Modulation of SOX2 expression delineates an end-point for paclitaxel-effectiveness in breast cancer stem cells

Sci Rep. 2017 Aug 23;7(1):9170. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-08971-2.

Abstract

Tumor relapse in triple negative breast cancer patients has been implicated to chemoresistant cancer stem cells (CSCs), which under favorable conditions culminate in tumor re-formation and metastasis. Hence, eradication of CSCs during systemic chemotherapy is imperative. CSCs were sorted using immuno-phenotyping and aldefluor assay. Gene expression profiling of normal breast stem cells and breast CSCs from chemo-treated patients were carried out. Silencing SOX2 was achieved by siRNA method. Mammosphere culture and wound healing assays were carried out to assess efficacy of CSCs. Microarray analysis revealed elevated expression of SOX2, ABCG2 and TWIST1, unraveling an intertwined pluripotency-chemoresistance-EMT axis. Although paclitaxel treatment led to temporary arrest of cell migration, invasiveness resumed after drug removal. The 'twist in the tale' was a consistently elevated expression of TWIST1, substantiating that TWIST1 can also promote stemness and chemoresistance in tumors; hence, its eradication was imperative. Silencing SOX2 increased chemo-sensitivity and diminished sphere formation, and led to TWIST1 down regulation. This study eventually established that SOX2 silencing of CSCs along with paclitaxel treatment reduced SOX2-ABCG2-TWIST1 expression, disrupted sphere forming capacity and also reduced invasiveness by retaining epithelial-like properties of the cells, thereby suggesting a more comprehensive therapy for TNBC patients in future.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / pharmacology*
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / therapeutic use
  • Breast Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Breast Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Breast Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / drug effects*
  • Gene Silencing
  • Humans
  • Models, Biological
  • Neoplastic Stem Cells / drug effects*
  • Neoplastic Stem Cells / metabolism*
  • Nuclear Proteins / metabolism
  • Paclitaxel / pharmacology*
  • Paclitaxel / therapeutic use
  • SOXB1 Transcription Factors / genetics*
  • Spheroids, Cellular
  • Transcriptome
  • Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms / genetics
  • Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms / pathology
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured
  • Twist-Related Protein 1 / metabolism

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • SOX2 protein, human
  • SOXB1 Transcription Factors
  • TWIST1 protein, human
  • Twist-Related Protein 1
  • Paclitaxel