenic capacity in the chick embryo choriallantoic membrane when compared to the parental cell line. These observations were supported by a significant increase in their stem cell frequency and by the enrichment for the breast cancer stem cell (BCSC) phenotype CD44(+)CD24(-/low). Based on this data, the expression of BCSC markers (CD44, CD49f, P-cadherin, EpCAM, and ALDH1) was determined and found to be significantly enriched in breast cancer brain metastases when compared to primary tumors. Therefore, a brain (BR)-BCSC signature was defined (3-5 BCSC markers), which showed to be associated with decreased brain metastases-free and overall survival. Interestingly, this signature significantly predicted a worse prognosis in lymph node-positive patients, acting as an independent prognostic factor. Thus, an enrichment of a BCSC signature was found in brain metastases, which can be used as a new prognostic factor in clinically challenging breast cancer patients.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 22